Weber Kettle Club Forums
Grill Talk => WSM: Weber Smokey Mountain => Topic started by: 90b4032 on August 01, 2017, 09:14:32 AM
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I'm picking up this 18" WSM from a Facebook sale page. I have been keeping an eye out for a used one for a while and finally found one. So what are the must have or must do mods for this puppy? Can't wait to try it out.
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I would invest in some nomex gasket to seal that sucker up.
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Personally I really like the Cajun bandit door and latch.
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Garage door handles from lowes for the main drum piece. Check out YouTube vids. They helped out a lot. Lid hinge also.
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Wheels are a must
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I would start with handles on the middle section, as Fazz said. The garage door handles are cheap, and you can attach them using the existing bolts so no drilling is necessary. Make sure the sections are not out of round, and bend the door, if necessary, to minimize leakage. Then I'd cook with it a while to see if anything else is really needed. Choose your mods based on your own experience, don't just rush to create what other people think is the "hot setup". I consider wheels and the lid hinge to be worthwhile conveniences, and gaskets and other attempts at making the WSM air tight to be unnecessary overkill (just my opinion after cooking for 15+ years in a WSM without them).
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If you're going to use probes and don't have the newer version this works great. Two pieces, 3/8 pipe cap and 3/8 dia x 1" threaded pipe. Under $5 at HD.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170801/d57b8b19877fc98cd4fb62517b3882ba.jpg)
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170801/b402fba5eb08a33697fe6b68a01ec289.jpg)
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Great thoughts...
Mods are all up to you. Some people use theirs stock...some slowly trick it out. My top two are the CB door/latch and eyelets for probes (next purchase).
Nomex is another good option...if you get the CB door, you probably don't need to use the nomex around the door (mine is really snug--only get faint wisps of smoke from the door). Some guys want their WSM airtight...some don't care.
I opted to not get garage handles because I have an 18 (if I had a 22 I'd probably get them). Also...depending on your cover, the handles may prevent it from sliding on all the way.
All depends on how you will use and keep your WSM.
Congrats!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170802/9f16910666a0247062dcf18e060f85d7.jpg)
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I have a 22 and It leaked a lot, I started out with the nomex on the door and it worked great. I happened to be ordering the Cajun Bandit Rotisserie so I figured I would get the door as well. The door quality and fit is amazing. I had to remove the nomex so it would close, but nothing leaks. The kit I bought also came with the high airflow charcoal ring. It's nice, it's slightly larger, the charcoal grate sits inside of it on tabs, but it is totally not needed.
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I run mine bone stock.
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I run mine bone stock.
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Same here.
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I have a wsm 18.
No mods. Straightened the door. The Cajun bandit door is on my wish list but not a necessity.
For shutting mine down I remove the center section and cover coals with a lid from an 18. Snuffs them out fast.
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Bought mine used and tried everything I could with the original door and latch and it just wouldn't work. Ran hot and wouldn't shut down. I bought the door and latch not knowing if that was the only problem but it ended up fixing everything and made temps more steady than I would have ever imagined. I'm fairly anti accessory and would have preferred to run stock but that door has been a great investment for my particular wsm.
Also I don't care about small leaks on wsm or kettles and don't strive for air tight. I just wanted my wsm to cook and shut down just like all of my kettles. That lies at the heart of why I like webers in the first place.
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@HoosierKettle
If the stock door on my used WSM wasn't bent in half when I bought it and the latch completely destroyed, I probably wouldn't have upgraded to the CB straight away...but really glad I did.
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@HoosierKettle
If the stock door on my used WSM wasn't bent in half when I bought it and the latch completely destroyed, I probably wouldn't have upgraded to the CB straight away...but really glad I did.
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Yep. Every time I open and close my cb door I get a little gleam in my eye [emoji3] the compression latch and heavy door just adds satisfaction.
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I would start and you may end with a cb door...
Let the door and wsm season togethernand it will naturally seal itself up...
I tend to use stuff in stock form before starting any mods...
Ie..inwas gona add lift handles for the wsm body but found that grabbing it by the rim top is easiest for me.....
Using something stock first for a while tells me which mods would actually add the most value.
The only mods ive done to my wsm are the cb door.
If storing outdoors id think 2x aboit adding caster wheelsnwhich will rust and need replacing
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I upgraded all the hardware on all my kettles and wsms to 316 ss hardware...hex head bolts...id highly recommend doing..hopefully the current hardware isnt rust frozen ...if som.just cut them out with a dremel and fiberglass cutting wheels
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I'd like to "poke a hole" for a grommet to pass my probes thru. Probes are working, just getting a little smushed between the Lid and Center drum.
The 18 works fine, very minimal leakage. I just picked up a WSM 14 it has the pass through... Going to do a chicken and see how it does on leakage.
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I'd like to "poke a hole" for a grommet to pass my probes thru. Probes are working, just getting a little smushed between the Lid and Center drum.
https://bbqguru.com/StoreNav?CategoryId=3&ProductId=51 (https://bbqguru.com/StoreNav?CategoryId=3&ProductId=51)
This might be what you're looking for.
Cheers!
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None are a must.
Only thing I would do is work the door a bit if it leaks. Other than that you are good to go.
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I picked up my WSM Friday and so far, have just cleaned it up and replaced the nuts and bolts with stainless hardware. I am going to try some ribs on it and see how it goes. It is a 2015 model and has a grommet for a temp probe. I will see how well it runs without a gasket kit but will definitely be ordering one if needed.
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I'd like to "poke a hole" for a grommet to pass my probes thru. Probes are working, just getting a little smushed between the Lid and Center drum.
The 18 works fine, very minimal leakage. I just picked up a WSM 14 it has the pass through... Going to do a chicken and see how it does on leakage.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170810/e277d610e3617014cd7d71d763b6d3bc.jpg) i was going to poke a hole but I'm happy i did this instead
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I added a 3rd food grate by taking off the grate straps, countersink stainless steel screws, re-attach the straps with screws in place, added acorn nuts and purchased a new food grate.
Fantastic for ribs and chicken wings. Fits lots more food.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170810/9dd1baf1f2a178cb76782837caf32776.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170810/71091f6d16e3c79da83cf841372536d5.jpg)
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I added a 3rd food grate by taking off the grate straps, countersink stainless steel screws, re-attach the straps with screws in place, added acorn nuts and purchased a new food grate.
Fantastic for ribs and chicken wings. Fits lots more food.
@bear , that is a terrific mod!
@90b4032
On the 18 and 14 WSMs the stock doors seal better if you install them upside-down.
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I added a 3rd food grate by taking off the grate straps, countersink stainless steel screws, re-attach the straps with screws in place, added acorn nuts and purchased a new food grate.
Fantastic for ribs and chicken wings. Fits lots more food.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170810/9dd1baf1f2a178cb76782837caf32776.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170810/71091f6d16e3c79da83cf841372536d5.jpg)
@bear,
That is one of the best mods I have seen for a WSM. One of these days, I am going to do this to mine. Love it!
Thanks for sharing!
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What size screws and how long were they thanks great idea?
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Most definitely, @bear !!! That's one I've thinking of for years. I figure I could do 9 racks at a time.
I was thinking that I had to go through the drum, thanks for this tip ! ! !
BD
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Thanks for the kind words, I can't take any credit for this. The idea came from tvwbb.
I modified mine some years ago, and haven't looked back. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
I can't remember what hardware was used, details could be found here:
https://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?6641-Adding-a-Third-Grate