How much extra charcoal capacity does the Cajun Bandit charcoal ring provide?


 
D

Dusty Hicks

New member
I just bought the WSM 22. I am going to buy the Cajun Bandit door for sure, but i saw the charcoal ring is an extra couple bucks if bought together. I'm wondering how much extra capacity it provides in the 22 since it doesn't really give any specifics on the website. Can anyone say whether or not its worth the purchase? Thanks
 
Looks like the Bandit is 18″ in diameter and 5″ tall, with Weber model being 4.75"H x 14.25"W x 14.25"D.

So another 3 3/4 wide, and 1/4 " taller.
 
Other than overall size there is also hole size to consider if you are concerned about burn time.
This is why some folks run another grate perpendicular under the charcoal grate.

I think the OEM charcoal grate leaks unspent charcoal through its extra large openings on the bottom enough where it becomes an unexpected additional cost.

I happily own several Hunsaker products and like most of them.
I faced this same choice a while ago.
I went with the ArborFab basket and have never regretted it
 
The charcoal grate fits on the inside of the coal ring as opposed to the coal ring setting on top. It adds for charcoal and the tabs hold the ring in place to make for easy clean up. I had both for the 18 and 22 and would recommend
 
14.5" WSM.
I also wanted a basket for extra capacity for long cooks, & a smaller grate to stop fuel falling through.
I found this on Etsy. It's 3mm thick laser-cut SS, (not expanded metal), 7.5" deep, formed & welded to the same diameter as the stock fire-ring. It was less than half-price of the formed mesh that other makers offer. It's bomb-proof.
The grate is from a folding titanium camping grill. It's the exact same diameter as the stock charcoal grate.
Held together with 4 SS zip-ties. £40 ($51) total cost.
IMG_1039.jpg
 
Thanks for sharing that Tony. Back in the day I had a CB coal ring for the 22 and 18 WSM but could not convince CB to build a larger coal ring for the 14. I removed the heat shield for a little more ash capacity but struggled getting more that 6 hours with the stock coal ring. With that one how many hours can you get with that little gem?
 
Dustin Flavell said:
Thanks for sharing that Tony. Back in the day I had a CB coal ring for the 22 and 18 WSM but could not convince CB to build a larger coal ring for the 14. I removed the heat shield for a little more ash capacity but struggled getting more that 6 hours with the stock coal ring. With that one how many hours can you get with that little gem?
Click to expand...
I too had issues getting a bigger coal-ring for the 14. But a bbq outfit in Italy, (Enrico Brandizzi's pals), made one for me out of SS mesh. I felt the mesh was a bit restrictive on the air-flow. So when I saw this company that would make a SS "firewood basket" to one's dimensions I jumped on it. I gifted the mesh one to my BiL for his 14.
At 250-275 with favourable weather, I've had an 11+hr cook, (a stubborn pork-butt), with nearly a 1/4 of unused fuel left. During cold, windy conditions I've eaten through 1/2 a basket on a 4hr cook.
 
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TonyUK said:
14.5" WSM.
I also wanted a basket for extra capacity for long cooks, & a smaller grate to stop fuel falling through.
I found this on Etsy. It's 3mm thick laser-cut SS, (not expanded metal), 7.5" deep, formed & welded to the same diameter as the stock fire-ring. It was less than half-price of the formed mesh that other makers offer. It's bomb-proof.
The grate is from a folding titanium camping grill. It's the exact same diameter as the stock charcoal grate.
Held together with 4 SS zip-ties. £40 ($51) total cost.
View attachment 105004
Click to expand...
can you share the link to this on Etsy?
 
Todd K Wisc said:
Yep, $32. Actually, that's not bad when it's $24 to get Arbor Fab to ship theirs within the US. Link to that: Arbor Fab 14" WSM
Click to expand...
Nearly exactly the same price, (goods + shipping). Mesh or laser-cut 3mm SS plate?
Edit:
When I bought mine it cost the same as the advertised item, and my dimensions were bigger. Good deal & grate service.
 
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