WSM Idea - What do you think?

[Swine Spectator]

I have a 22" WSM. It is a great cooker and I really like it. My one quibble with it is that it uses a whole bag of Stubbs every time I fire it up. I have tried running it with a 1/2 bag for shorter cooks, but I don't think it works as well. I have also tried closing the vents to snuff it, but that doesn't work very well either.

I am thinking about ordering a charcoal ring for an 18" WSM to use in the 22" for shorter cooks. My rationale is that the smaller ring will keep a smaller amount of charcoal stacked tighter for shorter cooks.

Has anyone tried this? Do you think it would work well?

David

 

[aawa]

Many a brethren do this to save on fuel. It works well and you will save on fuel.

As for the vents not snuffing out the fire, you have an air leak somewhere. It could be the center is out of round, or the door has a leak in it. You can test which area is the problem by using foil as a gasket around the bottom and the door.

 

[Harbormaster]

Ren nailed it.

 

[Jeff H]

I have also tried closing the vents to snuff it, but that doesn't work very well either.

In my 18, I can shut the vents and snuff the fire pretty quickly. Knock the ash off the coals and fill up the charcoal ring with fresh for the next cook no problem. I can keep this up until I need to dump the ash. Check for air leaks.

Alternately, I've seen people put a couple fire bricks in the 22 to take up some space so they use less charcoal.

 

[Happy Hapgood]

In my 18, I can shut the vents and snuff the fire pretty quickly. Knock the ash off the coals and fill up the charcoal ring with fresh for the next cook no problem. I can keep this up until I need to dump the ash. Check for air leaks.

What he said. The same with my 18.

 

[Jason TQ]

I just use fireplace bricks. No need to buy another ring if you have those.

 

[ooootis]

Sounds as if this a common problem . I'll be getting some nomex rope and fire brick

 

[Joe Black]

The 18" charcoal ring works very well. That's what I did when I had a 22" WSM.

 

[robert-r]

you can make your own fire ring out of expanded metal. Any size you like.
Go to a metal yard & look for remnants/drops/scraps. Cut it to size with a cheap Harbor Freight grinder w/ a metal cutoff blade. Bend it & wire the ends together with tie wire.

fwiw - circumference = 3.14 x radius squared.

 

[NoNotTheDuo]

you can make your own fire ring out of expanded metal. Any size you like.
Go to a metal yard & look for remnants/drops/scraps. Cut it to size with a cheap Harbor Freight grinder w/ a metal cutoff blade. Bend it & wire the ends together with tie wire.

fwiw - circumference = 3.14 x radius squared.

Agree with making your own fire ring, but your circumference formula is wrong.

circumference = 2 x 3.14 x radius = 3.14 * diameter

area = 3.41 x radius squared.

 

[robert-r]

Agree with making your own fire ring, but your circumference formula is wrong.

circumference = 2 x 3.14 x radius = 3.14 * diameter

area = 3.41 x radius squared.

Oops... you are correct

 

[chambersuac]

Build a UDS.

Someone had to say it!
Actually, not a bad idea to build a UDS with a charcoal basket that is smaller than the WSM ring and use it in the WSM when needed.

 

[NoNotTheDuo]

Oops... you are correct

And I got the stupid pi numbers wrong! Should be 3.14 instead of 3.41. :doh:

 

[EricD]

I've had the same fuel problem with my WSM. No problem snuffing it out though, but the last few cooks I've noticed smoke leaking out of (damn near) everywhere. I just bought the gasket kit, but haven't installed yet so no review. ([ame="https://www.amazon.com/Gasket-Weber-Smokey-Mountain-gasket/dp/B00CI6WFCU/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477405837&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=WSM+Gasket+Kit%2C+Weber+Smokey+Mountain+18.5+22.5+Nomex+RTV+grill+gasket+seal"]Amazon.com : WSM Gasket Kit, Weber Smokey Mountain 18.5 22.5 Nomex RTV grill gasket seal : Weber Smokey Mountain Accessories : Patio, Lawn & Garden[/ame])

 

[HawgHeaven]

I don't have the 22.5, butt I have two 18.5s, fitted with custom charcoal baskets, fabbed with expanded metal. I get 8 to 10 hour burns with these puppies. Great machines they are!

 

[Fwismoker]

You can also use a fire brick and partition the larger basket off.

 

[EricD]

Anyone ever try the snake method in a WSM?

 

[tubby384]

I have all my intake ports blocked except one hole for a guru adapter. I use foil as gasket material by lining the edge of the smoker body and I also purchased a SS door from Cajun Bandit and it is air tight. I have an 18" ring, but don't use it. Seems like the WSM does great when you cover it with a blanket and the efficiency goes way up, and since my unit has no leaks, it saves charcoal. I think the expanded metal idea would work out great and would be way cheaper than buying a WSM ring. Hope this helps.

 

[troy64]

Anyone ever try the snake method in a WSM?

I have tried it as well as minion. So far I've had more consistent cooks with simply lighting 15-20 coals and spreading them evenly over the top of unlit coals.