Stainless Steel Charcoal Basket on a Budget

[Vaughan]

I purchased this basket for my WSM 14.5. It fits perfectly and does the job. Easy clean up. 7" Bottom Diameter, 12" Top Diameter, 5.75" Tall and 4.25" Depth. ~$30 bucks on Amazon.

 

[Colin]

Do you use this with or w/o the charcoal ring?

 

[Vaughan]

Without the charcoal ring. I set the basket grate 90 degrees to the WSM charcoal grate. Nice and consistent burn.

 

[TonyUK]

I had a new fire-basket made for the 14.5.
You'd be forgiven for thinking it's expanded metal. It isn't. It's a piece of 3mm 304 SS sheet that has been laser cut. Formed, then welded. It's very robust.
The grate is a titanium camping grill that is the exact same size as the stock 14.5 charcoal grate. I attached it to the fire basket with 4 x SS zip-ties.
The basket measures 10.2" in diameter and is 7.5" deep. (I don't recall the depth of the stock fire-basket). There is still enough room between it and the deflector plate to add fuel through the door if required.
At the equivalent of US$37 I think it's kind of budget, (keeping within the thread title), in comparison to other bbq accessory providers.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

That’s one incredible deal Tony! I’m looking for a smart welder with equipment to manage this for my 18”WSM

 

[Anthony Spitzer]

Should last for the rest of eternity. Great price for the finished product.

 

[JKalchik]

Considering how much CNC time would be required for those SS sheets, yeah, that's an incredible deal for a nearly indestructible basket. Expanded sheet is also a much more efficient use of sheet, practically no waste.