I agree the pictures look like it is a OK.Pictures look alright to me. If I were in the market for an 18, and it wasn't a long drive to go pick it up, I'd buy it.
The chip actually is very superficial, and about the size of the tip of my pinky. barely visible..... nothing like she described.I am more worried about the chipped porcelain on the lid. I am wondering if that is going to impact the process at all.
Will pick some up!Jelly.
Looks like a good haul. I bought my first 18 for $80, with a cover only used once. The last one I bought was $125, more use and no extras. Sold both once I got the 14. Wasn't doing large group cooks anymore so the 18 was overkill. Sold both of the for $150 ea.It looks well used. I’m going to have to probably buy new grates and the little rubber grommet on the side. I might end up needing to get either a gasket set or a new door because it is obvious that the smoke poured out of the door because above the door looks blue and burnt. The grates definitely look like they’ve seen their days. The grommet is rotted. Let the cleanup and learning begin!
I am trying to visualize this...I don't use gaskets, don't need them.
But if I did.... Id make my own in-place using red high temp silicone for perfect fit.
and... Id put little dabs in those holes in the bottom corners with the door so they dont leak
I needed to hear that! Thanks so much!Choan, don't get ahead of yourself here. Set aside that pitmasterIQ thing for now. Just clean it up, replace necessary parts, and fire it up! Get some cooking experience under your belt before considering gaskets or other modifications.
I would agree with this and learn the WSM the way it was built. Once you get some cooks under your belt you will develop a feel for it and then you can try other things if you want. These folks helped me learn my 18.5 over 10 years ago. Use us, and especially Chris’s Virtual Bullet site, and you will breeze through the “first WSM jitters “. Have fun!It is really easy to get all caught up with “accessorizing”! The WSM is such a well designed unit you don’t need a lot of “stuff” complicating the first projects. Besides, you are not dealing with meat, for vegetables you won’t need to gasket the thing there is no such added worry of getting things to a finished “cooked temperature with vegetables. Most folks here are carnivores (omnivores really) and meat is what the WSM is made to cook, the vegetables that come out of you new toy will be great. Do not overthink it, that’s easy to do!
Enjoy the experience.
Before you get gaskets try to tweak the door and then run it, shut it down, close it up. After it cools down if the you have unburned coals left then it's good to go. If cool down takes a long time and only ash is left then you're leaking too much air.