Ranch Kettle owners thread & showoff

[ReanimatedRobot]

Just brought this big guy home after a long day trip with my father.  It wasn't an absolute steal on price, but fair for around my area.  Was in pretty excellent shape other than some scratches and minor surface rust to the frame in those few spots.  The ash bowl also had a couple chips on the bottom with one having surface rust.  A front wheel was also broken.  All things were minor/cosmetic and it is relatively new shape.  The seller said he used it half a dozen times and it shows.  I think most of the wear/tear on it was just him having it in his shop or leaving it outside occasionally.

Anyone know of some good aftermarket casters?

Any good advice on touch up paint for the frame (brand/color/type)? Should I just use some extra fine steel whole to get the areas clear of rust and then touch up?  I know the high heat paint is best for the kettle if needed, but the actual kettle is solid as can be.

[varekai]

Just brought this big guy home after a long day trip with my father.  It wasn't an absolute steal on price, but fair for around my area.  Was in pretty excellent shape other than some scratches and minor surface rust to the frame in those few spots.  The ash bowl also had a couple chips on the bottom with one having surface rust.  A front wheel was also broken.  All things were minor/cosmetic and it is relatively new shape.  The seller said he used it half a dozen times and it shows.  I think most of the wear/tear on it was just him having it in his shop or leaving it outside occasionally.

Anyone know of some good aftermarket casters?

Any good advice on touch up paint for the frame (brand/color/type)? Should I just use some extra fine steel whole to get the areas clear of rust and then touch up?  I know the high heat paint is best for the kettle if needed, but the actual kettle is solid as can be.

As for front casters, I bought mine at OSH before they went out of business.. really any hardware store should have them. Just plain stemmed office chair casters. I took the whole frame to a local powder coated and had the whole thing done. Will probably do it with my second one too.  Enjoy!


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[demosthenes9]

I'd just hit the frame with Rustoleym high heat ultra.  It has a slight gloss sheen that matches pretty well.  It's what I use to touch up Weber gasser frames

[Radjx003]

I have a big white whale.

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[ReanimatedRobot]

I have a big white whale.

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Has that been repainted? I don't think I have ever seen/heard of a white one. If the white is original you have something kind of unique.

[Radjx003]

It is one of 2 original, done by weber for a winery here in australia.

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[ReanimatedRobot]

Dang that is pretty cool. Hopefully the lettering comes off easy unless it is kinda cool for you having the winery name.

[Radjx003]

The one i got was fading a little bit so i hit it with a razor scraper and it came of.

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[ReanimatedRobot]

You should get it cleaned up and post more pictures! Would be a cool addition to gallery.

If you weren't in Australia I would be like, is the other one for sale??? Haha

[JEBIV]

I have a big white whale.

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I would love that sitting next to my Red Ranch

[Radjx003]

Here is some pics durin clean up and having the frame and all the bits resprayed with kenworth chassis paint. And i have never re assembled since as ive been meaning to get some new stainless bolts but notnon my priority list.

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[ReanimatedRobot]

Nice.  I am taking my frame to the father in law this weekend to make some welding improvements to mine.  We are going to weld on caps on the tops of the framing and maybe add on some support for bigger tires and axle.  After that I plan on test fitting everything and sending it off to be sand blasted and powder coated. 

Going to stay original black with the frame or go with something different?  Red or white seem like they would be pretty cool. 

[Radjx003]

Sounds good. A different colour would make it look cool for sure. I just went with the original black  again as its a white grill so its broken up.

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[hdfry]

To bbqmiller: Nice work. Well done!

To all: I'm a new Rancher and just loving the way this allows a person to do creative grilling, both direct and offset. It's so far superior to the small kettles I can't describe it.  My first problem was getting a charcoal basket (or two) to allow for indirect cooking while maximizing my charcoal use. The ones I've found on-line were, I thought, prohibitively expensive especially after dropping $1,400 on the Rancher. So, found this gent's website on YouTube and recommend it highly. If the link doesn't make it onto the website just search for Ry's weld free charcoal basket:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4mxUUE9OjI

It's his own creation that he calls a "no weld charcoal basket". My cost for a  sheet of expanded metal was about $17.00 and that was my only cost. I've made a large one (why I'm not sure) and two smaller ones for indirect cooks. I've only used the large basket so far and it's a dream. Just shake it out after it has cooled and you've got a ready supply of broken in briquettes to reuse. I love his idea. I'll try to include a photograph.

My question to the group is this: how do you clean the ashes out of your kettle? The stainless cooking grill is heavy enough that it's a little tricky to move about. Then you've got the charcoal grill underneath as well. They're not the most user friendly equipment to move around. Still, once you have removed those two grill layers you've got this round bottomed kettle where your ashes reside. What's a good method to collect and dispose of those ashes please? Clearly the three air vents are not intended to be used for ash removal. I'm sure there's a great system out there, I'd just appreciate hearing about it.

Loving my Rancher.  HD

[hdfry]

Sorry, I haven't yet figured out a way to attach photographs to a "reply" post. Also, can't seem to find a way to create a post on a new topic. Any of you old timers have advice? Thanks! HD