interesting
Interesting. I seem to recall a member posting about their ash sweep openings extending beyond the bucket, but I was under the impression they purchased it with the bucket in the first place (although likely used).
Maybe a bit of AL or SS Origami? Perhaps even piece cut from a beer can (shiny side out) bent to wedge under the ring & to kind of create kind of a funnel for the ashes to maybe get under the ring?
Any OT kettles from 1999 and prior will have the longer bowl holes. In 2000 is when the the 18” OTG was introduced and the bowl holes were redesigned to accommodate the ash buckets. Here is a method I use when attaching an ash bucket to an 18” with the longer style bowl holes.I used small pieces of 3M high temp aluminum flu tape to cover these small areas. I had to put the tape on the outside of the bowl so it would not interfere with the ash sweeps.