I use the bottom of an 18.5 inch kettle as a firebasket. I do however use have a ring of expanded metal that I bolted into a circle the diameter of the charcoal grate that I sit inside of the firebasket. If you use the bottom as your firebasket you should drill a bunch of 1 inch holes in it so that air can flow through it. I'd also cut the bottom off of it just below the charcoal grate supports for more airflow. If you do that you'll have to make some kind of legs to raise it off of the bottom of you smoker though. I just used some L brackets that I bent into the right shape to get my 3 inches from the bottom.
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