body of the grill to get it looking new. Take a heavy-duty grill scraper, a metal putty knife, or even a grill stone/pumice block and scrape off all the loose flaking rust while it’s dry. If it's really deep, you can put a wire wheel cup or a sanding flap disc on a household power drill to pull it back to bare, shiny silver steel in five minutes. Use soap and water (one of the only times you will ever use dish soap on your Blackstone) and a steel wool pad to scrub away the remaining rust dust. Rinse it thoroughly, then immediately turn the burners to high for 10-15 minutes to evaporate every single drop of moisture hidden in the metal's pores. Once it's bone-dry and blazing hot, apply a paper-thin layer of seasoning blend (like Blackstone's griddle conditioner) or standard vegetable oil/Crisco. Wipe it down so it looks like you accidentally wiped it all off—thin layers are key. Let it smoke completely out until the smoking stops (about 10-15 minutes). Repeat this process 3 to 4 times until the top is a uniform, slick dark brown or black. For the Grill Body & Frame, remove the griddle top and set it aside to prevent paint or chemical dust from getting into your cooking surface. Use a wire brush or a medium-grit sandpaper (around 120-grit) to sand down the rusty areas on the frame. You need to sand slightly past the rust into the surrounding good black paint to ensure the edges are smooth and the rust won't crawl back out. Wipe away all the dust with a damp rag and let it dry completely. Go to the hardware store and grab a can of High-Heat BBQ Grill Spray Paint (brands like Rust-Oleum High Heat or Krylon High Heat work perfectly). They are rated up to 1,200°F (648°C). Apply 2 to 3 light, even coats rather than one heavy, dripping coat. Do not paint any part of the actual inside where the burners sit, and obviously never paint the griddle plate itself. Only paint the exterior frame, legs, shelves, and lid. When you finish this weekend's project, save yourself a future headache with two simple changes to your storage routine: When you take the griddle top off for winter storage, apply a slightly thicker layer of cooking oil than usual to prevent oxygen from touching the metal. Place a plastic bowl, a small bucket, or a block of wood on the griddle surface before you put the cover on. This creates a "tent" peak that allows air to circulate beneath it and forces rainwater to run right off the sides instead of pooling on the fabric. If you like this advice, thank AI and me for shortening its response to your inquiry. :-)