My new 18.5" kettle! It is so big! Lol

[javahog2002]

Great job.  Nice setup on your patio.   Perfect for your collection.  How did you flare the legs ?  I have a couple kettles with loose legs.

[mike.stavlund]

What a great story!  Thanks for bringing that thing back to life. 

...I'm really sorry that they lied about the size, though.  ;-)

[jcnaz]

Ditto on the leg flare techniques!

 Did you restore that side table yet??

That 26 came out great! Good job Mike.

[wyd]

Very nice job bringing the kettle back from the dead.  It looks great.  Excellent write up.  Thanks for sharing.

[glrasmussen]

Great story, save and collection. Congrats!

[1buckie]

 This one waaaaaay needs to be on the front page.......regular people out there in the world need to see what is possible at WKC !!!!!

Thanks for the extensive rundown on everything......

 Diggin' the complete kettle lineup, also !!!!!!

[1buckie]

 "Just a picture I Liked......"




AND..............................

[AZ_MIKEY]

Great job.  Nice setup on your patio.   Perfect for your collection.  How did you flare the legs ?  I have a couple kettles with loose legs.

I flared the leg sockets using a flaring tool out of a set I bought quite few years ago. It has a lot of different sizes for different pipe. They are just pieces of round stock that gradually get bigger and you hold the pipe steady and hammer the tool into the end of it. I have also used an extension from my gear wrench brand pass through ratchet and socket kit I have at home for a quick flaring it fits into the legs just right.

I would imagine a small tubing expander would work for this also and I believe they sell them at harbor freight. Just remember slow and steady is the key to success here slowly work it to the size you need, testing the fit multiple times along the way.

[AZ_MIKEY]

Ditto on the leg flare techniques!

 Did you restore that side table yet??

That 26 came out great! Good job Mike.

JC the side table is o. The bluey in the group pic. It is not done yet. Believe it or not in this dry as a bone state the wood has alot of moisture in it. It has almost pulled back together at the split seams. As soon as it gets a bit closer I am going to do some sanding and bonding and clamping it flat and see how I can make it work. Hopefully well my would working skills are a bit rusty and need some working out.  I get to deal with metal much more frequently but love to work with wood when given the chance.

I also plan on making a couple extras once I get the original sorted out and can use it a template to go off of.

[Troy]

great job bringing that grill back to life!!!!!

[mrbill]

awesome save!

[zavod44]

Amazing, would look better with Wood handles, but really great.  Nicely done...

[Craig]

Fantastic score! Cleaned up awesome!