Painting the water pan for MES 40"?

[A40DayFlud]

Unfortunately my water pan rusted from a lack of clean-up from the last smoke and I need to smoke something this weekend.

1. Has anyone ever used high heat paint on the water pan that goes in the smoker? Is it safe?
2. Would it be simpler (and probably safer) just putting a stand alone pan of water on the bottom rack?

 

[daveomak]

Rust will not hurt anything... Use it the way it is... DO NOT PAINT IT..

 

[Murray]

I agree with daveomak, no paint, steel wool and elbow grease.

 

[Braz]

Not many people use the water pan in an MES smoker anyway. They are well insulated and seal well so they hold
moisture very well. Fill it with sand and let it act as a heat sink and don't worry about a little rust.

 

[Jonok]

I put a pan (a full-size foil steam table pan works fine with a little coercion) on the bottom rack, and dispense with the oval one supplied.
Does a better job of catching drippings, and, you can put water in it, though, as has been already pointed out, you generally don’t need to do so unless you’re only smoking a light load.

They can be had for less than a buck, and if you’re smart, you can rub your meat in the pan, preheat the smoker, and when it’s ready, carry your meat out to the smoker put the meat in, scoop out whatever is left of the rub and apply it, and stick the now empty pan on the bottom rack.

No Mess, nearly impossible to make enough drippings to overflow it and leak all over your driveway, and you can throw it out when it looks unpalatable..

 

[dr k]

Dry it well and line it with aluminum foil. That should end rusting.

 

[Bearcarver]

Just cover it with foil & put it back in place.
Putting water in an MES water pan is not a good thing to do anyway.

Bear

 

[A40DayFlud]

Thanks y'all. Great advice from everyone. I appreciate the insights!

 

[normanaj]

As one who has been applying paint to just about everything for 30 years.....no need.Your water pan is rusty because it spends its entire active life in a wet environment.

What Bear said,foil it.