Mini WSM build.... Grates don't fit
 

Thought I would try my hand at a building a mini WSM. The First pot I bought the lid didn't fit, and in the process of crimping the edge I ruined the first pot.

So for the next attempt I bought the 32qt Vasconia, this time the lid fit nicely. but the grates from the smokey Joe #7431 do not fit inside the pot.

what is the correct grate to fit inside? or is the pot i bought just off a bit

I have the Vasconia and the Joe grate fits as well as a second one i bought.

cooking grates or charcoal grates?

I have the Vasconia and the grate fits, but I kinda have to angle it in - it doesn't just go right in - it takes a little angling/jiggling sometimes to get past the rivets for the handles.

cooking grate. I bought the 14.5 replacement grate from home depot

I have the vasconia as well. Are you just getting hung up on the rivets?

Try it from a lot of different angles...mine is finicky, but I can eventually get them into the pot.

it tried that, I can get one side in just fine, and I can even force the other side over the handle rivets. but it just will not fit. It does seem to fit if I stand it on edge. So I don't see why it will not fit. seems like something is out by about an 1/8 of an inch is all.

worried if I force it i might mess up the fit of the lid

My grates are a tight fit. Not much extra room.

I think all these mass produced parts are never exact and off by some tolerances one way or the other.

I bent the grate trying to get it to fit, and even then it would not go all the way in.

its off by the thickness of the outer ring. the steamer insert fit inside the the bottom edge perfecty.

The cooking grate that came with the joe didn't fit? My extra grate i got off if Amazon.

even worse, stacking tolerances. both of them could be off +/- and together they end up being really off.

nope that one doesn't fit either.

Just checked...i got the 7431 and it fits great. Sorry to hear your problems....most likely the pot is off in size.

The only thing i can think to try is grinding off a fraction off the outside edge on the grates.

I use the 18.5"kettle charcoal grates they seem to be a millimeter smaller:blabla:
just a tiny bit or so it seems