I would like to get a clay plate or clay pizza dish for my 22 1/2 WSM. Can somebody tell me the best size to get and maybe a place to get either? I would like it to fit on the water pan holders.
Thank You.
Welcome to the club from Eugene, Oregon. I don't have a 22" WSM, but when I started to look for just such a diffuser I just measured the diameter of the water pan then went to local nursery (or Home Despot) and bought the corresponding size. Wrap it in foil to keep it a touch cleaner. Let us know how it turns out. SJ
I used a clay pot base in my old 18" bullet and it cracked when it was resting in the waterpan grooves.
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/100_2245.jpg)
Then I decided to ditch it in favor of a thrift store pizza pan foiled over and set in the waterpan. At first with red lava stones from and ancient gas grill.
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/100_2242.jpg)
Eventually ditched the rocks and settled on the pizza stone in the pan. I cook Dry - Hot n Fast.
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/Weber/100_2243.jpg)
It/they eventually crack over time as well. I sold all my 18" bullets and have two 22" bullets and an 18 & 22" Cajun Bandit Conversion.
I never bothered to look for any pizza stones or pot bases that big to fit the big bullet because the price wasn't worth it. What I did instead was have my welder friend laser cut some 1/8" steel plate discs that I use in place of the waterpan. $15 and will outlast the cookers!
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/CajunBandit/IMG_5594.jpg)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/CajunBandit/IMG_5595.jpg)
I use the steel discs as heat diverters with a foiled over aluminum catering party tray as a drip pan. Cleanup is a breeze.
Here is one for my 18" Cajun Bandit
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/CajunBandit/IMG_1301.jpg)
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/CajunBandit/IMG_1299.jpg)
pizza pan drip tray which I foil over
(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/Ugly%20Drum%20Smoker/CajunBandit/IMG_1300.jpg)
You could drag your center section to a garden supply and try to find your size, possibly a ceramic/glass supply might have kiln platesetter, but unless you got deep pockets.....I'd go steel.
Just sayin'
Great idea on the steel disk, I will go that route. Many thanks.