Trying to update an older WSM


 
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Dom R

TVWBB Super Fan
Folks, I have a DU WSM and was thinking of making a few upgrades to bring it up to date. I was thinking of buying the new WSM door and knob and replacing the old tin door. Also, I wanted to add the same temperature gauge on the new ones and just drill it into my WSM. Does anyone have any advise on these upgrades and whether the new door will actually fit the older WSM opening?
Appreciate your comments.
 
Why not go ahead and add another lid vent and a thermo while your drilling? It is nice for constant controlable temps above 275. http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/...0069052/m/6941095306
The door will fit, I would get a stainless one from cajun bandit though.

I would apply tape where your going to drill and start with a tiny bit 1st the go to the size to finish with, take it slow so you won't chip the finish.
 
The only "update" I'd do to ANY wsm is to pick up an ECB charcoal pan to use as the water pan. The old OE pan was too shallow, and the new one is too deep.

Also, the OE gauge is pretty cheap, so if you're gonna install one, get a good one, but personally I prefer to measure the temp in the stream of circulation at the dome vent....so I'd recommend leaving well enough alone.

I don't cook on a deck, so I removed the OTS "hubcap" heat shield....What REAL improvements am I missing?....Oh yeah, the door? Well, the door's still flimsy, but mine is nice and tight, so that's good. Anything else?
 
Agree on the ECB pan as well, if you cook a lot or for a lot look into adding a middle grate as well. Then add mid section handles and the u bolt handles to the charcoal grate. BAM.... you have a tricked out unit
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Yep, I'll be using my third grate Monday for ribs and leg quarters, and the cheap garage door handles are a breeze. I'm glad I only put one pair on though, since the cover fits tight as it is....I still need to do the U-bolt grate mod to the charcoal grate.

I went back and reviewed Chris A's info, and I guess I forgot about the '09 door changes other than the door knob. If the Cajun Bandit door has the "catch tabs" like the '09 and newer door, that would be especially cool. I don't know if it does, though.

Other than the door though, I wouldn't think that the older wsm's are inferior. I've never heard anyone complain about the old wsm legs, and they can't be as wobbly as my OT kettles. Other than the door, probably the best thing Weber did was to improve the packaging so there'd be less damage in transit.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">If the Cajun Bandit door has the "catch tabs" like the '09 and newer door, that would be especially cool. I don't know if it does, though. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

It doesn't, but I like the ruggedness of it and it looks
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I never open my door, so I don't know if I'd ever bother to spend time or money replacing it. You may use your door in which case, I'd go for the stainless steel one if you don't mind spending the money.

As for the therm - there is no way I'd try to replicate the factory therm from the newer model. I have never seen the new therm so I can't say for sure, but my guess is that it's not high end and possibly even cheap. If you're gonna go cheap, what's the point? If I was going to spend time and money, I'd get a much nicer thermometer and I'd probably go with one with a longer stem. For me (on my old wsm), I just drilled a whole through the top vent rivet and put a cheap thermometer through it. Quick, easy and cheap. More importantly, it works just fine.

I guess I just don't see much on the new wsm that I feel I need that I don't have on my old version and therefore, would not "upgrade". I don't use water, so the new water pan doesn't do anything for me either.

I think if I wanted to upgrade and spend some money on this hobby, I'd look into the automatic temp controllers. That would give me something I don't currently have.
 
thanks for all you comments everyone. I think I'm going to do the door upgrade from CB as there has been a lot of positive feedback. I had a good look at new WSM therm and noticed that it has a tiny little secondary hole for the bezel and I was thinking that installing that would be a bit more difficult then one hole temps. I'll definitely look into the middle grate mod but I'm not the greatest with tools so it may be a bit much for me.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Glenn W:
Why not go ahead and add another lid vent and a thermo while your drilling? It is nice for constant controlable temps above 275. http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/...0069052/m/6941095306
The door will fit, I would get a stainless one from cajun bandit though.

I would apply tape where your going to drill and start with a tiny bit 1st the go to the size to finish with, take it slow so you won't chip the finish. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

How did you drill for the weber bezel on the thermometer? From looking at it, seems it's more of a square punch then an actual round hole.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">How did you drill for the weber bezel on the thermometer? From looking at it, seems it's more of a square punch then an actual round hole. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The punched out square is an alignment notch for the tab at 12 o'clock on the backside of the bezel. I used pliers and bent it back and forth until it broke off the bezel.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Glenn W:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">How did you drill for the weber bezel on the thermometer? From looking at it, seems it's more of a square punch then an actual round hole. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The punched out square is an alignment notch for the tab at 12 o'clock on the backside of the bezel. I used pliers and bent it back and forth until it broke off the bezel. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Thanks Glenn. This sounds doable for me. I"ve been told before that I am really good at braking things so this is right up my alley.
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Seems to be a number of members who don't like the therm on the new WSM. I like the look of it personally but if it's not accurate, then maybe I should get something else. How do you find yours for accuracy?
 
Its close in boiling water but 25-40 low compared to vent temp, which is all that matters to me. Towards the end of the cook it gets within 10-20 deg. I like it so I can glance at it and have a general idea plus once you know how much diff your working with it doesn't matter.

It isn't that they are off that much, its reading in a different place. I took mine out and tested with other therms in the original hole and they read very close to the OEM.

All this for both my WSM's.
 
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