As any good story should start out, this build got up-and-running with a Craigslist freebie. Complete with the Match Light & lighter fluid. <shaking head>
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/8B8198D2-B222-4A52-B316-1D9D25E3F3F7-5980-0000028A9BD479E7.jpg)
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The $21 pot from Target. The rim was a hair too big for the Joe lid, but a light squeeze with an F clamp around the perimeter was all it took. 2 minutes...
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/7F9E78C7-FBC1-4491-A2D0-8007012DE0B2-5980-0000028AB4E29C0D.jpg)
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Since I can't do anything easy, I'm creating a "WEBER" mini.
Printed the logo on Avery paper and stuck it to vinyl shelf paper. Getting ready to cut it out.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/18BB9A12-E483-49A9-BC80-8097B268E395-5980-0000028AD927AFF7.jpg)
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At this point, I used more shelf liner over the top to hold everything together. Otherwise, I'd have all loose letters.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/1D7C0738-B440-4EF3-B959-16FF0912C3B1-5980-0000028AF8BB49B2.jpg)
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Applied to the pot and ready for paint.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/1EF88D50-4C1B-4B03-A89C-4B25A5BB54F8-5980-0000028B0819A9A4.jpg)
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Primed
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/C97A4959-F988-45C6-9118-87F25FC556AE-5980-0000028B17F07ECF.jpg)
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After priming, I shot the 'grill' area with red paint. After that cured for a week, I installed the grill decal and shot the pot with a couple coats of black.
I got too excited and forgot to take a photo. But, here she is with just the grill decal removed.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/DDFEC115-4AD1-420D-8DD9-4976878F9E05-5980-0000028B385F2A01.jpg)
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I also added a lid holder from a simple angle bracket
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/EA26E22F-0DCD-4C04-83F2-815C8BD44640-5980-0000028BEE6F0645.jpg)
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/4B1A9EB1-8ED5-4E06-B9E0-E3EA417F3FBD-5980-0000028BF52B0872.jpg)
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And here she is in all her glory.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/A0BEC8B0-4A15-4123-8755-EE590FEF057F-5980-0000028C0CD97014.jpg)
I also built a charcoal ring from $10 Home Depot expanded steel. I believe this was 3.5" high and it's the size of the charcoal grate.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/47430B2F-25C4-49A4-AE4C-E6A6C04DA2C7-5980-0000028B47637026.jpg)
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Since the 24" length wasn't enough, I had to splice in a shorter length. I started by bending the ends to 90 degrees on all mating ends.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/B8B98917-49BD-4305-9622-EF8EEBD19ADE-5980-0000028B55231433.jpg)
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Now they're bent to 175 degrees and you can see how they'll interlock together.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/17268743-4756-4A4E-BD02-7AA0E75B127D-5980-0000028B6F038995.jpg)
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/D81DBC3A-B9CC-43D0-AF4A-9F2CA3297520-5980-0000028B635D000F.jpg)
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Once they were locked together, I set the ring on the concrete floor and tapped the joint with a hammer. Holds together, and looks, awesome.
Then I wire-tied the ring to the grate
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/7EE31E45-59DA-4ECF-9519-C97E5EB6183D-5980-0000028B92C83B68.jpg)
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Setting in the bowl.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/5A660D31-A617-4CF2-9487-ECB1E61FDCCC-5980-0000028BA153BE2F.jpg)
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Since I had some expanded metal left over, I made an ash blocker for the lower vent.
Used the cut-out from the bottom of the pot to create the top of the ash blocker.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/D89EB280-A109-4F61-9017-DCFC9E0CC3F5-5980-0000028BB1097474.jpg)
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Setting in the bowl.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/40AFBE0B-8D83-4143-88CD-C549B7D0AE89-5980-0000028BD2132514.jpg)
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Used a stainless steel cabinet door knob on the top vent for a handle.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/231DBDD0-2A51-4F91-919A-6CC04DE1F6AA-5980-0000028C00A0ECE0.jpg)
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Used a 12" all thread rod for the lower vent adjustment. To make the 'handle' I used the threaded connecting rod splicers & capped it with an acorn nut.
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(http://i303.photobucket.com/albums/nn123/baeseman1/6CF2D2AC-CC5D-4347-BE02-E126CBDE7A8D-5980-00000290CC522D61.jpg)
Wow!
Very, very nice! Can't wait to see pics of it cooking.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk 2
Awesome job
The decal looks perfect
The only thing I could recommend is to upgrade the legs
With the extra weight the SJ legs feel a bit flimsy
Awesome job! If you figured a decent rate for your time, I bet you would be over the estimated $225 retail cost for the mini-WSM if Weber sold it today, but I doubt it would look as nice.
You'll have to let us know how the ash blocker works. Mine has holes at the top so ash does not fall through it and onto the vent holes. But I suppose if ash does not fall through the vent holes, it should not fall through the expanded metal either.
Now get it dirty!
Great Job!
That's some fine artwork!
That came out really nice!
Outstanding job! George Stephens himself would be proud.
Man is that nice... Beautiful build..
I am not the biggest fans of these home made mini WSMs, but this one is really incredible. Well done.
Fantastic! That is probably the nicest one I have ever seen! 8)
Thanks fellas... Obviously it wasn't a 'rush' build, but rather a cool project. My friends think I have a problem, but they don't say much while stuffing their face when I invite them over. :D I love my big ol' WSM, but sometimes I'd have more $$$ in charcoal than meat for a smaller cook. This should fit the bill perfectly for a small butt & beans or chicken & peppers. I'll cure the paint this weekend by firing it up.
Duke +1
Really great job. Like coming out of a store!!
Looks great. How many cooks have you had on it? How has the paint held up? Current photos?
Outstanding build Bman :o!! you do great work. now lets see her fired up ;D ;D
Quote from: G$ on April 01, 2013, 06:23:07 AM
I am not the biggest fans of these home made mini WSMs, but this one is really incredible. Well done.
I'm curious what it is that doesn't excite you about these. (No, not trying to pick a fight, just curious.) Mine is one of my go-to grills. I find it perfect for small smokes (and by small, I mean less than half a dozen racks of ribs or couple butts.) I did my first brisket on my mini-WSM. It's also great for stuff like moinks and ABTs where I want direct heat but not too much.
Quote from: Paul Isa on April 04, 2013, 11:30:31 PM
Looks great. How many cooks have you had on it? How has the paint held up? Current photos?
Thanks!
Zero
Perfectly - I'm in the 7 day 'drying' process before I cure it with heat.
These are.
I picked up a small (3ish lb butt) I'll smoke on Sunday.
Awesome paint job Bman, glad the shelf liner worked out. I'll be starting the process this Sunday; it's finally warm enough outside to use degreaser and start painting. First up is MN Twins mini with pin strips and a TC logo. Hope mine is half as good as yours.
Looks like it came that way, looks good!
Looks like it came factory from Weber. I don't even want to show the one i just built after seeing this beauty. Outstanding job!
Nice work Bman!
I picked up a 32 quart Imusa pot a few months ago to do this same project, like you the pot is just a tad too large for the Smokey Joe lid. I am unfamiliar with how you used an F clamp to alter the pot for a nice fit for the lid?
I was planning on using a Dremel to trim the lip of the pot for a nice lid fit, then I saw on another forum the 32 quart Vasconia pot fit the Smokey Joe lid perfectly; but I still haven't ordered the Vasconia pot yet.
Thanks! The Dremel will leave an edge that requires additional attention to make it safer for skin. :)
Picture using a pair of pliers to squeeze the rolled edge on the top of the pot. Instead of using pliers, I used the clamp in the same fashion and in this orientation. (larger side inside the pot, handle outside)
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(http://www.p-wholesale.com/upimg/17/693a1/f-clamp-2-613.jpg)
With the pot standing normal on the work bench, I went all around the pot giving a light squeeze to the rolled edge. Literally, I moved the clamp an inch at a time around the perimeter. After it was all done, the lid fit perfectly. During the first cook, the metal got hot & expanded (duh) and the lid became snug while removing. After the cook was over, I went around one more time and it's been problem free since then. Probably took me 2 minutes to do.
Very nice. The weber looks flawless.
You do very good work! If I ever come across a cheap smokey joe, I may borrow form your techniques and try to build one myself.