Title: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: mcgolden on September 21, 2017, 09:18:56 AM
Post by: mcgolden on September 21, 2017, 09:18:56 AM
Wondering if anyone here has had experience with this. I'm considering buying a Cajun Bandit door for my 22" WSM, but I see they sell two versions. One with the round hold that can be used with the original latch, and one with a square hole and their "premium" latch. The one with the latch costs an extra $21. I'm just wondering if I could go with the one that uses the original latch, or would I be kicking myself for not getting the door and latch.
Any thoughts?
Any thoughts?
Title: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: HoosierKettle on September 21, 2017, 09:42:30 AM
Post by: HoosierKettle on September 21, 2017, 09:42:30 AM
Yes. And I only read the title. The door and latch is money well spent. The latch provides a perfect fit and is adjustable to fine tune tightness to perfection
Also the cb latch is a compression latch if you didn't know.
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Also the cb latch is a compression latch if you didn't know.
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: Big Dawg on September 21, 2017, 12:35:55 PM
Post by: Big Dawg on September 21, 2017, 12:35:55 PM
^^^^^^ What he said.
Yes, you'll be kicking yourself.
BD
Yes, you'll be kicking yourself.
BD
Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: swamprb on September 21, 2017, 03:51:56 PM
Post by: swamprb on September 21, 2017, 03:51:56 PM
The stock Weber latch will eventually fail
The threaded ferrule in the handle is easily stripped out when retrofitting the CB door. There is only a couple threads left with the new door on, it's not the threads that strip, but the ferrule pressed into the handle.
I've had 3 fail and it's always happened during cooks
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The threaded ferrule in the handle is easily stripped out when retrofitting the CB door. There is only a couple threads left with the new door on, it's not the threads that strip, but the ferrule pressed into the handle.
I've had 3 fail and it's always happened during cooks
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: iCARRY on September 21, 2017, 04:33:47 PM
Post by: iCARRY on September 21, 2017, 04:33:47 PM
I kept my original latch. It failed right away. I fixed it by loading up the treads with JB Weld. It's held strong since. I do have a backup latch though. Wish I got the compression latch from CB.
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: vader06 on September 22, 2017, 09:55:16 AM
Post by: vader06 on September 22, 2017, 09:55:16 AM
Get the latch. It is awesome.
Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: Mike in Roseville on September 22, 2017, 06:53:41 PM
Post by: Mike in Roseville on September 22, 2017, 06:53:41 PM
Get the CB compression latch. I have 2 WSMs. One has the CB latch and door; the other is stock. They both work, but if you're going to buy the door, get the latch. You'll love it.
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: MeanMisterMustardCap on September 22, 2017, 10:45:08 PM
Post by: MeanMisterMustardCap on September 22, 2017, 10:45:08 PM
I just purchased and installed the CB door / latch kit last weekend before smoking two pork butts on my WSM 22. I think the upgrade in component quality is worth the money and would definitely recommend picking up both the door and latch together.
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: mcgolden on September 23, 2017, 03:15:52 AM
Post by: mcgolden on September 23, 2017, 03:15:52 AM
Sounds unanimous. Looks like I need the latch. Thanks everyone.
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: Bubblehead on September 26, 2017, 03:20:45 PM
Post by: Bubblehead on September 26, 2017, 03:20:45 PM
You need the latch...
Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: wessonjb on September 26, 2017, 05:18:37 PM
Post by: wessonjb on September 26, 2017, 05:18:37 PM
You definitely need the latch
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: mcgolden on September 30, 2017, 11:22:47 AM
Post by: mcgolden on September 30, 2017, 11:22:47 AM
Took everyone's advice and got the latch too. Thanks for all the feedback. Definitely the right move. 
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: Al b que on October 07, 2017, 04:40:53 PM
Post by: Al b que on October 07, 2017, 04:40:53 PM
You will be glad u got the latch with the door.Love mine(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171008/faabd12e1117e3faebb76b955acce43d.jpg)
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: GoAnywhereJeep on October 10, 2017, 10:39:26 PM
Post by: GoAnywhereJeep on October 10, 2017, 10:39:26 PM
I purchased the door with latch. The thick SS CB door gets a lot hotter than the original aluminum door. The latch also seems to be made of cast aluminum and gets pretty hot as well. I have had to tighten the lock nut up a few times even though it has a lock washer on it. My theory is that the heat up and cool down cycles work the lock nut loose over time.
The CB door seals better than the original weber door but it is still not a perfect seal. Weber sent me a replacement door because mine leaked so badly. But after a couple of cooks, the Weber replacement leaked pretty badly too. You can see the smoke stains/pattern on the other side of the door. I still get some smoke leaking out of the door around the curved area of the cutout and to the right side of the latch. When the WSM is hot, I use gloves now when opening the door. Did not have to before.
My video review is here....
https://youtu.be/KFCyLivM5Ss
The CB door seals better than the original weber door but it is still not a perfect seal. Weber sent me a replacement door because mine leaked so badly. But after a couple of cooks, the Weber replacement leaked pretty badly too. You can see the smoke stains/pattern on the other side of the door. I still get some smoke leaking out of the door around the curved area of the cutout and to the right side of the latch. When the WSM is hot, I use gloves now when opening the door. Did not have to before.
My video review is here....
https://youtu.be/KFCyLivM5Ss
Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: Mike in Roseville on October 11, 2017, 07:36:48 AM
Post by: Mike in Roseville on October 11, 2017, 07:36:48 AM
Quote from: GoAnywhereJeep on October 10, 2017, 10:39:26 PM
I purchased the door with latch. The thick SS CB door gets a lot hotter than the original aluminum door. The latch also seems to be made of cast aluminum and gets pretty hot as well. I have had to tighten the lock nut up a few times even though it has a lock washer on it. My theory is that the heat up and cool down cycles work the lock nut loose over time.
The CB door seals better than the original weber door but it is still not a perfect seal. Weber sent me a replacement door because mine leaked so badly. But after a couple of cooks, the Weber replacement leaked pretty badly too. You can see the smoke stains/pattern on the other side of the door. I still get some smoke leaking out of the door around the curved area of the cutout and to the right side of the latch. When the WSM is hot, I use gloves now when opening the door. Did not have to before.
My video review is here....
https://youtu.be/KFCyLivM5Ss
It's not a perfect seal. But the door is a whole lot better than stock. When I get my smoke going I get a few wisps of smoke from around the door, but not much. I have found that the door helps keep the overall temps much steadier than the stock one.
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: GoAnywhereJeep on October 17, 2017, 04:47:43 PM
Post by: GoAnywhereJeep on October 17, 2017, 04:47:43 PM
The latch can get a little hot to the touch and the door can also be radiating more heat than the OEM aluminum door. What i have found is that the lock nut keeps coming loose due to the heat up and cool down cycles of the metal, which works the nut loose. Even when the lock nut does not work loose, it can become difficult to latch all the way shut when it is hot and the metal has expanded.
I am starting to think that the OEM door with a gasket might be the better choice.
I am starting to think that the OEM door with a gasket might be the better choice.
Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: HoosierKettle on October 17, 2017, 04:54:07 PM
Post by: HoosierKettle on October 17, 2017, 04:54:07 PM
Maybe you have a defective latch. I've not experienced any problem with mine. Nothing has come loose and mine opens and closes the same hot or cold.
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: HoosierKettle on October 17, 2017, 04:55:09 PM
Post by: HoosierKettle on October 17, 2017, 04:55:09 PM
And I agree with mike, I think the heavier door aids in keeping temp steady.
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Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: GoAnywhereJeep on October 18, 2017, 12:15:57 AM
Post by: GoAnywhereJeep on October 18, 2017, 12:15:57 AM
Quote from: HoosierKettle on October 17, 2017, 04:54:07 PM
Maybe you have a defective latch. I've not experienced any problem with mine. Nothing has come loose and mine opens and closes the same hot or cold.
Not sure how it can be defective. It has a lock washer. If anything, i might be snugging it up too tightly where it is pinching the door and barrel together at the latch.
Quote from: HoosierKettle on October 17, 2017, 04:55:09 PM
And I agree with mike, I think the heavier door aids in keeping temp steady.
Agreed. That is a double edged sword, though, in that it has to be handled with gloves compared to the flimsy stamped aluminum door. Anyway, I run the water tray full of sand so the door does not matter so much as far as retaining heat in the metal. The leaks all around the door are the issue, IMHO.
Title: Re: Cajun Bandit Door for WSM. Do I need their latch?
Post by: HoosierKettle on October 18, 2017, 03:11:19 AM
Post by: HoosierKettle on October 18, 2017, 03:11:19 AM
I have the 18 so I can't comment on fitment on the 22, but I will say that I bought my wsm second hand and my stock latch was very loose and bending the door didn't help. It wouldn't shut the coals down when I closed the vents and it wanted to run hot. That's what prompted me to buy the door and latch.
When i used the door the first time I did notice it leaking out of the top corners like yours, however, when I closed all of my vents, it would snuff out the coals and it did keep it from running hot while cooking. In other words, the leaks I was getting with the new door were insignificant. Since then it has almost sealed completely from repeated cooks. It still has a small wisp if smoke on start up but that's about it. My personal gauge on whether a kettle or a wsm is running tight enough is if I can snuff coals by closing the vents. If that works than it's tight enough for me.
Regarding the hot latch, I had always thought it was because it was metal and didn't have a plastic handle like the stock door. I keep a glove handy when opening and closing.
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When i used the door the first time I did notice it leaking out of the top corners like yours, however, when I closed all of my vents, it would snuff out the coals and it did keep it from running hot while cooking. In other words, the leaks I was getting with the new door were insignificant. Since then it has almost sealed completely from repeated cooks. It still has a small wisp if smoke on start up but that's about it. My personal gauge on whether a kettle or a wsm is running tight enough is if I can snuff coals by closing the vents. If that works than it's tight enough for me.
Regarding the hot latch, I had always thought it was because it was metal and didn't have a plastic handle like the stock door. I keep a glove handy when opening and closing.
Sent from my iPhone using Weber Kettle Club mobile app (https://siteowners.tapatalk.com/byo/displayAndDownloadByoApp?rid=91018)