^Brilliant, could suspend at any height; just above the charcoal ring, but not taking up so much hanging space as it would all the way up at the water pan position.
Between Colin's project & seeing that a solid diffuser sitting directly on their charcoal ring is an
official weber setup, I think the answer to my first question is yes, guessing it should breathe okay enough even through this pan's tiny holes. Granted Colin's charcoal ring is going to offer much more airflow than the weber ring. The answer to my second question, how much diffusion would such a thin pan even provide, might be immaterial given B.A. Poole's & other's success without any shielding at all... B.A. what is your charcoal setup for that type of unshielded cook (inside or outside ring, #coals start to lit/total, minion/snake, target temp etc.)? I'd rather not bank outside the charcoal ring directly against the WSM interior wall, which is why a diffuser appeals so much. And as Jim C. mentioned, it will temper flareups.
Yes, going in knowing that's a sacrificial pan I never use anyway, until I figure out which real diffuser to get, if any- just these two accessories in a hanging rack + hooks & diffuser would cost more than my WSM did on its own. The firedial is cheap enough, but with shipping, for me it's actually more expensive than the Vortex, whose steel is
twice as thick... unless, would someone confirm that I'm actually using the right chart to convert gauge to inches thick in my OP?
Otherwise, side-by-side on-edge racks, vertically layered flat racks over one another, cutting/curling I've made great food with, as I'd consider unevenly colored or even a crispy rib or two at the end great food, but are not perfect solutions for my ideal of a rack of ribs- I've only ever made what I consider truly great ribs, laying flat on an offset.
Appreciate everyone's info, ideas, and advice. I'm waiting at least until I fill in the specs I have for all these hangers and diffusers. I've asked elsewhere, here, amazon answers, and directly to mfrs; but most immediately I want to know the diameter of the top/smaller ring of the hunsaker 18.5" hanging rack, & its rod diameter if anyone here has one and wouldn't mind measuring for me.
Thanks all.