My $5.00 Craigslist find

[dirtsailor2003]

Made a few more modifications today. Well one isn't a real modification, I remembered to grab the vent ash cover from the fiance's house. I found the bowl at the dollar store. It's a tad bit tall, so hopefully it will be okay. I'll keep my eye out for one that's a bit smaller. I upgraded the ash pan to a bigger one. Another dollar store find!

8351486982_b3de951ac8_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Jan 5, 2013

8351486102_7bfc66aecc_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Jan 5, 2013

8351488666_87464e225b_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Jan 5, 2013

New pan installed. Old pan in front.

8350425085_1d500e5470_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Jan 5, 2013

Old pan in new pan for size comparison.

 

[dirtsailor2003]

Every time I smoke I learn something new. Yesterday prior to smoking the chicken I added a vent cover, and a new larger ash pan. Well It would make sense that with the vent cover one really wouldn't need a larger ash pan.

8356379566_9bfcbfb381_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Jan 6, 2013

That's all the ash that came out.

8355319243_7120a6088a_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Jan 6, 2013

The vent cover did it's job well

8355318405_294b719689_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Jan 6, 2013

I used Kingsford charcoal and it burns ten times better than Stubbs!!! When I was using the Stubbs I always ended up with some unburnt pieces. The Kingsford left nothing but ash!

I am thinking that I am going to cut out the full bottom of the tamale pot. Since the ash cover is too tall the firebox grate is now 1" higher than where it normally sits. I had a bit of an issue getting the tamale pot to sit flush, because a full load of briquettes were too tall!!! I am still considering building a charcoal box.

 

[dirtsailor2003]

Made some mods. I wasn't happy with how tall my ash cover was so I decided to change the vent situation. $15.00 and less than 10 minutes!

8451116359_f9c8f2c14b_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Feb 6, 2013

8452209544_909ca558f2_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Feb 6, 2013

8452211418_f716f3647d_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Feb 6, 2013

8451117601_3707421886_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Feb 6, 2013

Smoking right now so I will be able to see how it works!

 

[dirtsailor2003]

The newest mod to the mini-wsm. Charcoal Basket, big improvement!

Just some expanded metal, that I cut to size and used re-bar ties to attach. I will wire and bolt permanently when I get a chance!

8553858876_3ffa243b65_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Mar 12, 2013

8553859334_05a090cf24_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Mar 12, 2013

8553859736_91f35b978f_o.jpg

• dirtsailor2003
• Mar 12, 2013

 

[n2 bbq]

Great Deal for a nice little smoker.

My neighbor was having a garage sale last spring and I picked up a nice 22.5" Weber Kettle pit for $5.00 as well.  I have been thinking about modding it into a WSM.

 

[dirtsailor2003]

Great Deal for a nice little smoker.

My neighbor was having a garage sale last spring and I picked up a nice 22.5" Webber Kettle pit for $5.00 as well.  I have been thinking about modding it into a WSM.

I really like my mini-wsm. It's a great little smoker.  It packs easily so I can take it on road and boating trips.

 

[jp61]

I just seen this......you should be arrested for stealing! Wow, what a great deal! Enjoy!

 

[seenred]

Great find and some great mods, dirtsailor.  That looks like a nice little rig. 

 

[n2 bbq]

Great Deal for a nice little smoker.

My neighbor was having a garage sale last spring and I picked up a nice 22.5" Webber Kettle pit for $5.00 as well.  I have been thinking about modding it into a WSM.

I really like my mini-wsm. It's a great little smoker.  It packs easily so I can take it on road and boating trips.

Maybe I'll keep my eye's open on CL for a Smokey Joe for camping and such.

This is the exact model I got.  I think it's gonna need a lot of mods to be able to smoke in it comfortably or maybe I'll just build a cheap wooden ladder

 so I can reach the cooking grate.

Webber 22.5 Kettle.jpg

• n2 bbq
• Mar 25, 2013

 

[dirtsailor2003]

N2, mod it up! We all love to see the modifications we all make! Even just creating a charcoal box for one side would allow you to smoke in there. Some reverse sear smoked steaks, oh yeah!

 

[n2 bbq]

I was thinking about getting a few half moon baskets or fabricating some out of expanded metal just for using as a Kettle and would also like to make a whole moon basket w/a heat deflector that sits just above the coal basket w/a water bowl sitting on top of that.  I'll figgure it out eventually. 

 

[dirtsailor2003]

I was thinking about getting a few half moon baskets or fabricating some out of expanded metal just for using as a Kettle and would also like to make a whole moon basket w/a heat deflector that sits just above the coal basket w/a water bowl sitting on top of that.  I'll figgure it out eventually. 

That's exactly what I was thinking, half moon baskets. The expanded metal bends really easy, and cuts with snips. Well at least the stuff I got from Lowes did. I'm a dry smoke chamber fan, so no water bowl for me. The water makes it to hard to control the temp during inclement weather.

 

[n2 bbq]

I looked at some 1/2" x 24" x 24" 13GA Expanded metal today at Orchard Supply and they wanted a wee bit over $30.00 for it before tax.  I'm gonna have to find a cheaper rout for expanded metal :/  I also found some half moon baskets on Amazon for a decent price  along w/a cast iron grill that may come in handy if when I make the WSM Mod.

 

[dirtsailor2003]

I think that the sheet I bough from Lowes was 12" x 24" and it was $12.99. Those half moon baskets from amazon would be hard to beat. Looks like they would perform well too!

 

[n2 bbq]

Found them a couple dollars cheaper through the WWW at my local Lowes.  So I'm off to get a set and some rub spices to see if I can make a decent smoked something or other :)

 

[dirtsailor2003]

That's great! I have a nice tri-tip marinating for tonight's smoke!

 

[n2 bbq]

Well I spent the day getting things ready fot it's 1st weekend smoke meaning I did as much cleaning as possible before the sun vanished on me.  I almost have the entire lower section down to looking brand spanking new using a few different techniques.  Sorry my spelling is miserable but you get the jist.  I'm better with my hands than I am w/my English LOL...  Any way I use a vacuum to suck out the old stuffers from the  pit, ash tray and then used a pressure washer to clean out most of the built up smoke on the inside of the lower section of the kettle before using hot watter and soapy solution w/a non abrasive sponge/scrubby to clean out the remaining funk.  I actually used a dewalt angle grinder on the aluminum ash tray and handle that fits the ash tray.  Trush me it's gonna look as good as Brand Spanking new if not better by the time I'm done with it ;)  Any way it's been a long day.  I purchased the 2x half moon weber kit at lowes along w/a wireless temp probe thingie along w/some mesqite and hickory chunks for my first burn in smoke for after I get the Kettle all cleened up and ready for it's first smoke in.  I don't want any previouse residuals hanging around, I mean I don't know exactly what was done in that thing so I want it as new as possible.

Any way thank you for being so kind and speaking to me about my plans.  It's peeps like you that make this such a great place to hang out and discuss what we have going on

  I mean you showed me what you did and it's pretty similar to what I want to do just on a scaled down version.  You know I actually broke out the Oxy/Act tanks today to straighten out the ring on the bottom of the 55 gal barrel I got for Freebee's on CL...  Yeah I'm all about making things happen as cheap as possible.

Edit:  I just looked at a link I posted in this thread and it made me think of how much I'd like to be able to smoke a pizza in my pit...  Oh yeah boyeeee you know what I'm talking bout!  Any way I'lll probably end up cutting a 55 Gal Barrel to make a nice pizza oven attachment that normall cost folks like us about $150 or so before tax and shipping.  Any way I just thought I'd share that w/u