Need help on a mini wsm build!

grillinguy247

grillinguy247

is one Smokin' Farker
Joined
Sep 17, 2013
Messages
816
Reaction score
392
Points
0
Location
Murrieta California
What is the suggested hardware for a mini wsm using a Smokey Joe silver. Also is the silver preferred or is it the gold. I would need to know what tools are recommended for the build as well. Forgive me I'm new at the "build your own smoker thing". Any advice would be appreciated. :decision:
 
Boy you opened a can of worms on this one since there are about a thousand different options. It comes down to air from the sides or air from the bottom. There is a mod with a can to prevent chocking with the air from the bottom if you go the silver..you can also mod the silver to perform like a gold by adding side air vents.

I went with the gold but you have to order it online i believe..at least i couldn't find it in the stores.

IMO the gold performs great with a charcoal basket because it gets air all around the charcoal and burns clean.
 
Thanks. That's why I need help because I am open to using either silver or gold. I have heard silver is good if you want it for a grill to but I just need a dedicated smoker. I will be planning on making the charcoal basket. Just to give more info I'm open to any input.
 
With the charcoal basket it will work like a grill regardless...i use mine to reverse sear all the time. There's more silver builds out there because its readily available but im glad i got the gold off Amazon. I still have my build pics somewhere...i'll find them and pm them this week to you.
 
By the time you buy all the materials and hardware.. and a compatible tamale pot (the $40 one off of Amazon), it will cost you around $110 to make. Why not spend $199 and buy the Weber 14.5 bullet?
 
bbqgeekess said:
By the time you buy all the materials and hardware.. and a compatible tamale pot (the $40 one off of Amazon), it will cost you around $110 to make. Why not spend $199 and buy the Weber 14.5 bullet?
Click to expand...

Family budget. :doh: and would like to do it myself.
 
grillinguy247 said:
The IMUSA pot is about 20 bucks here at Walmart. (Socal) or target
Click to expand...

I got the IMUSA, it didn't fit.. I returned it and bought the Vasconia for $40 (shipped) off Amazon. (Vasconia fits beautifully.)

If you go with the silver, buy a can of chicken (larger than a tuna sized can), and make several holes in it at the bottom of the sides (inverted top of the sides). There needs to be enough holes to cover the area of the stock holes, so airflow isn't restricted.

Buy an additional grate and rotate it 90 degrees if you want to use lump charcoal with it (I do).

Buy a 12" terra cotta plant saucer as a diffuser and cover with foil.

Sit a smokey joe cooking grate along the inside ridge and sit the terra cotta diffuser on it.

Add two more cooking grates above with stainless steel hardware. Add a temp gauge between the two cooking grates.

That's what I did anyways and it works really well.
 
bbqgeekess said:
By the time you buy all the materials and hardware.. and a compatible tamale pot (the $40 one off of Amazon), it will cost you around $110 to make. Why not spend $199 and buy the Weber 14.5 bullet?
Click to expand...

Incorrect. I got about $60 in mine including buying the grill.
 
Smokey Joe Silver 28
IMUSA pot. 23
Grate. 12
Thermometer. 10
Step bit. 17
Stainless hardware. 5

8.25 sales tax

My mini WSM was a fun project but also a pain. I drilled holes in the bottom of the tamale pot instead of cutting it out. A year later I still find shavings from somewhere.

Again it was fun to build, but if Weber Mini that is out now had been more than a rumor back then, I would have gone with the Weber Manufactured mini


Obviously you can do a Fred Sanford and beg borrow and plunder parts from CL, eBay and the neighbors trash but that's true of anything. I wanted all new
 
16Adams said:
Smokey Joe Silver 28
IMUSA pot. 23
Grate. 12
Thermometer. 10
Step bit. 17
Stainless hardware. 5

8.25 sales tax

My mini WSM was a fun project but also a pain. I drilled holes in the bottom of the tamale pot instead of cutting it out. A year later I still find shavings from somewhere.

Again it was fun to build, but if Weber Mini that is out now had been more than a rumor back then, I would have gone with the Weber Manufactured mini


Obviously you can do a Fred Sanford and beg borrow and plunder parts from CL, eBay and the neighbors trash but that's true of anything. I wanted all new
Click to expand...

You can't count the cost of the step bit in that. You can use that again. And besides, it's Man Law #9 that every DIY project requires a new tool purchase. And don't tell my wife any different! :mad2:
 


two pieces of expanded steel tied onto the charcoal grate...about 3" high so it doesn't interfere with the pot


No need for a teracotta pot i just use the steamer pan...works great. Sit a pot on the steamer if you want but it's not necessary at all. This is a 9 lb butt i did in hours.



Put a handle on the vent if you'd like...nice and handy



The gold is nice also if you want to screw in a guru or iq

The top grate is 4 inches from the top and i have a 2nd one 3 inches above the steamer
 
Thanks for the replies. The thing that almost makes it not worth it now is the fact that the vasconia pot is now 65 bucks. That makes it almost cost as much as the real thing I think it's a conspiracy.
 
grillinguy247 said:
Thanks for the replies. The thing that almost makes it not worth it now is the fact that the vasconia pot is now 65 bucks. That makes it almost cost as much as the real thing I think it's a conspiracy.
Click to expand...
But the IMUSA is $21 all day, everyday and 15-30 minutes to crimp the lip...
 
grillinguy247 said:
Thanks because I was told the IMUSA didn't fit. I would rather get that and do some crimping and not let go of the 65. Frugal guy right here
Click to expand...
My lid didn't fit initially, but it was close. I took a c-clamp around the lip of the pot and crimped the lip slightly all the way around. After 2 gentle passes around, it fits. I could probably stand one more pass on the crimping, as once it heats up, it is a tight fit. But, no leaks ;)
 
Thanks for all the replies folks this is a project I will most likely be doing between Thanksgivings and new years and I'm just making sure I know what I'm getting into before hand. Never built my own smoker before and thought it would be fun. So Thanks again for all the input especially Fwismoker! :thumb:
 
If I had do-overs. I would do the SJ Gold and cut the tamale pot bottom instead of drill and use the enclosed steamer plate as diffuser. That's it. IMUSA was easy to find, once I looked in the right place. Kitchen gadget isle at Albertsons and United grocery stores always have in stock. . My lid does not fit like a Velcro ball cap but it gunked up and seals perfectly no leaks in one chicken cook. And I am probably the only one that can tell it's not a perfect fit.

The great thing about building your own is there are zero warranty issues. You own it. Jack with it to your individual hearts content.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

16Adams
Full SLC on Tabletop Cooker- Crowned
2
Replies
26
Views
836
Big George's BBQ
Big George's BBQ
B
Offset smoker build - advice apprecieated
Replies
7
Views
1K
Kevin James
K
bonz50
smoker size/builders
Replies
19
Views
1K
Connor_Macleod
C
B
DIY Cold Smoker
Replies
15
Views
2K
SmittyJonz
S
cayenne
Vacuum Sealers: Need Recommendations (Brand, External vs Chamber, Bags)...?
2
Replies
38
Views
2K
Itsdone
I
Back
Top