Found a Weber Performer at an estate sale. Bought it for $30! Now I need to restore it. Appreciate any advice re rust issues, et cetera.

[bmillin]

I would give it a scrub, maybe a scotchbrite on the grill or a handul of foil. Then cook on it.

[HawkerXP]

Go to the weberkettleclub.com for cleaning and restoration advice.
pitch that grate and get a stainless one. Our friends at Slo n Sear sell one.
Don’t worry about ash sweep. While cleaning bowl, as found in the kettleclub, your sweep should free up. Or throw some lit charcoal on it and it should break free.

Got a picture of the lid vent? There should be a manufacture date code stamped on it. Again weberkettleclub will show how to figure it’s age.

[jfmorris]

Great find!

I've got an older Performer Deluxe, but with the same Thermoset (plastic) table. I would go by the restoration guides over at The Weber Kettle Club:

http://weberkettleclub.com/

Specifically, they have a good one on the kettle itself:

http://weberkettleclub.com/weber-grill-restoration-interior-and-exterior-kettle-cleaning/

And this one if you feel the plastic table needs work:

http://weberkettleclub.com/blog/2017/02/20/weber-performer-table-restoration/

Mostly, I would just clean out the inside of the bowl, replace that cooking grate with a stainless one from SnSGrills.com, and get to cooking!

[rlozinak]

Congrats on the new cooker!!! Love the color.

[briano52]

Wow! Great price on a really nice grill. I have had a similar vintage Performer for 15 years or so. I have also restored one of your model. Yours has the gas assist starter. I very nice feature. The sparker and associated wiring can go bad but Weber still sells all the replacement parts. Your table top is plastic/nylon and they work just fine. I panted one with metalic paint and it came out nice. Be careful with handling the table after you take it off. It can break easily on the rim if you drop or bang it on the edge.

You can upgrade to the metal table but it is kinda expensive. About $150 or so. The grate can be replaced, or you can brush off all the rust with a good quality metal bristle brush. It is fairly easy to brush off the rust and even easier if the grill is hot when you do it.

Also, I think it is Weber or the Weber forum that has a chart where you can match the number on your grill and see what year it was made. Maybe some Weber fan will post the link to the chart here.

Weber carries most every replacement part you might need although their part prices have gone up a lot in the last couple of years. I love the Weber Performer and it is fun to keep them going for decades. They are the most versatile grills. You can do most anything on them and there are lots of cool accessories. My favorites are the SnS insert and the rotisserie.

[jfmorris]

Ask and you shall receive…

http://weberkettleclub.com/determine-age-of-old-grill/

[briano52]

Hey, JF that was fast and good information. Thank you!

[Soonerpop]

What a score! Good luck restoring it, and let us know how it goes.

[Old Glory]

I bought a used one for camp but then gave it to my daughter for college. I bought a new grill grate and just did a deep clean. Nice find!

I was going to suggest Killa Grilla Grates but it looks like they are no longer in business.