Fixing an out of round bowl

[Craig]

My 22.5 blackie's bowl seems to be slightly out of round. The cooking grate slides back and forth a little. Any suggestions on how to straighten w/o compromising the porcelain?

[Jaronimo]

Get a replacement.  Good condition black kettles are easily picked up for twenty bucks.

[zavod44]

I grab it between my chest and crank it with my arms whichever direction it needs to go...

[Duke]

I grab it between my chest and crank it with my arms whichever direction it needs to go...

Yep, Hug it! Here's the tag foor Buckie. "Have you hugged your Weber grill today?" 

[Bman]

My BNIB WSM was out of round.  It doesn't take much of a 'hug' to get it back to shape.  Obviously, go slow otherwise you'll go too far and inflict further damage.

[mike.stavlund]

I've 'hugged' a few kettles in my day, to good effects.  I usually use a tape measure to figure out where it needs adjustment.  Then just give a slow, smooth, gentle squeeze.  Patience is key. 

It's funny, because my dad would always warn/scare me to be really careful moving the family kettle (so as not to knock it over), because he said once they went out of round, they were no good.  So I've passed up kettles in trash heaps because they were out of round (I had the good sense to grab the grates, of course).  But now that I'm hanging out with this bunch of lunatics, I'll never leave one by the side of the road again! 

[Heyjude]

I grab it between my chest and crank it with my arms whichever direction it needs to go...

Oh, you didn't just say that did you! Lol..

[Craig]

Thanks guys! The black 22 and I will hug it out in the morning. As long as I don't have to spoon with it.

[Heyjude]

I'm not gonna touch that one! 

[zavod44]

I grab it between my chest and crank it with my arms whichever direction it needs to go...

Oh, you didn't just say that did you! Lol..

Is that funny to you?

[G]

I havent used the bear hug technique.  I usually place the bowl on a carpet or towel and gently apply downward pressure.   

[zavod44]

I usually resort to that too, I'm so weak I can't bend the metal.....

[Heyjude]

I grab it between my chest and crank it with my arms whichever direction it needs to go...

Oh, you didn't just say that did you! Lol..

Is that funny to you?

Thats funny, all day long...
Craigs comment about "Spooning" is just as funny!

[zavod44]

Keep on Smoking brother......

[Craig]

Well it's fixed. I took it out, hugged it, loved it and cooked some spicy ranch onion cheeseburgers on it. Lid fits much better now. I think this is going to become my lead cooker for a while. It's been updated to Gold status as my smoked red 22 EO goes in the garage for a little cosmetic rework.