WSM 18.5" Mod advise.

There are no must have mods for an 18.5 WSM. it's fine the way it is right out of the box. After a few good cooks to season it up it will run rock steady for hours and hours.

I have a bad habit of not being able to leave things alone. That being said the only changes I've made to my WSMs over the years was to add a thermometer (older models didn't come with one) and if I'm using lump charcoal I lay a second charcoal grate, turned 90 degrees, on top of the first so the smaller bits don't fall through. That's it. The WSM does so well on its own I haven't had to do anything else. A Stoker or a Guru might be a nice addition but they hold temp so well that I could never justify buying one.

Wheels!



That's the only mod I've done to my 22.5" so far. Other than that feed it lots of meat and charcoal.

gooffy, congrats on winning the 18 1/2" WSM.

I agree with "J'ville Grill", leave it stock, it works great. Get some cooks under your belt then you can look at mods.

I don't use water, I use a foiled clay flower pot base in the foiled water pan.
I've done a probe grommet mod and a thermometer mod.
I plan on adding side handles and a separate port for my ATC.

I've had a WSM for over 2 years, and like "Kirk", I just can't leave things alone.

Bob

Goofy,
As the others have said, you are basically set with a great cooker in the WSM. However, I see you are also from MN. The other weekend I had to open all vents 100% and maxed out at 275 degrees, which is where I wanted the temp. It just took about 90 minutes to get there.
So on those colder it would help to have a guru for temp control, or you can pick up a thick, fire safe blanket to wrap around the midsection of you WSM. Moving blankets work great.
Holding the temp is pretty easy with WSM's. Getting to that temp when it is 5 degrees out with a wind...that's something else.

Kirk said:

...and if I'm using lump charcoal I lay a second charcoal grate, turned 90 degrees, on top of the first so the smaller bits don't fall through. That's it.

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^^^This, and handles on the center section are mods I make to all of my WSMs.

In all honesty, there are very few performance mods you can make to a WSM, and most mods are just for convenience.

Congratulations on winning the WSM. You will love it.

A pair of handles for the center section. They make lifting it on and off and whole lot easier.
Genie garage door handles are just the right fit.

Mine is an older model. I have added a dome thermometer, second charcoal grate, larger water pan, and probe eyelet from BBQ Guru.

I would not want to do without any of those.

Congratulations on winning! I run mine stock/no mods, but the wheel mod interests me.

No mods are required. But... Here is what I've done with mine.

I got some 1" (or 3/4"?) expanded metal from the big box home repair store to lay on top of the charcoal grate. I use lump and it helps to keep the smaller pieces from falling through.

I put a bead of high temperature silicone along the groove on the bottom joint on the middle section to provide better sealing.



I installed one eyelet for routing temperature probes. You can buy a very nice hollow bolt that does this but I just got brass eyelets for much less at the H/W store.

I added some short bolts midway between the bottom and top racks that I can set an additional 18" rack on. For stuff that's not too tall like chicken legs or ribs lying flat it gives me 50% more cooking surface.

I didn't put casters on mine because my brick patio is too uneven to make them useful. Nor have I bothered to add handles to the midsection.

Other popular mods are to substitute a clay pan for the water pan (and use it dry, I think.) I haven't done that either. I recommend trying a couple smokes with the water pan used as intended to hone your skills at temperature control before you try that if you are so inclined.

The mod I most highly recommend is a few hot coals on top of a bed of charcoal and smoking wood (search for Minion method) in the bottom and a couple butts or racks of ribs - properly seasoned - on the grates. Remove when done and enjoy!

I find the sensor grommets useful for my probes


http://cajunbandit.com/wsm-parts-mods/

Harbormaster said:

^^^This, and handles on the center section are mods I make to all of my WSMs.

In all honesty, there are very few performance mods you can make to a WSM, and most mods are just for convenience.

Congratulations on winning the WSM. You will love it.

Click to expand...

Harbormaster....what handles to you put on your WSMs?

Stanley garage door handles and grommets for temp probes.

These for handles:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcu8NnI--Vs"]Weber Smokey Mountain Handles - YouTube[/ame]

Toast said:

Stanley garage door handles and grommets for temp probes.

Click to expand...

Those grommets are nice. I have them on 2 of 3 WSMs.

Freddy j said:

I find the sensor grommets useful for my probes


http://cajunbandit.com/wsm-parts-mods/

Click to expand...

I'm thinking I might like to put those on my Weber kettle. Hate pinching the cable with the lid. Any reason to think the 3/8" grommets wouldn't work on a kettle?

PS: Huge grats Gooffy! :thumb:

1. Assemble
2. Wipe down
3. Cook on it!