anyone got info on making yer own ? to much $$$$ from weeber. i can get expanded metal cheap. so gonna make my own. if no info, can someone give me the measurements of the stock unit ? thanks,

Hi George, I have no info on making your own, but if you are talking about the 18" WSM, here are the approximate dimensions of the ring:

Diameter: 14 1/4 to 14 3/8 inches
Height: 4 3/4 inches
Air Holes: 36 holes; 2 rows of 18 holes
Hole Diameter: 1 1/4 inches
Edge of each hole is 1/2 inch from the rim of the ring

HTH... let us know what you end up doing!

thanks tom, exactly what i needed !

George,
when I need some last min. charcoal holders for the kettle I went to Home Depot and got some duct work. I used two register vents and cut them to fit nice under the cooking grate. I drilled some holes for ventilation. I have used them many many times and they are holding up great. later I ended up getting the weber holder and ended up giving them to my brother-in-law cause I prefer the homemade ones.
You could get some of that in sheets then you could cut and drill the holes to the exact measurments. Then form a ring and attach with some tiny nuts and bolts. Im sure you could make a few for well under $10.
Just a thought

graz, got pics? so you used aluminum and its stood up to the heat ?

George, you need one for an 18"er?

Don't know if this will work on the pic if not go to WSM - 18" & 22" and search "Fired up th 22" that's where with the help of my brother I posted these pics


http://s726.photobucket.com/al...current=000_0002.jpg

http://s726.photobucket.com/al...current=000_0003.jpg

Good Luck

quote:

Originally posted by george curtis:
graz, got pics? so you used aluminum and its stood up to the heat ?

Here is a couple of pics of one. They hold up pretty well this has been used about ten times. I would imagine that a ring in the WSM might get hotter. I would go with the expanded metal that John posted looks like they would last forever.
http://i938.photobucket.com/al...aziani4/100_3277.jpg

http://i938.photobucket.com/al...aziani4/100_3276.jpg

First try at linking a prior post. Here's the one I did to fit inside the 22" ring. Works great.

http://tvwbb.infopop.cc/eve/fo...?r=51610504#51610504

jim, yes, its an older 18 in model. fraz, yea, thats about what i will be doing. ezp metal is rather cheap here at a metal place. thanks guys !

George, if you like, I can ask the guys in my fab dept to roll and weld up a new chamber for you. It'll be made of "drop-off" German stainless. Nothing fancy but it'll work and last.
The boys made a nice fire pit extention for me and it works terrific. If I can find a photo of it, I'll add it.

Hey George, here's a photo I mentioned above...
http://good-times.webshots.com...81320105566169wdQQYm
This ring is about 16" high and 26" across. Half solid - half laser-cut. Did the half&half thing for a wind block.
Something like this on a smaller version can be rolled and welded into a coal chamber. And German stainless, at least the stuff we use (a German company) is a high quality stainless steel.
Let me know if you're interested... I can cook for the guys and have one rolled for you.

jim, thanks for the offer ! so great of you. i already have some expanded metal so let me see if that works first. also the shipping on a hunk of metal like that might be a bit much. but it would be a cool item. so again, thanks and i'll see how it goeas with the em first.

not a problem Geoarge, you let me know.

ok, just got my expanded metal ring done. darn rain. hard for me to bend it but two boards next to each other (fence) really helps. so hope to do my first conditioning burn in the next day or so.

Hey George, one here on eBay.

$38.49 though, so probably still too expensive.

And Jim:

quote:

fab dept to roll and weld up a new chamber for you. It'll be made of "drop-off" German stainless

You might be on to something there! Are you able to have stuff done, maybe for sale?

on the sly Doug... i do "pay" my pals with grilled and smoked goodies.
Today is the 17th? on the 1st, I asked the guy to keep his eyes open for "usable" dropoff... to this day, it's still "keep your eyes open".
Know what I mean?