Howdy. New member. Joined the Virtual Weber Bulletin Board after buying a new (used) WSM... and all of a sudden, my kettle collection seems to be expanding. Once I get into something... start looking at forums... then look out. Next thing you know, the wife is annoyed (perhaps justifiably) and the size of the garage becomes increasingly inadequate.
My first kettle (and the one I've owned for several years) is a one touch in black, mounted on an old One-Touch Platinum cart that I inherited from a friend (his kettle was heavily rusted). Has been my go-to for years, and I still love it.
Then, I started researching a bit, as I wanted to learn to smoke. Bought a slow-n-sear... couldn't resist the WSM 22 on CL... and then, it began. (And I joined the Virtual Weber Bullet forms as well, which didn't help slow my roll at all.)
In the past 2 months, I've happily razor scrubbed and steel-wooled a couple of kettles (my OTP... and a standard kettle I found and supplied to my brother in-law), I began modding my OTP (lid hinge, added a drilled port and adapter for a PartyQ (bought a PartyQ that I use on the WSM or this kettle), added a gasket, dome thermometer, wooden handle on the vent, marked the bottom vent. Then, having realized I kinda ran out of things to mod on that particular kettle... began looking for another performer. Don't like the fact that the top on my OTP is so ugly (and I've already sanded it... and it is already dirty again), SO, I decided to look for an older SS performer. And it didn't take long for a lucky find... red mist SS performer, with zero rust. I did make a questionably long drive for it. (1.45 hrs each way.) That is now scrubbed and beautiful. Don't think I'll mod that one (perhaps just the stick on lid gasket). Now, a used 26er (with the 'uneven leg syndrome' is on the way, compliments of a friend. Already have plans for a 26 performer build, modeled after some of the posts on WKC. Excited!
Restraint is not necessarily my strong suit. However, compared to my similar behavior battling a guitar addiction (from which I have almost entirely recovered), these Weber kettles are delightfully inexpensive! (I kinda suspect that once I finish the 26er build... and perhaps acquire a Jumbo Joe or Smokey Joe and do a smoker mod... that'll probably be enough for a while, lol.)
Happy to be here. Thanks for a great site and forum!