Is Rustolium paint safe for inside a cooker?

[Merrick Bill]

My NBBD cooker has some rust spots and I was going to paint the outside.  Then I got to thinking "can I paint the inside, as well?"  I know the cooker was painted black inside and out when I first bought it, so there must be some paint that's food safe.  Anyone have any experience in this area?

Bill

[teesquare]

I am not sure that the Rustoleum folks would be o.k. with recommending it for that purpose BIll...
But - if there is no food contact, and you allow a few days for complete cure before cooking in it - and you fire it up to really burn off any volatiles that may be released - .....


I would do it - and not worry about it.

[CaptJack]

buy a couple of cans of oven cleaner to use on the inside to help cut the creosote
then use a high pressure washer on the whole thing, inside and out
us any of the high temp enamels
then do a good hot seasoning burn for a few hours to burn out the volatiles

[Ron D]

Bill,

Rustolium make a high temp paint just for grills...rated to 1200F. I comes in several colors and flat or Gloss

[Merrick Bill]

Bill,

Rustolium make a high temp paint just for grills...rated to 1200F. I comes in several colors and flat or Gloss

That's the one I have.  I just wasn't sure if it was okay to use inside the grill or if it was only for the outside.

Bill

[smokeasaurus]

I would be hesitant on painting the inside. I like the Captains idea of using the oven cleaner first. I would then grease down the inside and cure it with some long slow smokey sessions (minus the grub) and that should do it...my 2 cents.......

Talk to David or Rich down in Houston and they would probably say no to the paint on the inside as well.

[Merrick Bill]

I would be hesitant on painting the inside. I like the Captains idea of using the oven cleaner first. I would then grease down the inside and cure it with some long slow smokey sessions (minus the grub) and that should do it...my 2 cents.......

I think that's what I'm gonna do.  I know the pits come painted from the factory but i don't know which paint would be safe and I don't think it's worth taking the chance.  I'll just grind out the rust and season the inside.

Thanks for all the advice.

Bill

[muebe]

I too would worry about the paint on the inside of the cooker. Having the paint flake off and get on your food is not good eats. If you want to spend the cash and have it powder coated that might be an option. Most likely it was powder coated from the factory.

I agree with just giving it a good cleaning and let it season up. Rub the interior with some peanut oil after cleaning then run it at around 300F to 350F for a couple hours to give it a good seasoning. Then apply a coat once in a while and you should be good.

[smokeasaurus]

Smoke er up real good Bill... I would do 2 or 3 seasoning cooks ...that will season the metal...... Get a tub of Mexican lard (Manteca) you can slather it on with your hands..........might wanna put a drip pan tray under your pit to catch any drippins.......

I was typing this while Muebe posted....like his peanut oil idea!!!! Us California boys stick together!!

[Hub]

I'm not real warm on the inside paint, either.  Why even chance it?  I've used hi-temp paint on the outside of several cookers with good results.  However, on the inside, if nothing else, you've got "grease and grime" to retard or obviate any rust issues.  It's part of the seasoning -- a good thing.

When I got my NOS Traeger there were several spots on the inside bottom of the drum with no paint at all.  After several cooks they've disappeared, covered by the natural coating that will always be there unless I use industrial-strength degreaser on it.

Hub

[smokeasaurus]

Come to think of it when you get an off-set from the big guys out in Houston (Klose,Gator,Tejas,JJ) they sand off any surface rust on the interior chambers right before shipping and it is up to the new owner to do the seasoning process.....

[Merrick Bill]

I'm gonna season the inside with Crisco and paint the outside.  She'll be good as new.

Thanks everyone.

Bill

[squirtthecat]

Get some lard..   

(I would use a couple cheap cans of generic Pam myself)

[Barry CB Martin]

IMHO -- Paint inside a cooker just seems a waste of time - and potentially hazardous.  (paint has gotta have some nasty stuff in it that will oxidize when heated to the temps one can expect, regardless of the rating)

I'm in the camp that suggests sanding and seasoning like bare metal cast iron.

As for PAM and other aerosol spray-on type oils. Seems to me I've read a number of discussions on the other forum about the propellants used being problematic. Crisco or canola oil sound like the way to go, rubbed in on freshly sanded and cleaned metal (note if you use an oven cleaner you'll need to rinse it off with water..but then you have a drying issue and as water dries you will already begin to get rust unless you use a hair/paint drying to rapid dry. - don't-cha think?)

[smokeasaurus]

Chris Marks of the Three LIttle Pigs cooking team seasons all of his Good-One pits with Pam spray............