I agree greenweb. I would love to have your yellow kettle. They are as rare as a 50's butterscotch telecaster. I would love to watch it change colors! I started out wanting a copper, but the paint didn't stick. it was Rustoleum aged copper high heat ultra(1200 degree). Wasn't crazy about the color tho. Think it would have been good if I had sanded the porcelain enamel prior to painting. The only way to make paint look like porcelain it to top coat it with clear. i really like the Rustoleam 2000 degree clear from the Walmart auto section. Ended up scraping it all off with a razor, but it was hard and temp stable.
The 2008 Performer lid is VHT yellow 550 degree engine enamel. The 2000 Lid is VHT 1200 degree yellow caliper paint. The engine enamel is more of a canary yellow as it has some green in it. The caliper paint is more of a pale yellow and I like it better. The yellow engine enamel has more clear and doesn't cover as well, but is glossier. The caliper paint is not very glossy but has more pigment and covers better. The caliper paint needs the clear to even look like porcelain. The 08 Performer lid was caved in on top whe I got it and when I popped it out it crazed the porcelain, so I had to paint it. It has been outside and has been uncovered in the weather for a year and has had many cooks on it. It was painted with Rustoleum Gloss black 550 degree engine enamel. never flaked off. It only turned dull on the lid where the fire was located. It did scratch off where the lid bale rubbed. I put a hook under the lid. I like Performer without the bale. I think she looks good bare bottom.
No rust under the handle tho.
It takes a lot of temp cycles to cure the paint(gradually hotter and cool in between). Cant get it hot to quick or it will bubble. The Performer gas assist helps! Paint is soft and sticky when hot. I cooked on the Performer last night and had it up to 400 degrees. you could smell the paint baking, but it held and didnt discolor or bubble.