smokenator for weber kettle

dhulse · 12-20-2012, 11:12 PM

Hi everyone, I have been looking at the smokenator 1000 for the weber kettle grills and decided that I would make my own. I have some questions and I was hoping that maybe someone could help me out. I got 16 guage stainless steel rather than the thinner 18 guage that they use at the factory. My question is this. With me getting a thicker steel do you think that I should make it bigger to hold more charcoal? 2nd question will the 16 guage work the same as the 18 guage for heat distribution? any help would be greatly appreciated. I made my template to be 2 inches wider than the one from the factory and now I am second guessing that before I cut out the steel and bend it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Janet H · 12-21-2012, 12:18 PM

Hi and welcome to the board. Sounds like an awesome project!

Max · 12-21-2012, 08:03 PM

The only problem that you would have with the thicker steel, is that it will take a little bit longer to come to temperature, but other than that, I for see no problems. Good luck with the build, and post up some pictures of your progress.

Just to let you know, you need to have 5 post, in order to post up pictures.

bigwheel · 12-21-2012, 08:47 PM

Sounds nuts to me.

bbquzz · 12-21-2012, 08:48 PM

I got my start with a Smokenator and I don't think there is anything magic about the gauge of the metal, just come close to the original Don Thompson design and it should work fine. Here is a fun Smokenator Setup Video if you haven't seen it. I used mine for about a month before I had to move onto a WSM. Love to see some pictures when you get done. Good luck and welcome to the Forum.

Smokenator Setup - YouTube

bigwheel · 12-21-2012, 09:03 PM

Ok what do it accomplish? Thanks. I am ready to be persuaded. I dont watch many movies.

dhulse · 12-22-2012, 07:11 PM

Thanks guys. I got it done last night. It looks pretty good. Obviously no perfect with it being my first one. I have enough material to make another one the size of the originals that you can buy. I am going to try it out tomorrow. I will repost to let you know hoe it worked as well as put some pictures of it on here. All in all a pretty simple build I hope it works as good as they claim it will.

pherring · 03-19-2014, 08:18 AM

Dhulse,

I'm looking to embark on this project as well. Would you happen to have a cut out template for the stainless steel with dimensions which I could use as a go by?

Much Appreciated

EbenRoos · 06-02-2014, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhulse

Hi everyone, I have been looking at the smokenator 1000 for the weber kettle grills and decided that I would make my own. I have some questions and I was hoping that maybe someone could help me out. I got 16 guage stainless steel rather than the thinner 18 guage that they use at the factory. My question is this. With me getting a thicker steel do you think that I should make it bigger to hold more charcoal? 2nd question will the 16 guage work the same as the 18 guage for heat distribution? any help would be greatly appreciated. I made my template to be 2 inches wider than the one from the factory and now I am second guessing that before I cut out the steel and bend it. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Hi.

I live in England and cannot buy the smokenator here unless I pay $60 shipping costs. I also decided to attempt to make one myself. Any idea where I can got hold of a template?

bigwheel · 06-02-2014, 07:37 PM

Hello Old Chap..and welcome over there. Hopefully somebody around here has a Template.

Max · 06-02-2014, 10:08 PM

The Lid would work great for the over all diameter, though you would have to make it slightly smaller. It all depends upon your situation. Do you have a Weber Kettle, if so what size is it. If not, what are you using? You do understand, you do not have to make it totally to specs. It can change a bit and not cause a bit of problem.