New Owner by the end of January


 
W

Wilson Boudreaux

TVWBB Member
Well, It's done. After much research about the smoker that would best serve my needs, and the research about all the mods of that particular smoker, I have ordered my 22.5.

By the end of January I should receive my 22.5 from Amazon. I feel sure I will hit the ground running with this project. I will have a hard time keeping from using the unit until I'm able to complete the mods...LOL....

This site and the BBQ Brethern site were instrumental in my research and final decision of purchased. Thanks to all. I look forward to doing the mods that will make this unit, "My perfect smoker".....

:) :) :)
 
welcome to our addiction Wilson!:wsm:
This site and the BBQ Brethern site were instrumental in my research and final decision
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both very informative sites on que'in'...however, THIS very site is THEE place for ANYTHING & EVERYTHING Weber.
butt,... you probably already knew that;)

Laissez les bons temps rouler
 
Congrats on your new WSM. I use to have a UDS but after research in this forum I sold my UDS and got a WSM which is more efficient.
 
You will love your new WSM:cool:
I just got mine recently and have used only one time. Too much bad weather.
Here you picked a good place for good support:wsm:
 
Bob Mann said:
Congrats Wilson on your new cooker. I've been doing my mods over time, so just get to cooking!
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I agree with Bob. I did a cook or two before mod's, but quickly put on wheels and the side handles for the middle section. That was followed by a hole for the wires to the mav., handles on the charcoal grate, then an extra grate for the criscross. And today, I bought the items for a lid hanger. My last project, still thinking how I want to do it, is for an attached side table. But whatever, don't let mods stop the cooking............d
 
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Congratulations Wilson on the WSM. I would start cooking, the mods will come with experience and your style of cooking. I would say though start investigating other options to the water pan. They are pretty cumbersome in the 22 and while they do help to stabilize temps they can also hold back temps and cause you to burn a lot of fuel.
 
grats.

I'm with Gary S. on the "start cooking" bit. You may find that you don't need those mods to be done at all.
 
I'm another vote for don't let the mod's get in the way of cooking.

While the mod's are fine and may improve/enhance/customize your WSM, the cooker is ready to go and will work great without mods right out of the box.

In fact I'd strongly recomend you wait until you've used it a least a few times and get a good feel for how you use the cooker, what you like, and don't like. I've got 2 WSM and many of the mods I see woudn't make one bit of difference to me, and I know that the few mods I've done there are folks that feel they wouldn't matter to them. \

For me, grate handles don't offer anything, and wheels would be combersome give I smoke on an uneven surface (field stone pavers), and think if they wheels don't have caster locks, you're asking for trouble. I like the Cajun Bandit doors and will be adding some probe holes this spring. A side table is nice, but I prefer a small free standing table near my cooker rather than an attached shelf.

different strokes and all that...:)

What mods are you considering?
 
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well Y'all, Amazon.com never fails to amaze me. Having ordered the 22.5 on the afternoon of the 29th, UPS had their hands on it the morning of the 30th in Charleston, TN for ground delivery (free shipping). Just three days later almost to the hour, at 1:30 today the Brown Guy dropped off the "big box". By 2:15 this afternoon, setup was complete. YES FOLKS, it is "a really big smoker". It's so pretty. Unfortunately it will sit unused until Tuesday. Weekend plans are locked in.

The only issue I see is the crappy aluminum door. Unless I can be convinced that gasket tape is non-toxic, I will have to consider a Cajun Door.

Mods to consider: wheels or platform (for maneuverability), lid holder, temperature access hole, I-bolts to help handle the grates (?), a second vent up top, three twist latch pieces (to secure the mid body to the lower outer pan for maneuverability). Just a few things to make it my perfect smoker.

Love this site......:)
 
Personal opinion, just spring for the Cajun Bandit door. Don't look at the product cost & shipping cost as two separate entities. If you do, you'll surely not order it. It's much much nicer than the Reynolds Wrap door that comes on it.

My lid hanger mod (in the mod section) is quite easy to make/install and works really well.

Welcome to the 'really big smoker' club. :)
 
Wilson, I think you have your prioritys straight. Right where they need to be. The door on the 22 because of it's size is pretty junky. (reynolds wrap:cool:) The Cajun Bandit door is a huge improvement.
 
I recently bought a 2011 used 22 WSM(through the trading post on this site) and the door on it fits well and I see very little smoke escaping. It open and closes well. I would suggest you use it a few times before buying the new SS door. I also have an 18 WSM I bought new in 2011 and that door did not hold up well so I did buy the cajun bandit door for the 18. Maybe you will get lucky and not have to buy a new door. BTW - the extra room on the 22 is great especially for ribs!
 
My door on my 2013 18.5 doesn't leak either. No leaks anywhere after a couple cooks.
 
I don't use water, so the door is not needed for that. I've never added more fuel so no door needed for that. I bent mine to conform better, and I see zero negative results from the door. However, the Cajun does look better, and no doubt is better, but until I see the need it stays, getting gunked on cook to cook.
 
Well, Some mods completed:

1) a 2'x2' platform (3/4 Oak Plywood) for the unit to sit on (got to have that maneuverability)
2) four 3" caster wheel for the platform
3) three vertical toggle clamps to restraint the unit on the platform
4) brass nipple for the hole that the probes run through
5) small brass "L" shaped cover holder also installed (that worked out "so well").
6) three latches to secure the mid to the lower bowl (to be done)

After installing the unit on the platform, plus running it through testing (in and out of the storage area), I have chosen not to apply the two mid-area handles at this time or the i-bolts for the grates. I no longer see the need. If the need should arise in the future, I will consider it.

I want to thank everyone on this form for the advise and support.

OH, the smoker is on. Seasoning, smoking up a storm. I put extra smoking stuff I have had for some twenty years. I'm using a 3/4 full bag of Twenty year old Royal Oak Bricks I had stored away. Yes I have not used charcoal in the last twenty years.

I threw in some Jack Daniel's smoking pellets that are also twenty years old. It smells so good the the cat is laying next to the unit, and even the wife goes check the temp ever fifteen minutes.
 
Wilson Boudreaux said:
Well, Some mods completed:

1) a 2'x2' platform (3/4 Oak Plywood) for the unit to sit on (got to have that maneuverability)
2) four 3" caster wheel for the platform
3) three vertical toggle clamps to restraint the unit on the platform
4) brass nipple for the hole that the probes run through
5) small brass "L" shaped cover holder also installed (that worked out "so well").
6) three latches to secure the mid to the lower bowl (to be done)

After installing the unit on the platform, plus running it through testing (in and out of the storage area), I have chosen not to apply the two mid-area handles at this time or the i-bolts for the grates. I no longer see the need. If the need should arise in the future, I will consider it.

I want to thank everyone on this form for the advise and support.

OH, the smoker is on. Seasoning, smoking up a storm. I put extra smoking stuff I have had for some twenty years. I'm using a 3/4 full bag of Twenty year old Royal Oak Bricks I had stored away. Yes I have not used charcoal in the last twenty years.

I threw in some Jack Daniel's smoking pellets that are also twenty years old. It smells so good the the cat is laying next to the unit, and even the wife goes check the temp ever fifteen minutes.
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Where the "This Post is Worthless without Pic's" emoticon when you need it?
 
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