1880 bottom cooking grate size?

[Walchit]

So I have a C code with no bottom grate, and @SteveZ has an E code and he is in the same boat.

I found some info once about the older 14s being slightly smaller than the new ones, but I cant find the info now.

What I do know is that a Smokey Joe cook grate is about an 1/8 inch bigger than the top grate and doesnt fit down in there. Steve thinks the bottom grate is the same size as the charcoal grate, but I think it should be 13" or maybe a little smaller.

Does anyone have a C-E code 14 with the bottom grate? We are both ISO one.

Pics are of an H code SJ cook grate compared to my upper cook grate from my c code 14.5 wsm

SJ grate is 1/8th to 1/4th bigger.

[pbe gummi bear]

The original 1880 has a different lower grate setup with a water pan and much smaller recessed cooking grate. See in this thread: http://weberkettleclub.com/forums/weber-kettles-accessories/e-code-14%27-wsm-(friend-find)/ It's not particularly useful! I recall being able to slide the top grate down the mid section so that it sits on the lower bolts in case that's helpful to you. I think Mike Stavlund was the one that was looking to retrofit the newer 14" wsm straps/innards into an 1880. The newer 14" wsm has a taller midsection.

[Walchit]

Yeah that was what @SteveZ had sent me, I just didnt feel like weber would have used that for a bottom grate. There are a few others out there that dont have the bottom grate either, maybe another el cheapo grill uses ~12" inch grates. I will have to do some searching, maybe measure my redi-smok/Ol' Smokey grates

[pbe gummi bear]

https://www.amazon.com/onlyfire-Stainless-Charcoal-Kamado-12-Inch/dp/B01N2UNFRO

What will you use as a diffuser?

[Walchit]

That would probably work really well! Not to sure I like the price tag, but that probably is the best option.

I have the water pan, I had thoight about making some refractory cement(I think thats what its called) and making molds that fit inside of my water pans on all 3 sizes of wsm. I'm currently using this pampered chef ceramic bowl sitting inside my water pan on my 18. Ideally I would have enough room to sit a drip pan in on top of the ceramic. Right now I just use foil

[pbe gummi bear]

Try round corderierite kiln shelves. They are cheap and work well.  https://www.axner.com/cordierite-shelf-10roundx58.aspic

[Walchit]

Those do look cheap compared to a pizza stone! I grab any ceramic cookware I see at garage sales. I have a couple square baking pan type things, I might try to get a wheel on the grinder to cut one down.