i have also used just their adhesive backed tape, it does make a difference. - Particularly on a 22.5 kettle from craigslist, i don't know what the heck they did to the lid when it obviously got dropped multiple times, but before I put the tape on, i could not shut down the coals after cooking. I futzed with it with pliers, an anvil, brass hammer, etc. and could not seem to get the lid's rim surface where I wanted it. The tape has solved that.