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Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking. |
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12-09-2012, 08:52 PM | #1 |
Is lookin for wood to cook with.
Join Date: 12-09-12
Location: Cypress CA
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New guy with Mini WSM dreams....
Hi everyone, 29 year old California male here who has almost obtained everything needed to build a mini WSM smoker. I bought a Weber Smokey Joe Silver today, as well as the Chinese version of the IMUSA 32 qt stock pot. Right at this moment I'm waiting for the wife to get home with the Weber so I can see if I have a perfect fit or not.
I went with the Silver version over the Gold because none of the local stores had the Gold, and I wanted this to double as a grill, and having the airflow come from below the charcoal bed makes more sense to me from a grilling standpoint. Was this a mistake? I'm aware of the clogged vent problem, but the stainless can mod seems simple and effective enough. I still have the receipt... does anyone feel the Gold would be worth returning the Silver for? I'm currently researching thermometers. I'd like to get a digital thermocouple probe combo, but these are so expensive, I'm not sure if it's worth it. I may go with the Maverick ET73, but I've read quite a few negative reviews on Amazon and elsewhere. Any recommendations? I'll buy the nuts+bolts and spare grates within the next couple of days. Then, after a quick paint job on the pot, I should have my smoker built! I look forward to reading the threads here. Looks like a great site. Thanks |
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12-09-2012, 09:07 PM | #2 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 02-16-12
Location: Long Island, NY
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Hi CJ, a mini WSM is cool, good luck with your build!
Bob
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"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin | [COLOR=RoyalBlue][COLOR=Red]Weber[/COLOR] 18 1/2" & 22 1/2" WSM[/COLOR], [COLOR=SeaGreen]22 1/2" & 26 3/4" OTG[/COLOR][COLOR=DimGray][COLOR=Black],[/COLOR] [COLOR=DeepSkyBlue]Genesis S-330[/COLOR][/COLOR] |[COLOR=DarkRed] [COLOR=Black]|[/COLOR] BBQ Guru CyberQ WiFi [/COLOR]| [COLOR=DarkOrange]Maverick ET-732[/COLOR] | [COLOR=Gray]Gray Thermapen[/COLOR] | |
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12-09-2012, 09:08 PM | #3 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 09-03-11
Location: Hainesport, NJ
Name/Nickname : Dominic
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I've been using my Silver for quite a while. Been very happy with the mods. You'll be happy with your's I am sure.
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Weber Performer :mrgreen:, Weber Genesis Silver C, Weber Smoky Joe, Mini-WSM, Great Outdoors -(Ugly Vertical Cabinet), cheap a%% Kingsford Kettle In the end it will be okay. And if it's not okay, it's not the end. |
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12-09-2012, 09:29 PM | #4 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 07-03-12
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
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You will love the mini. I use my 1-3 times a week. As for a thermo, I use the Maverick ET-732. It works great, you just have to make sure to not pull on the probes by the wires, immerse the probes in the sink, or kink the lines on the probes and the ET-732 work great.
You can get the Maverick ET-732 from most places. I recommend http://bbqequipmentstore.com/NEW-Mav...732-ET-732.htm The proprietor is 5-0BBQ (a fellow brethern) He runs a great shop, that ships fast and has great service. And if I'm not mistaken you can get a brethern discount with a discount code (I cant remember it off the top of my head)
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~Ren~ Fat Kids Club Founding Member |
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12-09-2012, 09:56 PM | #5 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 06-24-07
Location: visalia, ca
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the silver is just fine. do the can mod and yer good to go. the silver would be easier to get higher temps. i've used my gold for the last few cooks and i'm just not sure of the results. the next few will be with the silver and then i'll know. one thing for sure is ya need to build a basket for the coals. better burn control. also make sure to replace the hardware withh ss stuff. that weber junk rusts quickly.
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george spam, can't live without it |
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12-09-2012, 10:05 PM | #6 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 11-13-11
Location: york, pa
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I got all the parts to give my son for his build when he came home from Afghanistan. It was a surprise for him, and I got the gold because I didn't know any better. I figured he'd be doing mostly grilling while he's still on base at Ft. Bragg, and I was right. People told me the gold would be better if he was going to do mostly smoking, but he hasn't had any problems grilling with it, either. With the mods, you'll probably be fine no matter which one you use. I do agree with George, though, regarding the stainless steel hardware. That's a must. Remember to post pics when you're done!
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*When all else fails, just ask yourself ?Quid faceret Gore et Landarc?? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a little pyro at heart! Who's got the hot dogs? Bubba Keg, Weber Genesis E-310 NG Mini WSM, Shhh!!! Michael's surprise Cornflower Blue Thermapen Might not be the fastest, but it sure is the prettiest! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Proud recipient of a certifiably uncertified limited edition MOINK ball certificate!! |
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12-09-2012, 10:18 PM | #7 |
Is lookin for wood to cook with.
Join Date: 12-09-12
Location: Cypress CA
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Thanks for the replies everyone.
I just put the grill together and inserted the aluminum pot. Is there supposed to be a little give where the pot sits inside of the grill bottom, or is it supposed to be snug tight? I definitely have some give on mine. The lid also doesn't go over the pot 100%. It's probably a 90-95% fit. Do I need to take the pot back and get another one? |
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12-09-2012, 11:34 PM | #8 |
Is lookin for wood to cook with.
Join Date: 12-09-12
Location: Cypress CA
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Did a little more research.... looks like the Vasconia pot is a better fit. I had some saved up Amazon points and it will actually be cheaper than the IMUSA pot. Will return this one to Target tomorrow and wait for the Vasconia to arrive.
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12-09-2012, 11:42 PM | #9 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 11-13-11
Location: york, pa
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I got my son the Vasconia. Fits perfect.
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*When all else fails, just ask yourself ?Quid faceret Gore et Landarc?? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a little pyro at heart! Who's got the hot dogs? Bubba Keg, Weber Genesis E-310 NG Mini WSM, Shhh!!! Michael's surprise Cornflower Blue Thermapen Might not be the fastest, but it sure is the prettiest! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Proud recipient of a certifiably uncertified limited edition MOINK ball certificate!! |
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12-09-2012, 11:50 PM | #10 |
Is lookin for wood to cook with.
Join Date: 12-09-12
Location: Cypress CA
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The Weber hardware isn't stainless? That's surprising.
Does anyone have a parts list to replace the existing hardware? I'll make a trip to Lowes. |
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12-10-2012, 01:18 AM | #11 | |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 07-01-12
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
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Quote:
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[B][I][COLOR=black]*A Texan transplant*[/COLOR][/I][/B] [B][SIZE=1][COLOR=black]UDS | [COLOR=blue]Blue[/COLOR] Weber Performer Platinum | Chargriller Akorn | 22.5 Weber OTG | WSJ Gold | Mini WSM | Maverick ET-73 | [COLOR=blue]Blue [/COLOR][COLOR=black]Thermapen | Maverick PT-100 |[/COLOR] Gasser(charcoal chimney starter)[/COLOR][/SIZE][/B] |
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Thanks from:---> |
12-10-2012, 10:32 AM | #12 |
Is lookin for wood to cook with.
Join Date: 11-15-12
Location: Slidell, LA
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I have a Silver with the Vasconia pot, works great, did the can mod, actually a stainless cat bowl from petsmart for $0.99. The pot seems to fit even better once she heats up, have to give it a bump to break it loose.
I'm using a couple of cheap digital probes for now, until i can get something better. Found one at a local sporting good store for 12 bucks and a decent Taylor on clearance too. They run about 3-5 degrees apart which is good enough for me. I have a regular thermometer mounted between the grills which is usually off by at least 20 degrees. Over the past 3 weeks I've done a small butt, a hunk of flat, whole chicken, and just did two racks of babys just yesterday. My ECB is now collecting dust. |
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12-10-2012, 11:22 AM | #13 | |
Is lookin for wood to cook with.
Join Date: 12-09-12
Location: Cypress CA
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12-10-2012, 11:31 AM | #14 | |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 04-09-12
Location: Ft Mudge AT
Name/Nickname : Ron
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Quote:
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A bunch of Webers, a UDS and a Happy Cooker! |
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12-10-2012, 01:01 PM | #15 | |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 11-13-11
Location: york, pa
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Quote:
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*When all else fails, just ask yourself ?Quid faceret Gore et Landarc?? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a little pyro at heart! Who's got the hot dogs? Bubba Keg, Weber Genesis E-310 NG Mini WSM, Shhh!!! Michael's surprise Cornflower Blue Thermapen Might not be the fastest, but it sure is the prettiest! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Proud recipient of a certifiably uncertified limited edition MOINK ball certificate!! |
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