My landlord recently "cleaned" our patio grill by scraping off the rust on the grate and then spray-painting it with Rust-Oleum high-temperature grill spray paint. I'm really concerned about cooking on a grill that's covered in paint—I definitely don't want to eat food cooked off of that! What are my options? I was thinking about using a paint stripper to get rid of the paint, applying it thick, letting it sit, scraping it off, and then sanding the corners between the grates. Am I on the right track with this method? Also, I've learned that it's one of those converted oil-drum grills, so finding a new grate isn't as simple as just ordering a replacement. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
I’d say just get your own grill if you can! That painted one doesn’t sound safe at all to use for food anymore. Think of your health, it’s not worth the risk, just cook on something that’s verified safe!
Exactly! Your health is more important than keeping that old grill around.
If you still want to try using the existing grill, I'd suggest burning it off first. Crank it up to high heat for a few minutes and see if that helps. Just make sure to brush it thoroughly after that.
I agree, burn it off first! It might help eliminate some of the residue before you clean it.
But honestly, I wouldn’t trust it even after that. Better safe than sorry!
Honestly, I would just buy a new grate if you can find one that fits. For those oil-drum smokers, a 22-inch grate from a Weber might work if your dimensions match. It’s a safer bet than using the painted one at this point, which might still have paint residues even after cleaning.
Exactly! You can usually find those replacement grates online or at home improvement stores. It's worth looking around before resorting to cleaning that one.
Yeah, and if you can’t find a proper replacement, consider getting a whole new grill, honestly.
Right? Even if you manage to strip the paint, there's a chance stuff will still linger, so I'd definitely steer clear of it.