wsm 22 door upgrade?

[marshall]

so I'm looking out my window watching all the smoke pour out from around my stock wsm 22 door and wondering if the Cajun bandit door upgrade is worth 60$ or not, can you notice the use of less charcoal with the upgrade , easier temp control? thanks for any input!

[Hulagn1971]

I don't have the upgrade. I just use wide blue painters tape to seal up the outside of the door for every cook. Easy on, easy off.

[Mr. Bones]

Great idea, might even try it, compare...
Thus far, been content to watch my 2 (18.5") WSM's chug n smoke away...
I check every hr, or even more often, dependin on what/how, I'm cookin, wx, etc.
I turn, flip, rotate, stir/add coals, etc., as needed.
I start checkin IT with an instant read when Joy approacheth...

[Troutman]

I have the Cajun Bandit door. I like that fact that it's 304 SS, not sure of the gauge but I'd guess 11 ga. and will probably out live the cooker itself. The latch is superb, it locks extremely tight, very well engineered.

That being said, it's suppose to fit tight enough to stop leaks. It does except for two small spots at the upper corners. Not enough to be a problem but there is still some leakage. I'm glad I bought the thing versus the piece of crap tin door they give you with the cooker, but I'll bet you could buy a spare door and a roll of good gasket material for less than $50. 6 of one, half dozen of the other I guess.

[lostclusters]

so I'm looking out my window watching all the smoke pour out from around my stock wsm 22 door and wondering if the Cajun bandit door upgrade is worth 60$ or not, can you notice the use of less charcoal with the upgrade , easier temp control? thanks for any input!

I think all you'll need is the gasket mod. It will increase the gap between the door and body of the wsm by 3/16" or so, so the stock latch may not function any more and you may need the Cajun door. Check for adjustment in the stock latch first.

[JeffJ]

I have the 14.5 WSM and have no difficulty controlling temps even with the leaky door. It's an expensive mod for the 22. Are you having trouble dialing in temps?

[marshall]

no, temps stay pretty locked in, just wondering if it was save fuel usage over time

[3DJ]

The first and only Mod i did to my 22” was the Cajun bandit door. I love it, it feels sturdier and fits really well. I am not as concerned as others with leakage. I don’t notice any, but when the thing leaks smoke around every other connection, I don’t worry about it. I have had my WSM for 6 maybe 7 years now and have never done another upgrade, unless the big stone I found to even out the heat in the basket counts. Seems to help with the whole snake charcoal concept too.

[marshall]

thanks all for the input!

[CRO]

Try this link

http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/tipsfaq.html

[DWCowles]

You can stop the leak around the door by doing this.
www.bbqgaskets.com

[marshall]

thanks , ill probably go that route for now!

[jet_olson]

Ive done both the cajun bandit door and the gaskets.....if you are going to go with the CB door, I highly recommend the gaskets. I love the thickness of the door but the curvature of it didnt match my WSM so without the gaskets I would have worse leaks than with the standard door. Im sure I could reshape it slightly with my vice and a careful hand but the gaskets do the trick. Dont know if this is normal with the curvature of the door but with both I am very happy.

[marshall]

appreciate your input , thanks!