AaronJEL
New member
I've been lurking around for a little under a year, and have been drooling over all of the mini smokers that have been built. It's been a long and fruitless search, but I finally found an IMUSA pot in stock at a nearby Target. I snatched it up and no longer had an excuse to put this project off. Thankfully, the time I spent reading about all of the builds prepped me, and I already had my design in mind.
The lady decided we needed to go out to dinner the day I picked up the pot, so we were on temporary hold. There's an Ikea in nearby Palo Alto, and I recalled that I read somewhere of a utensil holder that could be converted into a handy ash blocker. I think she was surprised when I said, "Since we're on this side of town, Ikea?"
Can't beat that price
We bought 2, both the short and tall sizes. My first attempt was a failure, cutting it about a 1/2" too tall. When I began to trim the edge, the entire thing crimped. Straight into the garbage it went. I haven't yet made a second attempt.
Scored another pickup at Ikea. Doubles as an alarming thermometer and timer
I began assembly the next day. First step was to cut the bottom of the steamer pot. I used a dinner plate to trace a circle on the bottom, then cut it out with an oscillating multitool, metal-cutting blade.
Remember to clamp that sucker down!
I installed 3" bolts just under the indentation on the pot, spacing each about 14.5" apart. The upper bolts are 3/4" bolts, installed 4" below the rim of the pot.
I found a smoker temp gauge at Orchard Supply for $8.99, and eyeballed that in the middle of the pot
I found a 12" clay saucer at Ikea, and persuaded my fiancee that she needed a new pot for her kitchen plant, sans saucer. This rests on top of the 3" bolts as a diffuser. I've heard many different opinions, some saying that the saucer is sufficient, other saying it's a heatsink and to use a metal pan. I've started with this, and will switch if the need arises.
Continued below...
The lady decided we needed to go out to dinner the day I picked up the pot, so we were on temporary hold. There's an Ikea in nearby Palo Alto, and I recalled that I read somewhere of a utensil holder that could be converted into a handy ash blocker. I think she was surprised when I said, "Since we're on this side of town, Ikea?"
Can't beat that price
We bought 2, both the short and tall sizes. My first attempt was a failure, cutting it about a 1/2" too tall. When I began to trim the edge, the entire thing crimped. Straight into the garbage it went. I haven't yet made a second attempt.
Scored another pickup at Ikea. Doubles as an alarming thermometer and timer
I began assembly the next day. First step was to cut the bottom of the steamer pot. I used a dinner plate to trace a circle on the bottom, then cut it out with an oscillating multitool, metal-cutting blade.
Remember to clamp that sucker down!
I installed 3" bolts just under the indentation on the pot, spacing each about 14.5" apart. The upper bolts are 3/4" bolts, installed 4" below the rim of the pot.
I found a smoker temp gauge at Orchard Supply for $8.99, and eyeballed that in the middle of the pot
I found a 12" clay saucer at Ikea, and persuaded my fiancee that she needed a new pot for her kitchen plant, sans saucer. This rests on top of the 3" bolts as a diffuser. I've heard many different opinions, some saying that the saucer is sufficient, other saying it's a heatsink and to use a metal pan. I've started with this, and will switch if the need arises.
Continued below...
