How to keep outside of grill from rusting?

[Joshua Flournoy]

How do ya'll keep the outside of your grill from rusting, or do you? Is there a special high heat paint that I can put on there that will do the trick over the long term? This is a charcoal grill I'm talking about.

[Dirtymike]

I use a paint brush or my grill brush and paint on all my old cooking grease. Over the years I now have a thick hard coat of blackness. It is only a greasy for a little while then "cures" and dries to a hard black coating. I find it better than paint. When I use to paint it seems I could never get all the rust out in the pits. Even with a wire brush and grinder. So my FIL told me to give the oil a try and sure enough. Its black as a cast iron skillet and no more rust.

[newill80]

Let it get hot and spray it with some Pam. Same concept as above. helps to cure it. Has worked on my smoker firebox as well.

[daveally]

Wow. You guys never cease to impress me. I worked for Sherwin Williams for 7 years. I've tried a few different types of coatings based on recommendations from my former co-workers who have a ton of knowledge and nothing has ever worked. Then you guys recommend coating it in grease and that makes perfect sense. I'm definitely going to give this a try.

[Dirtymike]

That is where my FIL got it from was using pam. Figured if pam worked the old grease would to. We had just finished frying turkeys and had a few gallons of it. What i have noticed is dust ash and dirt gets trapped in the grease. It makes it bumpy. Eventually it feels like bedliner and is just as thick.

[Dirtymike]

Daveally I agree. It seems you get a bunch of bonafide rednecks, (and a couple guys that get pedis) and somebody knows something to answer someone else. Pretty resourcefull group for sure.

[Starman]

Let it get hot and spray it with some Pam. Same concept as above. helps to cure it. Has worked on my smoker firebox as well.

This is how I do it. It works well.

[Coach W]

WOW, PAM, never would of thought of it. I just try to pull it under a tree, or the awning after I use it.

[jerp]

My smoker is about 15 years old and the firebox is badly rusted. A few times over the years I've sanded it down and repainted but next time I will remember to coat it in oil afterwards. Great idea.

[Pablo]

Looks like I have some high heat paint that is not going to get used!

[nanny_slammer]

pam or the grease are the only way to go ...there is one kind of high temp paint i used and got it from an oil company in west tx when i taught out there and that was 5 yrs ago and to this day it still has the same paint and is as good as the day i sprayed it. It wasnt cheap but if i could remember the name i would definitely use it again

[Miki]

Great info y'all!!! I use the high temp pain once a year. I will try the pam this year.

[PBFrijoles]

like dirty mike said.... the only thing i do different is get my pits hot, remove the coals, than coat them with cooking oil. IMO don't be scared to soak them in oil.

[Dirtymike]

Used left over oil grease is free so you can get it THICK

[cheez]

I just got done soaking my pit with some used cooking oil. Great idea and thanks for the tip!