Mini WSM Finally Done!!!!

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Is this thing bad to the bone?

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I am thinking the reason my bbq was turning out so good on the nbbd was because of the lump charcoal. I am not a big fan of the kingsford with apple wood chips. 
 
Never use chips..use chunks. You'll get GREAT flavor with wood chunks and KB.

Briquettes will just perform better in the mini even though you can use either.
 
I am thinking the reason my bbq was turning out so good on the nbbd was because of the lump charcoal. I am not a big fan of the kingsford with apple wood chips. 
If you use Kingsford or any other briquettes make sure you are not using the self lighting. Those will give off some bad flavors when smoking. I prefer to use lump, however you wont get as long of a burn out of lump as you will briquettes. The best briquettes to use are the Kingsford competition all natural briquettes.

Like Keith said use chunks (2"-3" or larger) not chips. Chips will burn too fast and impart off flavors.
 
Ok I am back at the learn your mini wsm game. The 10'' terra cotta heat sink keeps the temps too low. I am going o try a 4 or 6 inch heat sink and them smoke without it. I have got some chicken drumsticks and corn on the mini wsm right now. I will let you know how it turns out. I used 50% lump 50% kingsford comp briquettes. 
 
I think you are right. I really like the idea of a heat sink to even out the highs and lows especially since I like to use lump and it can burn hot. I am going to take you advise on Wednesday and drop the pot. It is robbing me from those high temps chicken oh so loves. I am super excited about the mini wsm. I have it outside my front window so I can watch the kids and keep a eye on the smoker. 
 
i took the pot out. temps dipped when i moved the food around. i added some more lump and opened the vents. it is taking my pit a long time to recoover from a heat loss. do you think i need more intake vents or more fuel?
 
do you think the corn on the top rack is maybe blocking the exhaust vent too much? I might need to add vents on the side of the lid
 
I took the lid off for a few seconds to check on the chicken, the temp went up about 10 degrees. I think my mini wsm could use more vents at the top and bottom. What are your thoughts?
 
I'd leave the lid alone. The gold has (2) 3/4" vents on each side and that works perfect for me.


The most I ever have to do is quickly lifting the pot to toss a couple of wood chunks on there. Fuel last me 8-10 hours easy unless I'm cooking over 300 for chicken.

If you need to add fuel then go 50/50 lit and unlit.
 

the chicken came out great. I could not get the temp over 225. I might need more fuel next time. I also only had a very small amount of lit fuel. I will add more lit fuel next time. How long do you let the fuel in the chimney starter lite before you add it to the basket?
 
Thats the point of the clay base.. to keep the temp down. If you want 230* or more.... just remove it... and youll hit 500* if ya want. No need for a 8 or 6" base. ...dont mess with the top.. the vent is fine and proved itself is fine.... if you wanna mess wifh the vent/vents on the bottom.. you gotta decide... diffuser.. grates.. (you have three... not my first idea) and then fuel.. pick one kind and go with it.. you need to learn the smoker and using different kinds of lump charcoal mix doesnt help.

How did you light the basket to start? Is there wood chuncks? Or chips?
 
I took about 5 pieces of briquettes and 2 pieces of lump, threw them in the starter, once they caught fire I waited about 15 minutes and then dumped them into a small pile of lump and briquettes. 
 
if you were going to smoke a small part of the brisket on the mini wsm would you smoke the point or the flat? btw thanks to everyone for your help. I am learning a lot. 
 
Hey guys, I know this thread is a couple months old. Just wanted to see how all you guys are doing with your WSM mini's.  I just ordered all the parts to build my own. I am going to be using a Smokey Joe GOLD, however, not the silver.  There is no ash pan underneath, for those of you using the gold, do you add any ash catch pan underneath, or not?

Also, what are the sizes of the charcoal/fire basket you are making?  I assume you are using the charcoal grate, and welding or wiring expanded metal around it.  I was thinking of going 4 inches deep on the expanded metal sidewalls.

Dan
 
Hey guys, I know this thread is a couple months old. Just wanted to see how all you guys are doing with your WSM mini's.  I just ordered all the parts to build my own. I am going to be using a Smokey Joe GOLD, however, not the silver.  There is no ash pan underneath, for those of you using the gold, do you add any ash catch pan underneath, or not?

Also, what are the sizes of the charcoal/fire basket you are making?  I assume you are using the charcoal grate, and welding or wiring expanded metal around it.  I was thinking of going 4 inches deep on the expanded metal sidewalls.

Dan

Dan the gold doesn't have a bottom vent so it doesn't need an ash pan. Yes use the charcoal grate for the bottom of your charcoal basket. Are you cutting the bottom out of your tamale pot (recommended) if so put it on the Smokey Joe and measure up from the charcoal grate to get your height. Should he somewhere between 3 3/4"-4 1/4".
 
Howdy, flyweed!

I don't use a basket with my mini-WSM. I find that I don't use so many briquettes that I have to worry about a basket. I usually just light about half a chimney then spread them 2 or 3 deep around the outer edge of the coal grate and leave the center empty. The unit is small enough to not require many briquettes. I place wood chunks or chips on the inner part of the circle for smoke. Chunks work far better than chips because the chips tend to burn too quickly. If you use chunks, my advice is to start with a few and if you don't get enough smoke flavor, use more the next time until you get the flavor you want. If I over smoke things, I don't like 'em as much and neither does the family.

I have the silver, not the gold; so I have vent holes in the bottom. Although you won't have this problem with the gold, ashes can clog and block those holes\; so I use a large tomato can cut to the depth of the space between the bottom of my coal grate and and the bottom of the little kettle. I used a 'church key' to punch vent holes around the bottom of the tomato can which sits under the coals grate. With this in place over the kettle vent holes, ashes pile around the can and do not clog the air vents. (I included this for anyone else building a mini-WSM who is using SJ-Silver.)

Let us know how you fare.
 
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