Is it me or is this just a total piece of crap? I'm surprised Weber wouldn't do a better job with this. I am sure I can modify it, hell I have to if I want to keep it closed! :lol: Anyone else have this problem? After that, no beefs about the rest of the smoker, I really like it.

Dude... Blowin Smoke just hooked me up with a real door for my 18, and they got 'em for the 22 too! Looking for link...

Here ya go...

http://cajunbandit.com/wsm-parts-mods/

Them doors do look like chinsey crap even though the cooker is built very well....:noidea:

Here ya go...

http://cajunbandit.com/wsm-parts-mods/

Thanks...have to get it. Anything is better than the original.

Ive had no problems with mine:noidea:Yes it is a flimsy piece of crap but that doesnt seem to sffect my smoking at all:noidea: whats a little smoke loss when yer smoking hurt anything:noidea:

No issue for me on any of the 3 I have used

- old style 18.5"
- new 18.5"
- new 22.5"

Not sure what more it needs to be. It is what it is.

The problem I had was the aluminum bends to easily and having to bend them back into shape for a airtight fit. Problem not so much as smoke leaking out but air leakng in. I'm just like the aftermarket door a lot better and it compliments the WSM well.

Surprised Weber has kept the door as is ......... unless no one has complained to Weber. :noidea:

My main problem is with the latch, I gotta fix it. I understand the new door comes without one.

My main problem is with the latch, I gotta fix it. I understand the new door comes without one.

That's correct the mod SS door does not come with a latch and you have to reuse the one from the old door. Have you tried to ajust the latch with the back nut?

That's correct the mod SS door does not come with a latch and you have to reuse the one from the old door. Have you tried to ajust the latch with the back nut?

Not yet, I have to take it apart and look at it. Had problems with it yesterday because it wouldn't latch.

Not yet, I have to take it apart and look at it. Had problems with it yesterday because it wouldn't latch.

That's a real easy fix. :thumb:

Mine seem to work fine as is also. Maybe contact Weber about it? Given their pretty solid rep I would think they would make it right for you

i read this post earlier and i been thinking what the heck are they talking about??? so anyway doin up some flappers today so decided to ck it out for meself. i know when i got my new WSM the packaging wasnt all that great and the cheap lil side dor was not quite shaped correct. but a lil tweaking and good as gold i figger.

so i fire the thing up and i thought allrighty lets test this thing out. put some damp apple bark on the coals to really create a smolder. so i look at the door and i dont see any smoke leaking from it even though it is not a 100 percent perfect fit.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh113/eb8792/041-22.jpg

the next picture, and all these pics are taken seconds apart from each other, is of the lid, where it seems to leak the greatest. i had the top vent closed to create a condition to find smoke leaks the easiest. but here is where the smoke come out on mine.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh113/eb8792/042-18.jpg

now my WSM is pretty new and dont have a couple years or hard use to it yet so maybe after bending the door up some through use a problem may arise??? and here we are after the damp bark burnt off and we are at normal operating mode with top vent open. smoke leaks are negligible, much less than my GOSM or Chargriller.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh113/eb8792/045-12.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh113/eb8792/047-16.jpg

so not sure what to say, dont see spending what they want for a door that works perfectly fine on mine...:whistle: and even if it did leak a little, how much is too much where it would affect the smoking? it is on the top side so it dont affect internal draft control to the coals.:noidea:

If I posted a pict of my door...you'd understand... :eek: It's been thru the wringer, man.

If I posted a pict of my door...you'd understand... :eek: It's been thru the wringer, man.

I want to see an in focus picture of your door :bounce:

I want to see an in focus picture of your door :bounce:

oook...

oook...

I feel much better now. :lol:

Mine seem to work fine as is also. Maybe contact Weber about it? Given their pretty solid rep I would think they would make it right for you

Ditto mine works fine for now.....:noidea:

If I posted a pict of my door...you'd understand... :eek: It's been thru the wringer, man.

so much for the door issue... whatcha use that thing for besides a door??? i trying to think how it could get like that??? scraping creosote from inside smoker, or wait mebe cheese???:bounce:

so much for the door issue... whatcha use that thing for besides a door??? i trying to think how it could get like that??? scraping creosote from inside smoker, or wait mebe cheese???:bounce:

Yanno..I think I did use it for the cheese shovel-thing... :whistle:

I just bought one of these and your link points out all the weaknesses that I found. Why is a door needed? I do not get it....

I just bought one of these and your link points out all the weaknesses that I found. Why is a door needed? I do not get it....

I'm confused Jer..WHO's link? You replied to the original post... was no link in it...

You viewing threads in "linear" mode? It makes a difference WHAT post you hit reply under for us using hybrid or threaded mode...

I got my door 2 days ago..and am really happy with it...after a minor engineering mod.

Rich,

I do not know what you are talking about...linear mode??

I am working out of town (New York) and came out here expecting to be gone just a couple of weeks and did not bring any Q tools. I decided I could not miss out on a whole summer of cooking so I bought a WSM. Scott Fischer speaks highly of them so I figured why not.

On the WSM that I bought; the door was pretty much just one large leak. I have been taping it shut. The link to the bandit site shows a replacement stainless steel door that should work fine. That site also shows an after market charcoal basket and after 4 cooks I see that as a needed improvement as well.

My UDS's have no door and I see no reason for one. I like my UDS design better.
However I have been making some fine Q on the WSM. Other than the door it is a well made unit.

Rich,

I do not know what you are talking about...linear mode??

Oh..it's in the menu bar just above the post you are reading..a drop-down menu called "Display Modes". It allows you to see posts in different 'connections'. Yours was 'connected" to the first post in the thread. Play with it..you'll get it.

I am working out of town (New York) and came out here expecting to be gone just a couple of weeks and did not bring any Q tools. I decided I could not miss out on a whole summer of cooking so I bought a WSM. Scott Fischer speaks highly of them so I figured why not.

Great smoker... I mis-understood I guess... yes, the stock door is weak... especially after getting stepped on and what not a few times...heh!

On the WSM that I bought; the door was pretty much just one large leak. I have been taping it shut. The link to the bandit site shows a replacement stainless steel door that should work fine. That site also shows an after market charcoal basket and after 4 cooks I see that as a needed improvement as well.

My UDS's have no door and I see no reason for one. I like my UDS design better.

This is where I went wrong... I did not know you were referring to a UDS. They have issues too...like no door :lol: to add wood/fuel. Mainly wood as I see.
However I have been making some fine Q on the WSM. Other than the door it is a well made unit.

Thanks Rich I did get a chuckle out of all that. I get pretty home sick from time to time.

Thanks Rich I did get a chuckle out of all that. I get pretty home sick from time to time.

You can always stop in here for a bit of "home" and abuse, yanno ;{) :whistle:

I had that problem with my first 22. I ended up using alluminum (you know I can't spell) tape and replace the tape from time to time. Works great....don't look so hot...but, I don't care it works!!

Very cool! I like it. The menu bar!

This is where I went wrong... I did not know you were referring to a UDS. They have issues too...like no door to add wood/fuel. Mainly wood as I see.

I've done 18 hour cooks on my UDS and have never seen the need to add fuel. No door required. I think the idea behind the access door on the WSM is so you can add water to the water pan.

On the subject of leakage around the door, I'd think after cooking a couple of butts and fatties, enough seasoning should build up to create a gasket around any small cracks around the door. The latch its self is an easy fix.

I've done 18 hour cooks on my UDS and have never seen the need to add fuel. No door required. I think the idea behind the access door on the WSM is so you can add water to the water pan.

On the subject of leakage around the door, I'd think after cooking a couple of butts and fatties, enough seasoning should build up to create a gasket around any small cracks around the door. The latch its self is an easy fix.

As I am a UDS wanna-be..I can't comment. I Do have one in production at Bro's place. I also have a 1968 GTO there I have not sat in in 15 years. :whistle:

On the door...it's SOO weak it's not in the same place a week after the last place. It's a POS. The weak link in a WSM is that weak assed thin sheet alum door.

Feel kinda sorry for that poor neglected door :Cry:

http://i984.photobucket.com/albums/ae328/Fishawn/Fishawn3/richsdoor.jpg

Rich I know this might be asking a bit much :whistle: but let's see a pic of what you have now, I'm interested.....:noidea:

Rich I know this might be asking a bit much :whistle: but let's see a pic of what you have now, I'm interested.....:noidea:

Here ya go

I have one of these Stainless Steel Doors and they are nice. You would have a hard time bending it if you wanted to. :thumb:

I agree the old door will do the job but you have to be pretty careful how you handle it because it will get bend very easily.

I kind of look at it this way.... If you had a wood stove would you be happy with a air leak in the door? You will have higher energy efficient stove and more control if it's air tight. The WSM is a great cooker but they made the door out of 4 sheet's of aluminum foil. :lol:

I have one of these Stainless Steel Doors and they are nice. You would have a hard time bending it if you wanted to. :thumb:

I agree the old door will do the job but you have to be pretty careful how you handle it because it will get bend very easily.

I kind of look at it this way.... If you had a wood stove would you be happy with a air leak in the door? You will have higher energy efficient stove and more control if it's air tight. The WSM is a great cooker but they made the door out of 4 sheet's of aluminum foil. :lol:


OK I probably missed it but where did you fellas get those :noidea:

OK I probably missed it but where did you fellas get those :noidea:

Doug they can be found at this link.
http://cajunbandit.com/wsm-parts-mods/

After market doors IMO, are an extravagant expense. Just toss a couple of butts on there, and don't peek till they're done. The resulting build-up of seasoning will stop all leaks.

You guys over think this hobby.

Sure, if you just have an urge to buy stuff, I can understand that, but it's not needed. Season the WSM to the point that the lid sticks when trying to remove it. Problem solved, air tight :)

wow...never owned one.....:thumb:...you folk baattin down hatches...:thumb:

i am sure some dude come along....

After market doors IMO, are an extravagant expense. Just toss a couple of butts on there, and don't peek till they're done. The resulting build-up of seasoning will stop all leaks.

You guys over think this hobby.

Sure, if you just have an urge to buy stuff, I can understand that, but it's not needed. Season the WSM to the point that the lid sticks when trying to remove it. Problem solved, air tight :)

Right on the money with this post imo,

always gonna be folks thinking they can re-invent/improve the wheel.