Weber Kettle Club Forums

Grill Talk => Weber Kettle Forum => Topic started by: ClubChapin on September 13, 2015, 07:10:10 PM

Title: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: ClubChapin on September 13, 2015, 07:10:10 PM

Is 0000 safe to use on vents and ash pan assemblies?  If not, what is the preferred method for scrubbing these?  Straight to Mother's?

sorry for the newbie ?'s. Thanks for any advice.

Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: Craig on September 13, 2015, 08:03:30 PM
I've used 0000 on the vents then finish off with mag finish. Shines them up like factory almost.
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: Craig on September 13, 2015, 08:05:28 PM
Mothers Mag
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: ClubChapin on September 13, 2015, 08:52:40 PM
Thanks.

Will try this week.
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: fedex on September 13, 2015, 10:12:41 PM
Quote from: Craig on September 13, 2015, 08:03:30 PM
I've used 0000 on the vents then finish off with mag finish. Shines them up like factory almost.

That combo also works great on the legs.
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: ClubChapin on September 13, 2015, 10:14:28 PM
Thanks.  I wasn't sure if 0000 was going to be too much for the aluminum.
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: pbe gummi bear on September 14, 2015, 12:19:34 PM
What are you going for? I use 00 on my aluminum as it cuts more and gives it a quicker luster. You can finish it with 0000 and/or polishing compound if you want it really shiny. Neither of these will remove significant pitting though.
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: ClubChapin on September 14, 2015, 12:32:05 PM
Thanks.  General cleaning and polishing.

I'm really doing my first restore right now.
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: pbe gummi bear on September 14, 2015, 12:38:48 PM
good luck! your best bang for the buck / time for making the aluminum look nice is a deoxiding cleaner/polish such as simichrome, knorrostol, or flitz. If you want to go for a mirror or reflective finish or remove pitting then you'll have to bust out the abrasives.
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: ClubChapin on September 14, 2015, 12:52:30 PM
Thanks.  Will try simichrome.

Simichrome then Mother's for the mirror finish?
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: Harleysmoker on September 15, 2015, 05:00:42 PM
On a fairly new kettle vent without pitting and you just want to shine it up, don't press hard on the steel wool or you will get deep scratches that show. Just rub easy in the same direction all across the vent. Looks nicer when done, than a bunch of scratches running all different directions.
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: toolhead on September 15, 2015, 05:03:30 PM
You can also finish with 300/400 grit sandpaper ..lowes now stocks up to 600/800 grit +

Then finish with a metal polish..fitz/fritz is excellent metal polish...
Title: Re: Is 0000 safe to use on aluminum vents and ash catcher assemblies?
Post by: ClubChapin on September 16, 2015, 06:38:09 PM
I've picked up simichrome, fitz, and mothers. They all seem to be similar products. Is one more abrasive than the others?

What is the best abrasive for de-pitting vents?  Rubbing compound or a high grit sandpaper?  Are there dremmel wheels that work well for this?