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Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
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Topic: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes (Read 10060 times)
zavod44
WKC Ambassador
Posts: 6182
Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
on:
August 05, 2014, 08:18:10 PM »
So I came into possession late last year a very special grill. It was an old, ultra rare red 18" Wood Dale. These are very hard to find and I knew I had to fix this one up. This grill was in one of the club members family for a ling time. It had been used for many years and fell into disrepair and was left for dead. Do to this site and some dedicated Weber enthusiasts it was rescued. Now I heard it came from the dump, but I'll let that story be told by the men who rescued it. I took possession after most of the pieces were salvaged. I got it and it was in very bad shape. It was a project for sure. I wasn't sure what I was going to do but I vowed that it would stand again and it would cook again.
Here is what it looked like when I got it. The legs and vents were totally rusted through, there were just giant holes where the vents and legs were once attached. The legs were rusted off and the legs were stuck in the sockets. The thumbscrews were fused and rusted to the sockets as well.
I had to sort out where the legs were supposed to go.....
I was able to start scrubbing the dirt off the bowl. The bright red color was starting to shine through.
I drilled out the rusted thumbscrews and retapped the holes with a 1/4 20 tap.
I really wanted to preserve what was there. I didn't want to replace anything unless it was absolutely necessary. I decided to just leave the legs in the sockets but i needed to reattach the sockets to the bowl. The best I could do was use large washers on the outside and the inside. That would sandwich what was left on the bowl and the legs could go back where they are suppose dot go
Once I got the legs all attached I had to do the same thing to the vents. Again there were just giant holes where the vents once were. The vents were totally missing so I got a set of donor vents from Harris. I had to use giant washers to find some meat to attach the vents to. Once these were attached I had to turn to the wheels. THey were totally dry rotted and they were in multiple pieces. I was able to put them back together like a puzzle. I put black caulk and wound them with black electrical tape to hole them in place while the caulk dried. I learned that the electrical tape looked almost exactly like the tread so I ultimately just left the tape in place.
I scrubbed the lid up and put new caps on the axles and there she stood again, like a Phoenix that rose from the ashes.
I used a donor ash pan because the original was gone.
Here he is among the rest of his Wood Dale brothers.
At the Chicago meet up
I was very happy to get this piece of history back together. I didn't get a chance to cook on this at the meet up, but it is high on my priority list. I want to thank Harris on this one, he was the one that was instrumental in saving it and getting into my hands. I believe this came from NY Dan in the first place, maybe he can shed more light on the early history. I'm glad I was able to help write the later chapter of this legendary grill, but definitely not the final chapter. A real example of Rescue Restore Respect.......
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Vintage Weber Grill raconteur and bon vivant.....and definitely Sir Agent X
argentflame
WKC Ranger
Posts: 1313
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #1 on:
August 05, 2014, 08:38:39 PM »
Great job on the resto. Awesome collection.
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SixZeroFour
Moderator
Posts: 5833
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #2 on:
August 05, 2014, 08:40:14 PM »
Excellent rescue and restore Brian - thanks to your efforts that red's breathin' fire once again!
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W E B E R B A R - B - Q K E T T L E
Troy
Statesman
Posts: 9479
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #3 on:
August 05, 2014, 08:43:23 PM »
Wow. Great job man
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Winz
WKC Ranger
Posts: 1714
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #4 on:
August 05, 2014, 08:49:24 PM »
Very nice! There is much care, time, and skill invested in that restore - it shows!
Winz
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In an ongoing relationship with a kettle named Bisbee.
1buckie
WKC Ambassador
Posts: 9048
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #5 on:
August 05, 2014, 08:56:30 PM »
Phenomenal !!!!
It occurs that this:
I had to sort out where the legs were supposed to go.....
...might have been much harder to do if they had installed it caddywampus in the first place......
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"If you want it fancy there is BBQ spray paint at home depot for that. "
Covered, damper-controlled cooking.....IF YOU PLEASE !!!
"But the ever versatile kettle reigned supreme"
Hogsy
WKC Performer
Posts: 3649
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #6 on:
August 05, 2014, 09:00:09 PM »
Awesome Job Brian!!!
Great to see it didn't end up as scrap metal
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I'm only 2 or 3 kettles away from being that creepy guy down the street with all the Webers
WKC Collaborator
Viva La Charcoal Revolution
1911Ron
WKC Performer
Posts: 4478
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #7 on:
August 06, 2014, 02:27:54 AM »
Great job on the restore! Could you get a shot of the bottom vents to get an idea on how you did that? Thanks.
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Wanted: 18" Platinum any color will work
This is my Kettle there are many like it but this one is mine......
jcnaz
WKC Performer
Posts: 3458
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #8 on:
August 06, 2014, 02:34:51 AM »
Awesome, just awesome!
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A bunch of black kettles
-JC
LightningBoldtz
WKC Ambassador
Posts: 5977
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #9 on:
August 06, 2014, 02:49:34 AM »
Amazing restore Brian you set the bar with this one.
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I am not a collector, but I do have a small collection.
"You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want"
zavod44
WKC Ambassador
Posts: 6182
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #10 on:
August 06, 2014, 03:23:27 AM »
I'll get some more pictures tonight. There aren't many colored Wood Dales out there, I was glad to save this one
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
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Vintage Weber Grill raconteur and bon vivant.....and definitely Sir Agent X
glrasmussen
WKC Performer
Posts: 3275
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #11 on:
August 06, 2014, 04:33:48 AM »
Congrats on an awesome restoration!
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saxart
WKC Ranger
Posts: 934
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #12 on:
August 06, 2014, 05:03:09 AM »
Wow, absolutely amazing! Thanks for sharing the rebirth of "The Firebird".
Well done....
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Interested in ANY offset handle SJs you may have.
mhiszem
WKC Performer
Posts: 3493
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #13 on:
August 06, 2014, 05:12:35 AM »
Wow! What a breathtaking restore. It shows hope for even the most badly bruised kettles. Great Job!
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WGA, Uline Green SJ, '95 Red M/T, '88 Red 18", '01 Plum SSP, Patent Pending Yellow
Cuda Dan
WKC Ranger
Posts: 502
Re: Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes
«
Reply #14 on:
August 06, 2014, 05:26:21 AM »
Nice job on the rescue.
Logged
Two '86 Red OT 22's (sold one G), '85 Red OT 22, '88 Red OT 22's, '93 Red MT 22 (aka Donna), '93 Red SS Performer (non-gas and non-casters), '02 Green OTP( my brother in law has it now), '04 Green OTG
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Weber Kettle Club Forums
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Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes