Painting the Inside of a Smoker

[JonathanEngr]

Hi, all. I've been lurking around here for quite some time. There is so much great content and advice, and I've learned a great deal from you all over the past couple of years.

I have a pellet smoker, and the air box has rusted through in a couple of places. It was made of a thin sheet metal and only lasted a couple of years. I went by my local metal supply shop and purchased some 1/8" steel and planned to weld together a new box. I'm not sure why it didn't cross my mind before, but I never considered how to coat it. I've looked and looked online, but I can't seem to find any good answers. I know that many of the grill paints out there are meant for the *outside* of the grill, and I've seen several people ask about painting the grill racks (not a good idea), but I haven't stumbled on any posts/articles about painting the inside surfaces of the grill. Obviously, coating these must be possible since all grills come from the factory with a coating. Rustoleum has a food safe paint, high-heat paint ( 8400 System Food & Beverage Alkyd Enamel ), but it seems to only come in two colors--white and mustard. I need to coat the bare metal with something, but I don't want to endanger my family with any caustic chemicals that burn off during cooking. I would appreciate any advice you can give me--thanks!

 

[Coreymacc]

Figures, they only make the paint in weird colors. I have come across this so much. The smoker will be black inside soon enough to cover the terrible colors?

Just thinking out loud
Corey

 

[dirtsailor2003]

I wouldn't paint it. I would oil it like you would cast iron and heat it to the proper temp for the type of oil you are using. Do this 2-3 times. That will protect it from rust and there will be nothing that may become harmful.

The paint that you have listed is not a high temp paint and shouldn't be used anywhere near a smoker. Its temp rating is only up to 212°f. This paint is meant to be used on surfaces not exposed to high heat to prevent mold and inhibit rust, So like the Outside of a commercial fridge (or inside as its rated down to 18°f)

For the piece you have if you were to paint (which I wouldn't) you'd need to use something like caliper paint (1200°f rating). The problem with these paints is they require extremely well prepared surfaces and most require that you follow a precise curing process involving high temps that are hard to achieve unless you have the proper ovens and ventilation.

 

[JonathanEngr]

Thank you for your replies! Well, the coatings that come on grills seems mostly worthless, anyway. The paint on the airbox was flaking away inside of a year, and the ambient moisture was enough to cause significant rust. I was actually trying to cover a small hole with a scab piece of metal and 1/2 of one side of the airbox just caved in.

Regarding oils, should I use 5w30? 10w30? (LOL!) Is there an advantage to using a specific oil (canola, vegetable, olive, etc.) and where would I find curing methods on them? The air box will be hottest near the pellet pot, and I would think significantly cooler towards the pellet hopper. Should I try to "cure" the oil on the airbox in an oven before I install it in the smoker?

 

[SecondHandSmoker]

Canola or vegetable oils are prefered for their higher smoke points. Avoid olive oil due to its lower smoke point and the fact that it goes rancid.
Give everything a light coat of oil and then run the smoker at 350 degrees for an hour. Let the smoker cool down and repeat the above one more time.
A smoke patina will develop inside the smoker during subsequent cooks. This patina will help protect against rust too.

 

[JonathanEngr]

Terrific! Thanks so much. That makes my work a good bit easier.

 

[hoity toit]

Canola oil inside and out, bust to do it while it is warm like on a sunny day.

 

[SecondHandSmoker]

Terrific! Thanks so much. That makes my work a good bit easier.

You're Welcome.

And as Hoity Toit said, do the outside too.