A question on fitting of Weber lids.

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statts

Newbie
Original poster
Feb 24, 2015
26
12
Adelaide, Australia
Hi all, 

I have a few quick questions on fitting a Weber 22.5" lid to my UDS built. Here's a few dot points of note on my build.
  • My drum is a removable lid, with the outwards rolled lip on top of the drum. The Weber lid does not sit over this lip, but about half way across the lip. Searched for other drums that would fit the lid but no dice, could only find the thinner walled, straight tapered edge food grade drums to fit.
  • I have an "Unknown BBQ" branded hinge designed for Weber lid on UDS that I planned to use, and would like to continue using, so making the Weber lid sit higher compared to the underside of the rolled lip is impossible.
The way I see it so far, my only two options here are:
  • Cut the flange off of the Weber lid, then weld the Weber lid to the flat lid that came with the drum. Then I'd cut out the flat lid from the underside so that only the outer ring stayed with the Weber lid.
  • Cut off the rolled lip from the top of the drum. From what I have read, this will allow the Weber lid to sit down nicely on the drum wall.
Now my questions:
  1. Has anyone tried the first method? Is my hinge still likely to work?
  2. The second method is tempting, but I'm worried about how flimsy the top of he drum might become. I have a Big Poppa side table to mount to each side and am worried it will all get a bit wobbly. Can anyone comment?
Thanks in advance for your advice, UDS Gurus.
 
Dave has you covered. Aluminum flashing works great. You can bolt it on or pop rivet. You are better off not to cut on your weber lid as the ceramic coating is one of the best features of it and it will chip where you cut it.
 
I wonder if I could combine that idea with one I saw elsewhere. Cutting the bottom half of the donor Weber so I have the factory Weber lip on a ~2" ring that I push down into the top of the drum. What are your thoughts on that?
 
 
I wonder if I could combine that idea with one I saw elsewhere. Cutting the bottom half of the donor Weber so I have the factory Weber lip on a ~2" ring that I push down into the top of the drum. What are your thoughts on that?
Heck I don't see why not. That would probably give you your best seal. You might have to seal it with high temp rtv if you were to bolt or sheet metal screw it in place.
 
Be sure and post pics and let us know how it turns out

Gary
 
 
Here is what I did. It is like Dave's drawing.

Happy smoken.

David
Thanks for the pic David. Unfortunately I won't be able to do this, unless I make the ring significantly higher due to the hinge I will be using. http://unknownbbq.com/22-5-weber-kettle-lid-hinge/  is the hinge, and you can see in the pics of it in use on a UDS that it sits just under the lip of the drum, so the extension ring would need to be sufficiently tall for the hinge to fit between the lid and the rolled lip on the drum.
 
 
I just straightend the lip on my weber lid. A bit leaky on the first few smokes, but after that.... A one.
An interesting idea. This would also afford me a bit of extra room for running 2 cooking grates. How do you find the strength of the drum up top without the rim?
 
I'm not sure we're understanding each other. I straightened the Weber lid lip, not the drum. Basically, you know how the lid comes off the dome for about half an inch and then bends down? Mine doesen't bend down anymore..
 
 
I'm not sure we're understanding each other. I straightened the Weber lid lip, not the drum. Basically, you know how the lid comes off the dome for about half an inch and then bends down? Mine doesen't bend down anymore..
I see, sorry man, I got you now! I didn't REALLY want to start hacking at the lid, but considering my unique situation, this might be the best idea yet!

Picking up my donor lid tomorrow (have been using my good OTS as a dummy) and will check that it's all the same and investigate the smashing of the lip haha.

Tell me, did you just bend out the lip slightly to get it started, then put the lid down on some concrete and go to town with the hammer?
 
I just used pliers to straighten mine.. Easy. took a few minutes. I may have tapped it down better after the fact once I sat it on the drum. I don't quite remember.
 
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I did mine similar to mule, found some 2 in flat stock at HD and just bolted mine around top exposing about and inch above, sealed around top with high temp gasket caulk and the lid fits nice, good luck and keep us posted
 
 
Thanks for the pic David. Unfortunately I won't be able to do this, unless I make the ring significantly higher due to the hinge I will be using. http://unknownbbq.com/22-5-weber-kettle-lid-hinge/  is the hinge, and you can see in the pics of it in use on a UDS that it sits just under the lip of the drum, so the extension ring would need to be sufficiently tall for the hinge to fit between the lid and the rolled lip on the drum.
If you put it on the extension it should work just fine.

Happy smoken.

David
 
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