News:

SMF - Just Installed!

Main Menu

$10 Avocado Score

Started by tb6844, June 14, 2015, 01:21:26 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

tb6844

Picked this up on Saturday.  It's an 18" patent pending Avocado.  I'm assuming from 1969 or 1970, right?  In really nice shape.  The lid is nearly flawless, besides the handle.  The bowl has a few rust spots, primarily right where the grate holders are welded on the inside.  The bottom vents were seized up, but after soaking with penetrating fluid overnight they loosened up nicely.  I anticipated I'd probably have to drill out the rivets, so that was a nice surprise. 











So, in your opinion is it worth trying to clean up the rust spots on the outside?  My thought was to tape around them, hit them with a wire brush dremel attachment and then paint black with high temperature paint...just to prevent any further rusting.  Any thoughts? 

I was pretty excited to get this for $10.  The guy had it listed on craigslist just as a "charcoal grill" for sale...didn't mention it was a Weber anywhere.  That's probably the only reason it lasted long enough for me to grab it. 




I'll post a few pics after I clean it up/restore it.  I've got a big honey-do list this summer, but hopefully it'll be soon. 

SixZeroFour

Oh man that is a score and a half!!! Congrats on finding a really cool grill! 8)
W E B E R    B A R - B - Q    K E T T L E

SixZeroFour

Soak the wheels in evaporust for 3 hours and those whitewalls will come right back to life. ;)
W E B E R    B A R - B - Q    K E T T L E

MacEggs

#3
Wow, that looks to be a nice one!  It doesn't appear to have any crazing on the bowl.  Great score!


Quote from: tb6844 on June 14, 2015, 01:21:26 PMSo, in your opinion is it worth trying to clean up the rust spots on the outside?  My thought was to tape around them, hit them with a wire brush dremel attachment and then paint black with high temperature paint...just to prevent any further rusting.  Any thoughts?

I personally would NOT paint those spots. 
Give them a good scrub with some 0000 steel wool, then apply some vegetable oil to prevent further rusting.

Those spots tell a story of its gloried past. 

However, it's your kettle now, so you can ultimately decide. Enjoy!


EDIT:  @glrasmussen showed me this stuff for the wheels.


This was less than a minute each wheel. Toothbrush and rinse.

Q: How do you know something is bull$h!t?
A: When you are not allowed to question it.

MrHoss

Wow. Gorgeous. Never done the repaint thing but from what I understand applying it to the bowl...where the heat is probably the highest....is asking for it to turn black when you toss charcoal in it.
"Why do you have so many bbq's?"....."I just like lookin' at em' sometimes....and I have enough purses and shoes"

MacEggs

Quote from: MrHoss on June 14, 2015, 01:28:40 PM
Wow. Gorgeous. Never done the repaint thing but from what I understand applying it to the bowl...where the heat is probably the highest....is asking for it to turn black when you toss charcoal in it.

Yes, you saw what happened to my 18" redhead on the bowl.  Won't be doing that again.  :-\ :-\
Q: How do you know something is bull$h!t?
A: When you are not allowed to question it.

Hogsy

Ding Ding Ding!!!! Bingo!!! Yahtzee!!! And the survey says.......yes deal of the week!!!
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

chefn58

That is one hell of a score. I personally agree with @maceggs. Hit it with steel wool and a little veggie oil and leave it alone. I like to keep the or restore them close to original.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Searching for a Blue 18" MBH

Jeff

Wow, that's a nice find.   Its gonna clean up great!
Kettle collector AND cooker!

1buckie

Yes, that is a grate pickup !!!!


Not a whole heckuva lot of those around & it's in pretty darn nice shape.....the heat blow outs happen a lot wth color ones (maybe because it's color applied as a 2nd coat over black & sort of thick?), but man, everything else is really nice !!!!
"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"    

Idahawk

My 18 sits untouched , it's a personal choice I restore some leave others alone as found ,neither way it's a spectacular little grill congrats !


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Wanted plum/burgundy 18.5
WTB Color Copies of old Weber Catalogs

Nate


jkolantern

Really nice. Don't see many avocado 18s. Get some zavs on it.

WNC

Great score! I like to use bacon grease on rust spots

tb6844

Thanks for the feedback guys.  I think I'll go after the rust spots with the steel wool and oil as @MacEggs suggested.  I'm pretty leery of going after her with bbq paint.  I will definitely also check out that Rust Stain Remover.  I think I've seen that stuff at Menards before, so I can probably pick it up locally.  I'm looking forward to cleaning it up.