Mini WSM Questions

[Cayman1]

Kind of hard to see, but I pushed the very bottom grate all the way to the bottom, past the ridge in the pot.

Included a picture of my ring.

[HankB]

Originally Posted by Cayman1

Kind of hard to see, but I pushed the very bottom grate all the way to the bottom, past the ridge in the pot.

Is that three cooking grates? How did you get the bottom one past the ridge in the pot? Did that require some flexing of the pot?

Do you put something between the coals and the bottom grate?

[javahog2002]

There is only 1 cooking grate in my WSM Mini at 4 " down from the top lip. The grill fits so tightly that I can't take it in and out before and after a cook. So the second grill would be useless for me.

[benniesdad]

I have two grates in mine. The top grate is 5 inches from the top and the bottom grate rests on the lip where the tamale steamer goes. I drilled holes in the bottom of mine so I place an aluminum pan on a trivet on the bottom that I use as a deflector and/or drip pan. With this set up it gives me 4.5 inches between the grates.

The picture below is with the bottom grate in place. The bolts and nuts you see are mounted from the inside out as I found that the best way to place them to holding the top grate. When I placed the bolt heads on the outside it made it more difficult to emplace and remove the lower grate.

Good luck with your mini WSM project. I love mine. There is a bunch of info posted on these over on the Virtual Bullet site in case you have not already checked it out.

[Cayman1]

Originally Posted by HankB

Is that three cooking grates? How did you get the bottom one past the ridge in the pot? Did that require some flexing of the pot?

Do you put something between the coals and the bottom grate?

Yes, the grate is past the ridge. It will fit. Turn it a little sideways and push. I have seen others trim off one section of the grate but it will fit as is.


I installed 3 dampers in the bottom and keep the factory damper shut. I have a grate ubder the coals and ring.

[Bob13]

Originally Posted by Carbon

I'd like to keep it full length so I can hang a couple of slabs of ribs in it.
Stability wise I realize it'll be tall vs the narrow width but I also plan on modifying the legs of the kettle to give it a much wider footprint using larger aluminum bar stock.

Yep, it can be done. Several brethren have done this w/ a 15/16 gallon drum. Or just make a mini UDS. Do a search on "15 gallon drum", and you should find multiple examples.

[HankB]

Originally Posted by javahog2002

... The grill fits so tightly that I can't take it in and out before and after a cook.

I've made several of these (for myself and the kids) and some of the grates were a real tight fit. To solve that I cut about a 1/4" out of the circumferential wire and my son welded them back together. If I didn't have a son with a welder, I'd trade some 'Q for some help at a local welding shop.

[Harbormaster]

The kids and I built a couple of these using the Vasconia pots.
We put two grates in each one. The bolts for the top grate are 1.5" down from the top lip, and the lower grate bolts are 5.5" down from the top lip.
This config gives 4" of clearance for each of the grates.
We mounted the thermometer just below the bottom grate.

[Carbon]

Originally Posted by Bob13

Yep, it can be done. Several brethren have done this w/ a 15/16 gallon drum. Or just make a mini UDS. Do a search on "15 gallon drum", and you should find multiple examples.

Yes, I can easily go the mini UDS route but since I already have an old Smokey Joe laying around I'll use the kettle. This will also add more distance between the coals and the grates or hangers.