Clay Pot Saucer Mod in WSM, will this work

[NAR_Simpson]

Hello all. I want to replace my foiled empty water pan with a Clay Pot Saucer for when I do long cooks. I plan on smoking a brisket this weekend and I want to know if this will work before I do it.

Below are pictures of the current setup and the proposed clay pot saucer mod. I am just worried if there is enough space between the saucer and the side of the WSM to allow the smoke to pass. Any insight will be helpful, Thanks.

Normal
https://flic.kr/p/ny2xod

Mod
https://flic.kr/p/ngvRk6

Mod close up.
https://flic.kr/p/ny2xWN

 

[Rick Body]

That looks normal to me NAR. The clay pot should sit inside the water pan, resting on the edges. That leaves plenty of room for smoke to come around and get to the meat. After all, if it gets around the water bowl, it will get around the clay saucer sitting in the water bowl.

FWIW, I use a clay saucer in mine and will probably never go back to water.

Oh and some people use a brinkman pan that has a flat bottom when they want to do longer cooks as the flat bottom of the brinkman pan leaves more room for charcoal

 

[Chad Bman]

Is that a 16" base sitting in an 18" WSM? A 14" base fits perfectly and that's what I recommend doing.

 

[Rick Body]

Dang Chad, you have a better eye then I do. Good thing you chimed in since I told him wrong

 

[NAR_Simpson]

Thanks for the responses. Yes it is a 16 and I 'll see if I can get a 14 instead.

 

[Chad Bman]

A 14" will look like this. Disclosure --- I'm 99.9% sure it's a 14", but double check my measurement to be sure it isn't a 12"

And wrapped with 18" foil which is what I ball up and toss after each cook. Double up this foil because they can and do leak. The second layer is cheap insurance. If the second layer is clean after removing the top layer, I just add a new top layer and carry on.

 

[Gene B]

I bent my brackets flat so they are longer (hammered them straight on an anvil, removed first of course) and then placed the ~14" clay on the brackets, WITHOUT water pan at all. More room for charcoal and to add chips, etc; and I've never missed the water bowl. There are many roads into town, tho.

 

[NAR_Simpson]

I exchanged the 16 in for the 14 in saucer and wrapped in it 3 - 4 layers of foil. That made it large enough to fit where the water pan goes all by itself with out falling. I now have just the foiled saucer and no water pan so I can pile my KBB for longer cooks without the water pan getting in the way. We shall see how it goes tonight when I put the brisket on for tomorrow's Mother's day meal. Thanks for all the advice.