Weber Kettle Mods (updated)

[Hell Fire Grill]

I Picked up another Weber kettle, one touch silver, the other day from an ad on craig's list for $20. The ad said it was 4 years old and always kept in the garage but when I got there I could tell it was only kept in the garage long enough to sell it. Both grates were pretty rusty, the top one was totaly ruined, but the rest of it was in good shape. Still not bad for $20. So being a cheap skate and not wanting to buy a new top grate I decided to make one out of some scrap expanded steel I had left over from another project. When I got done with that I figured I may as well cover the bottom grate with some to, so the little chunks of lump have to burn up more before they fall through the grate. When I got done with that I thought it would be cool to have some of those charcoal basket things that go in there for indirect grilling. Instead of making baskets I simply made a ring about 4" high and about 14" wide.

The top grate. I figured I would have a little snack while I found out how long the charcoal would burn.


The bottom grate and the ring.


It heated up to 450* and took 2 hours to get it to go back down to 225*. It burned for 11+ hours before it fell below 225. I think it burned about #5-6 of lazzari.

Update:
I was having trouble smothering the charcoal on one of my one touch kettles. The damper blades were bent and not contacting the bottom of the kettle. So I welded a ring that I had laying around to the blades. I just pushed the ring down hard on the blades and gave them a quick tack.

[BBQMAN]

Nice job!
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

[Hell Fire Grill]

Thanks BBQMAN

[Michael B]

That charcoal basket in the Kettle looks like a great idea.
I see you're putting the coal round the outside of the basket for indirect heat in the middle. Have you tried putting a pizza stone on top of the basket with the coals inside? I wonder how even the heat would be across the top grate, once the stone heated up?

[Hell Fire Grill]

[Michael B]

If you read on Weber.com, they suggest arranging the coals in a line and lighting one end to cook for longer periods at lower temps. Sounds like you stumbled on that method on your own.
For a real feel on how even your temps are, try cooking biscuits. Get the kettle to temp, then place biscuits all over the cooking grate. If they all cook the same, you really have got a good rig.
If I trip over another 22.5 inch Weber, I’ll have to give your setup a try. I’ve been watching for one of the pre one-touch kettles (with the three daises) for a couple years now. I haven’t completely given up yet, but it’s looking very unlikely.

[Hell Fire Grill]

I like the ones with the wood handles and the one touch for easy cleaning. They are not as common as they used to be. I have one with the three daisys that is about to implode on itself because the kettle around the leg brackets has rusted out on all three legs, the handle is about to come off the lid and the daisy wheels fell off years ago. I cant make myself throw it away, its been good to me for so many years I have to patch it back together. It has a date code C of 1981, I got it used in 1989. Maybe I will take the legs off and grow tomatoes in it and use the lid for a UDS when its grilling life ends.

[98 Red Kettle]

Great mods. I really like that expanded steel cooking grate.
_________________
22.5 Weber Kettle
18.5 WSM
Smokey Joe

Livin' in fear is just another way of dyin' before your time.

[Bruce B]

The charcoal ring from the WSM is almost the same size as yours (14 1/2 x 4 3/4), sounds like the makings of an experiment.
_________________
Good Talkin' With You

Bruce

Secretary, Great Lakes BBQ Association
Member, Rubbed, Smoked and Sauced Comp BBQ team
KCBS/CBJ #55356
22 1/2" WSM
2 18 1/2" WSM's
22 1/2" Weber Kettle