Good day all. I rescued this little BBQ 070 last night from the curbside. The hopper was still filled with pellets so I plugged it in and turned it on. No problems there. I’m planning on upgrading the temp controls and adding a thermometer.
I need advice on was to do with all the rust on the outside. (Photograph 1) Should I just strip it down to the metal and then hit it with high temp paint? The grill portion just needed old food scrapped off and a light oiling. The drip pan and fire hole cover (I do not know the correct terminology as this is my first experience with any type of smoker) are rusted to hell. (Photograph 2 & 3) What should I do to fix those parts up? There is also minimal rusting inside the barrel. (Photograph 4)
Thank you.
Note: I did scrape and vacuum the ashy grease mix out after the final photograph was taken and that all appears to be in good condition.
by psillypsybin
4 Comments
Hey! It looks like you posted an image!
If this is a photo of one of your cooks, maybe share the recipe and techniques
used, as it’s almost guaranteed one of the first questions you will be asked!
*What seasoning did you use?
*How long did you cook it, and at what temperature?
*Did you use any special tricks or techniques?
Traeger on!
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All replacement parts are fairly cheap and easy to find. I’ll tell you like everyone else that finds these old Traegers, you found gold! Heavy gauge metal holds heat and doesn’t warp. Correct on the high temp paint. Enjoy!
Nice rescue! Regarding the external rust, it’s difficult to see from the photos but I think it is a cosmetic issue and it should not affect performance unless you have holes where heat can escape.
Option 1: live with the rust, wash the outside surfaces and apply an automotive wax (Traeger recommends this for normal maintenance purposes). Store the unit in a covered area, keep it dry. If necessary, buy a cover to protect it.
Option 2: Remove the rust and touch up paint. Use a rust dissolver like naval jelly or a similar product. Apply a high temperature primer and paint to the exterior surface only.
Regarding the inside, it looks like it should but I didn’t see your grill grate. The heat baffle is the part that sits above the firepot. The grease drain pan sits above the heat baffle and below the grill. These parts look great. To maintain them, use a scraper and a shop vacuum and make sure to clean out any ash and dust from the firepot. Don’t worry about surface rust on the internal parts, and don’t use any chemicals inside of the smoker. Keep it clean and you will enjoy it for many years.
Lemons and onions work great for cleaning the grill. Just cut them in half and scrub the grill. I like to get it warmed up to 180 or 225 before cleaning the grill. Good luck!
Amazon has parts for cheap just got the same one for 20 bucks two months ago and just repaint the whole thing give it a good sand where the rust is and a light sand everywhere else it
Homedepot has a couple of different bbq paint colors