Mini Clean-Up of The Yellow 22.5" Rose of Texas

[MaxBobcat]

Today I did a small clean up of a Yellow 22" (AKA "The Gourmet") that Bob/Ramsfan picked up for me.  I believe this to be a kettle from 1976.  This thing was in fairly rough shape.  Too many dings to really count on the lid and bowl, the top vent tab was bent off, and not to mention the bottom of the bowl has extreme crazing.   BUT, it is a Yellow and down here in Texas where we don't see too many of these things, that counts for a lot!

Today was just a good scrubing with some steel wool and cheapo degreaser and then I reassembled it.  Here are some pics.  I will try to get some coals going in it soon and I will post some of it glowing soon.

I have a more thorough rehab in store for this one, but don't have the tools or time right now.  I plan on drilling out the bottom vent rivets and reattaching with bolts, as well as staining the original handle.  As you can tell, this is a modern ashpan and everything.  I think this will prob be a cooker, so I am not to concerned about being period correct on every little thing.

The Original CL Picture


Belly of the Beast.


What I used to help me clean up.


Scrubbed the vent to get a decent shot:


She started cleaning up pretty nice and I got her all assembled and put a Slide-Aside on...




The Purdy Side


The Oogly Side


Freckled Ass


Ketchup and Mustard


Thanks for Looking! 

[salad]

Purdy side sure is purdy.  The other side has patina.  Looks good to me!

[kendoll]

Very nice. A Yellow is a Yellow, no matter the condition. Looks great!

Ken

[zavod44]

That back side looks like a banana....

[MINIgrillin]

That kicks ASS! Very nice sir!!

[MaxBobcat]

Thanks guys!

Well, I got around to firing her up today.  I wanted to see the yellow turn that glowing orange I've heard about.  I didn't really know what to expect.  Whether it would slowly build a slight orange hue over 10 minutes as it warmed up or what.  After I dumped in my chimney and sat back down in my chair, it was already a deep shade of rosy red.  The pictures didn't really do it justice.  It was more red than what they show.

Before the coals went in


After

[kendoll]

Ohhhh yeah! Thats the stuff.

Ken

[ramsfan]

That looks great Max! You did a fine job. If I had known it could look that good, I would have kept it for myself and told you some crazy story about how it fell out of the back of my truck on the way home or something? (j/k lol)

[glrasmussen]

Can you live with the freckles now? Very nice clean up, work with it and enjoy the orange glow.

[jcnaz]

Strong work! 

[MaxBobcat]

Thanks again guys,  And haha yep, I can live with the blemishes now.  Just war-wounds I guess.  This kettle is 10 years older than me, and I got a few dents too.   

[Craig]

She's a beaut! I love that orange glow.

Some day....

[vader06]

It looks like the kettle is smiling with the red color.   

[javahog2002]

Looks great. The Orange glow is sooo cool.

[MaxBobcat]

Guys,

I am going to try to take these double rivet handles off and then sand and stain this handle. 

What is the easiest way to take off these double rivet handles?  Anybody got any tips? 

It will be appreciated!