I guess it's time to build a mini...

[Sramsey]

Found this SJS new today for $15 so I figured I'd just get it and build a mini.

Where did u get it that cheap?

[Nate]

Craigs List brand new in box. Figured I just get it I stead of waiting for the Target end of season clearance sales.

[Nate]

Picked up the only 32qt IMUSA tamale pot at Walmart this morning. I knew fit was hit and miss with this brand but wanted to keep this build cost under $50. So, it fits the SJ bowl just fine. The lid was a different matter; the pot rim was to wide as you can see in the first pic. Out came the grinder. I took down enough material around the perimeter of the pot rim until the SJ lid fit. A little filing and it doesn't really look like I did anything to it.
The lid fits perfect now.

[Nate]

Little more progress.

[austin87]

Ah, so the bottom gets cut out. I was thinking that drilling holes might make a good heat deflector. Where does the cooking grate on that bad boy go?

[mike.stavlund]

That's a great scribe you set up there, @Nate .  Keep the photos coming!

[Craig]

take a smokey joe lid with when you go to walmart.
no one will tease you... i mean, you're ALREADY inside a walmart.

   

[Craig]

On a serious note, nice job on the mini! I need to get mine out again. I'm considering doing a lime one this year.

[Nate]

Ah, so the bottom gets cut out. I was thinking that drilling holes might make a good heat deflector. Where does the cooking grate on that bad boy go?

I'm going to try the clay pot plate as a deflector. If that doesn't work I can use the steamer tray that came with it. It has holes.

[Nate]

I'm done except for drilling a hole for my temp probe. Don't know if I want to install a permanent one when I know I'll be using the Mavrick. :wsm:

[Nate]

Time to season her up and to check temps. Lit her up this morning and about 40 min in he temp was 375 and the clay pot plate was broke. So I pulled that out and threw in the steamer diffuser. I might need to go the pie plate route next time.

[CharliefromLI]

Cheap and easy thermometer probe  solution:

_{http://t.homedepot.com/p/Halex-1-2-in-Service-Entrance-SE-Water-tight-Conduit-Connector-90661/100170032?N=5yc1vZbohkZ1z10xus}

[Tommy B]

I bought the Imusa pot and it did not fit. The lid would not fit on the top of the pot. I returned it. I went with a pot from academy. It was more expensive but it was a little taller.

Link to pot I used.
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/outdoor-gourmet-36-qt-aluminum-pot-with-strainer/pid-314758?N=586087320

I took my entire smokey joe into academy and pulled about 4 pots out of boxes to see if they fit... I guess I just have no shame!
here is a shot of my mini. Good luck on the build. 

[Nate]

I bought the Imusa pot and it did not fit. The lid would not fit on the top of the pot. I returned it. I went with a pot from academy. It was more expensive but it was a little taller.

Link to pot I used.
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/outdoor-gourmet-36-qt-aluminum-pot-with-strainer/pid-314758?N=586087320

I took my entire smokey joe into academy and pulled about 4 pots out of boxes to see if they fit... I guess I just have no shame!
here is a shot of my mini. Good luck on the build. 

It's built. See the pics above. All I had to do was grind down some of the rim lip and the fits perfect. No smoke leakage anywhere except where it's supposed to, the lid vent. I used the IMUSA because I wanted to keep this a sub $50 build which it is. 

[Red Kettle Rich]

Good looking mini TommyB