Well with the holidays gave me the chance to try and build a mini. If anyone reading this is one the fence, I'd completely recommend trying it. On the scale of mini WSM's I've seen mine is about a 7/10 but if I had to make another I'm sure the experience would bump it up. I have to say that on the
"handy" scale I generously rate myself a 2/10.
I think that by now a lot of people are familiar with the " standard" build. I used the vasconia pot ( about 30 bucks delivered). the taping was what scared me the most, I was really, really scared that it would bleed through ( I bought the cheapest masking tape from home depot) so I doubled up on the thickness which made cutting it way herder than it should have been, I'm pretty sure from now on I'm doing the single ply ( with appropriate overlap).
I layed down two layers of tape then printed out the logo and taped it down before the cutting
After a few stops and starts here is what it looked like
I drilled the holes ( 8 mm they didnt have the 1/4 SS acorn nuts) about 4 1/4 from the top and used the right SS hardware ( hex bolt, nut, washer on the inside) and SS acorn nut on the outside. Taped these off with tape from the inside.
I've seen a lot of people use grocery bags to protect the inside. After I cut out the bottom with a jigsaw I decided to go with a lattice of the tape on both the top and the bottom. It seemed way easier than taping the bag. Here is the pot being sprayed
I will say this, the painting part was the part that scared me the most. I used the VHT engine enamel (red) and the first time I sprayed it I went WAY TOO HEAVY. It ended up running which was a pain. that could be largely rectified using 800 grit wet sanding ( from autozone). After I " fixed" it the second and third coats were much easier.
I also wanted to keep with the hockey theme with the smoker and never liked the carriage bolt for the top vent so I got a scrap piece of poplar from HD ( $1.15) and drew out a stick, cut it with a jigsaw and then used my neighbors sander and after drilling a hole in the top vent I screwed the stick on the top. I know that today no one uses a real wood stick anymore so I debated painting it black to approximate carbon fiber but decided to keep it old school. The weight of the stick does not impede the working of the top vent at all. here are some pics of the finished product. I'll probably season it tonight and possible try a cook on it tomorrow. I had hoped to have it ready for habs leafs tonight but the painiting snafu set me back.
Yeah the paint lines are not perfectly straight, I don't have a coal basket yet but all in all it was fun to make. I'll have to see if it keeps temp well. if it doesnt I still have a nice conversation piece.
Hope everyone is having a great holiday.
"handy" scale I generously rate myself a 2/10.
I think that by now a lot of people are familiar with the " standard" build. I used the vasconia pot ( about 30 bucks delivered). the taping was what scared me the most, I was really, really scared that it would bleed through ( I bought the cheapest masking tape from home depot) so I doubled up on the thickness which made cutting it way herder than it should have been, I'm pretty sure from now on I'm doing the single ply ( with appropriate overlap).
I layed down two layers of tape then printed out the logo and taped it down before the cutting
After a few stops and starts here is what it looked like
I drilled the holes ( 8 mm they didnt have the 1/4 SS acorn nuts) about 4 1/4 from the top and used the right SS hardware ( hex bolt, nut, washer on the inside) and SS acorn nut on the outside. Taped these off with tape from the inside.
I've seen a lot of people use grocery bags to protect the inside. After I cut out the bottom with a jigsaw I decided to go with a lattice of the tape on both the top and the bottom. It seemed way easier than taping the bag. Here is the pot being sprayed
I will say this, the painting part was the part that scared me the most. I used the VHT engine enamel (red) and the first time I sprayed it I went WAY TOO HEAVY. It ended up running which was a pain. that could be largely rectified using 800 grit wet sanding ( from autozone). After I " fixed" it the second and third coats were much easier.
I also wanted to keep with the hockey theme with the smoker and never liked the carriage bolt for the top vent so I got a scrap piece of poplar from HD ( $1.15) and drew out a stick, cut it with a jigsaw and then used my neighbors sander and after drilling a hole in the top vent I screwed the stick on the top. I know that today no one uses a real wood stick anymore so I debated painting it black to approximate carbon fiber but decided to keep it old school. The weight of the stick does not impede the working of the top vent at all. here are some pics of the finished product. I'll probably season it tonight and possible try a cook on it tomorrow. I had hoped to have it ready for habs leafs tonight but the painiting snafu set me back.
Yeah the paint lines are not perfectly straight, I don't have a coal basket yet but all in all it was fun to make. I'll have to see if it keeps temp well. if it doesnt I still have a nice conversation piece.
Hope everyone is having a great holiday.
How did that happen?