Hello again everyone.
I finally got around to setting up my 22" premium kettle tonight that I picked up from Target. I had quite a few issues putting it all together, I'm not sure if I got a dud or these issues are common and I'm worrying too much about it.
I followed the directions step by step, which is unusual for me but I wanted this grill to be put together perfectly. It started off rough from the beginning. I had a heck of a time getting the ring for the ash bucket on the bottom of the kettle. I finally squeezed the ring on and chalked this up to it being my first ash bucket grill. Once it was in place the tabs that go in the slots on the leg sockets were a real pain to get in. One fell right into place, but the other two were really a struggle to get in place and even then I'm not 100% they're in there exactly the way they're supposed to be. There were a few minor details on the leg sockets like some chipped porcelain around the edges and almost bare spots inside the sockets.
Then came the legs, they were a pain to get into the sockets. Almost like the sockets were just too small for the legs. After some serious convincing I was able to get them in the sockets.
Then the thermometer didn't seem like it fit well in the bezel or the bezel to the lid, but that was minor. Then as a whole the lid seems to have a pretty poor fit on the bowl. Another minor detail, on the flip grate one of the flip up parts seems like it fits really tight into the stationary part and doesn't seem to close all the way. Once full assembled the whole thing seems kind of wobbly on the legs. You can take the handle and gently move it side to side and it wobbles a pretty decent amount.
I was just curious if I got a dud and should try another kettle or if this is all typical for the new 22's and should just deal with it. I'm not sure if I'm making too much of a deal out of it and critiquing it too much. It tends to bother me if things don't fit right and I have to force things together, just doesn't feel like it's built properly to me.
My 18" snapped together with no issues and just overall seems more well put together. I am looking to get some feedback to decide which route I should take from here. Sorry if I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill, I just didn't feel like the build quality of this one fit the high expectations I had for a Weber kettle.