I am seeking some ideas here... For the past couple of weeks I've been making abortive attempts at building a Mini WSM. Here's the story:
I got the idea for the build by finding a brand new SJS at a resale shop. It was $9, but missing the screws and bolts. I already had suitable stainless hardware at the house, and had been seeing the many mini-wsm threads all over the internet. I thought it was serendipitous.
I went to the grocery store and got a $20 IMUSA pot and a $20 thermometer. I broke my grinder wheel in an attempt to remove the bottom from the pot, but I wasn't deterred. I got a new wheel, a clay saucer, and a bunch of nuts and bolts at the hardware store to use as grill holders. I got back to work, removed the bottom, and found the lid of the SJS wouldn't fit. No big deal... I beat the rim of the pot down with a rubber mallet and had a half-decent fit. Then, I drilled holes for my nuts and bolts and installed them. However, I drilled them low on the pot's walls and now it didn't seal with the bottom section of the SJS. One pot ruined. The clay saucer also broke.
I went back to the grocery store and got another pot for $20 and another clay saucer. The pot was completely the wrong size. I have yet to return it.
I want back AGAIN to the store, this time with measurements for the lid. I found a suitable pot and bought it. Everything was going well. I cut the bottom of it out and went to place it on the bottom section of the SJS so that the holes I was about to drill for the grate supports would be in the right place. It didn't fit the base. Too small to make a decent seal or be stable.
I've spent $9 on an SJS, $20 on a thermometer, $40 in pots (not counting the $20 one I can still return), $15 in clay saucers, and about another $10 in hardware. I'm also out several dollars for the grinder, but I'm not figuring that in. At this point I'm just frustrated to the point of being sick. I'm $94 in the hole on this thing and I want to cut my losses. Then again, I really want that **** Mini.
I don't know what to do, guys... Should I just cut my losses or keep trying?
I got the idea for the build by finding a brand new SJS at a resale shop. It was $9, but missing the screws and bolts. I already had suitable stainless hardware at the house, and had been seeing the many mini-wsm threads all over the internet. I thought it was serendipitous.
I went to the grocery store and got a $20 IMUSA pot and a $20 thermometer. I broke my grinder wheel in an attempt to remove the bottom from the pot, but I wasn't deterred. I got a new wheel, a clay saucer, and a bunch of nuts and bolts at the hardware store to use as grill holders. I got back to work, removed the bottom, and found the lid of the SJS wouldn't fit. No big deal... I beat the rim of the pot down with a rubber mallet and had a half-decent fit. Then, I drilled holes for my nuts and bolts and installed them. However, I drilled them low on the pot's walls and now it didn't seal with the bottom section of the SJS. One pot ruined. The clay saucer also broke.
I went back to the grocery store and got another pot for $20 and another clay saucer. The pot was completely the wrong size. I have yet to return it.
I want back AGAIN to the store, this time with measurements for the lid. I found a suitable pot and bought it. Everything was going well. I cut the bottom of it out and went to place it on the bottom section of the SJS so that the holes I was about to drill for the grate supports would be in the right place. It didn't fit the base. Too small to make a decent seal or be stable.
I've spent $9 on an SJS, $20 on a thermometer, $40 in pots (not counting the $20 one I can still return), $15 in clay saucers, and about another $10 in hardware. I'm also out several dollars for the grinder, but I'm not figuring that in. At this point I'm just frustrated to the point of being sick. I'm $94 in the hole on this thing and I want to cut my losses. Then again, I really want that **** Mini.
I don't know what to do, guys... Should I just cut my losses or keep trying?