Gas Grill Renovation

My wife bought me an inexpensive gas grill for my birthday a few years ago, but I never got around to buying a cover for it. End result? Rust, and lots of it. For about a year now, I've been thinking that I ought to grind off that rust and refinish it, but never got around to it. Today, I finally did something.

Step 1: Amass Gear

The first thing you need to do is gather your gear. Some of what I gathered is optional, some is mandatory.

Mandatory:
Garden hose
Spray nozzle
Work gloves
Eye protection
Screwdrivers (size and type depend on your particular )
Pliers (you might be able to get away with sockets if your grill is less rusted than mine...)
Corded drill (Yes, you MUST have a corded drill to run the wire cup! Don't even think about trying it with the cordless!)
Degreaser (I used engine degreaser)
High-heat paint (Obtained from the local home center for about $4 per can. I used one.)
Wire cup
Tarp
Grill cover (You don't want to have to do this again next year!)
Not shown: Grill brush

Optional:
Hearing protection
Dust mask/Respirator
Cordless drill (I despise turning screws by hand!)
Palm sander
Extension cord
Sanding disks
Not shown: Shopvac

Comments

[Bosun Rick]

With the "new" style  'OPD' valves (for Overfill Protection Device) shutting off the gas valve is no longer a requirement. If nothing is attached, no gas flows.
While I don't necessarily recommend this practice, but did discover it by accident while checking to see if my tank was empty. The propane guy said it is a safety feature in the new valves.

[rokeylounge]

You know, I can't count the number of times I've been told that fixing something to get it back in good condition will "nickel and dime you to death." Great work with staying away from death! LOL!

Honestly though, it looks like (as needed) a few new parts will go a long ways with the work you've already done.

I think I would add a high gloss finish, and as you've already talked about, new wood slats. Also, a new burner would probably be on my list, but you've already talked about that too.

Great work!

[syntaxerror37]

as long as we're talking safety you should be wearing closed toe boots, and long pants would be a good idea too.

[jeanga1]

Thats fabulous your grill.... well done... we live too  much with buy a new one and a throw away attitude....  its nice to see someone preserve what you have and to use all the tools you bought to do projects such as this.. well done you... its people like you that make this world a brighter place :-)

[Cremaster]

Just buy a new one. That looks like a lot of work. Usually the burner is rusted out, the grates are rusted out, the burner gaskets are dried up and blown away, the ignitor is broken, and it is just not worth the work or $$$ to fix. If you do take on a project like this purchase a cast iron burner.

[digrat]

Part of the fun of this renovation is using the tools I have amassed to extend the life of another tool that I already own. It's the good feeling of knowing that I can do it. It's the satisfaction of working with my hands, making something (somewhat) new out of something old. Could I go out and buy a new one? Sure. But where's the fun in that?? But your comment about the cast iron burner is duly noted...I suspect it would last much longer than my cheap steel one.

[roosmama]

Hmm... I recall reading to use a brass burner as cast iron rusts... But I'd do more research before believing me. :-) (From my wife's account. :-D) Derek

[mallorynicole68]

Loved your project, I work at a store that sells grills. We take away customers old grills and usually trash them, so I have the opportunity to have a new grill each week but have never tried to restore one. I may have to try now. It's wonderful to see you putting some love into a grill that still has some life to it. When you are ready to replace old Brinkmann there try a Weber, and make sure it's a premium Example Weber 310EP (found at a specialty or hardware store). As previously stated by Ehmbee the Weber line is solid and the company stocks every part. They last a very long time. Or if you've got a few grand to blow check out Firemagic brand, it's the best brand of grills you'll ever find.
Again, loved your project I hope that the grill works for a very long time because of your efforts.

[Rusty777]

had this bbq grill for 7 years bought it at wal mart for 69 dollars but the burner finialy gave way, is there any place to get a replacement burner.

[nilmahj]

home depot. they have every replacement part you could ever need for a grill.

[salvadorel]

nice re-do, yes fixing with own hands most satisfying. replaced my weber grill slats with maple cutting boards, coated with mineral oil... nicer than new..will post soon.. i wonder about using cedar (western red of course) too soft, dents and dings easily..but, it is rot resistant.

[mikeasaurus]

Is it just me, or is everything barbeque amazing?

[digrat]

The only thing even in the neighborhood of barbeque's coolness is cast iron cooking. :)

[elicenter]

I hear that. Best thing about my new (-ly purchased used on Craigslist) grill is the side-burner, which allows me to combine the two. Woohoo!

[Spectrace]

you can also go to a hardware store and pick up a nice shiny new burner to replace the old crusty rusty one. we did that with our grill a few years back, and it may need to be done again. Not sure how much it would cost though, my parents did it.

[digrat]

I checked online for a replacement burner and couldn't find one. Apparently, my Grill King Deluxe (model 810-3200-G) is long-since discontinued so I'm stuck with what I've got. If anyone else knows where I can find a replacement burner, I'd be much obliged if you'd provide a link...

[Aerospaceman]

Grill King Deluxe (model 810-3200-G)Heavy-duty gas grill is constructed of heavy-gauge steel hinged lid and welded body Features include 42 000 BTU stainless steel burner with dual controls push-button ignitor for easy lighting over 520 square inches of cooking surface to handle up to 75 lbs of food large wooden handle that stays cool to the touch two wooden side shelves for large platters and condiments temperature gauge metal storage rack for accessories and durable wheels for easy movement Propane tank not included Available in
$510.53
http://www.brinkmann.net/Docs/Pdf/810-3200-G.pdf

[ghostbuster]

Although I don't see Grill King Deluxe listed, grillparts.com has never failed to have the parts I needed to replace, whether it be a burner, a cooking grid, ignitor or a drip vaporizer shield. Standard disclaimer applies: I don't work for grillparts, just a satisfied customer. BTW, burners are not universal replacement models like those available at orange home improvements stores.

[Spectrace]

many burners can be used on a wide range of grills... what you can do is take your burner to a place like home depot or lowes maybe, and ask if they have an equivalent replacement for yours. i think the replacement that we had gotten was made by black and decker, and our grill i believe is made by sunbeam

[ehmbee]

Nice job-sure, you could have bought a new on as someone suggested, but as the price of grills go up, this method becomes more feasible. I recently did the same thing to my $600 Weber Genesis gas grill-they are built solid and Weber stocks parts for just about all of them. For a nice change, spray your lid with brake caliper paint on the outside-nice, bright colors are available (I used red) and the finish lasts for years, rather than grill black which needs to get done annually in most cases. You can also paint your Brinkmann emblem, then run a sanding disk over top-the low parts of the logo will keep the paint, and your emblem gets a nice "machined" look-really makes the last perfect detail in you renovation project. MB

[nicko6113]

well I got a kick out of all the safety material. and then you wear flip flops. aka slippers. depending on where you live.

[rcg40]

This inspired an untried suggestion Put Aluminum foil in the ceiling of the top. How to attach it? Does it save fuel? just an idea

[digrat]

I would imagine that adding the reflective foil, plus additional (insulating) air space between the foil and the inside of the lid would make the grill more efficient. Just how much more efficient? I would have no idea. As for how to attach it? A small dab of JB weld here and there?

[rcg40]

I thought of it as a way to capture grease. The fact that it reflects heat is an added bonus. Drilling holes and putting in stove bolts to hold a few straighened hangars should be easy and then insert the foil behind the wires. Do this while the thing is cold. If you do it with the fire on, results may be disappointing :( just an idea

[mcadwell]

Super easy way to clean grates: Remove grate(s), spray well with oven cleaner, put in yard trash bag, tie bag closed, leave overnight, take out next day, wash and rinse well with garden hose, put grates back in BBQ, smile.

[digrat]

I also read that you can clean the grates by placing heavy duty aluminum foil over them, then turning the burners on high for 30-60 minutes or until all the guck has been burned off.

[digrat]

On that note, I also read that you can clean the ceramic bricks by turning them over (top down) and turning on the burners for a few minutes. Don't try this with lava rocks, though--just buy new ones, since the guck gets down into the pores of the lava rocks.

[haz]

Nice job! To save the grinding work, you could bring the castings and peices into a local sandblaster. I had to pay $15.00 when I did mine.(I would have paid $40) Are you going to sand the shelf boards to clean them or buy new? Way to go. Haz

[digrat]

I have several cedar boards in my garage that I'll cut up into new slats... I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the handle, though.

[Karyudo]

If your barbecue is old enough, it could be "righty loosey, lefty tighty" for the propane tank connection!

[sled_head]

I think all propane fittings are lefty tighty.

[digrat]

My fittings must be turned counterclockwise to remove them... But really, since they're hand-tightened anyway, it should be pretty easy to figure out which way is tighten and which way is loosen.

[jongscx]

I think the "new kind" (okay, as of 5 years ago, but they're relatively new) with the black twisty thing are CW-tighten, wheras the old kind that needed a wrench are CCW-tighten...

[jdlink]

I have used phosphuric acid to remove rust before painting metal. Any thoughts on using that here?

[Mr. Rig It]

Hey great job on the instructable and the grill. When is lunch? I only have one suggestion, and that is to sand and re-stain the handle and shelves. Keep up the good work!

[digrat]

Thanks--those are a project for another day... :)

[njtrout]

Remeber to TURN OFF the gas BEFORE disconnecting the supply hose!!!!

[tzilla]

(removed by author or community request)

[digrat]

My "grease cup" rusted out completely--the bottom fell right out. I'd imagine your burner has got some pretty big holes in it, too... Neither my local Lowe's nor Wal-Mart carried acceptable replacement burners, but I'll keep looking.

[tzilla]

I have same grill..what a thrill. Like you I neglected her in her first years now its payback time. I like your instructable and what an excellent job. How about fixers for rusted out bottom? I bought replacement burner two summers back from Brinkmann (took a couple of months) after searching everywhere for a replacement. I like my big bad brink of destruction. Seriously, will it blow up with the bottom rusted?