| Adding
Handles To The Cooking Section
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Originally
posted: 04/01/2001
Last updated:
03/02/2008 |
In this topic:
Some people like to
remove the middle section during the cooking process with the lid,
meat, and water pan in place in order to stir the coals to rejuvenate
them. Of course, the coals can be stirred gently through the
access door, but if you're not careful, you'll launching a cloud of ash
toward the meat.
You can remove the
cooking section without any modification by wearing heat-resistant gloves,
grasping the cooking section where it meets the lid, gently lifting
it straight up and out of the charcoal bowl, and carefully setting the whole
thing aside.
Some people have added
handles to the cooking section so it can be removed more easily during
use. This process is described below.
Disclaimer: Removing
the cooking section during cooking can be dangerous and messy, especially if you
dump the contents of your cooker on your feet, on the ground, or into the hot coals.
You remove the cooking section at your own risk, and Weber warns
that you should never move a hot cooker and never operate it
unless all parts are in place.
As always...click on any
of the pictures to view a larger image.
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Mounting Handles
Steve Kalousek mounted handles on his Weber Bullet
by using the holes that attach the grill straps to the inside of the cooking
section (Pictures 1 and 2). "Went
to Lowe's and found a pair of Genie garage door replacement lift handles that
work perfectly on the WSM. I did have to bend them
slightly,
but even I could install them
in less than 5 minutes. They only cost $2.37 for the pair."
Picture 3 shows how you'll find these handles packaged at the hardware store. Another
choice is the Stanley 77-3015 Door Pull (Picture 4). These shed/barn door
handles are made of heavy duty steel and have a black finish. I found the one pictured here at
The Home Depot. The
holes in the Stanley handle must be drilled-out to accommodate the Weber screws, and
you'll need a bench vise and a hand sledge to "persuade" the
6-1/2" on-center handle to match the 6" on-center holes in the cooker. When
mounting any kind of handle using the grill strap holes in the cooking section, make sure to replace the original fiber washers
between the handle and the body of the cooker.
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Chris Finney ordered two
original handles from Weber, fabricated stainless steel brackets that mimic the
one on the lid, drilled some holes, and used stainless steel screws and nuts to
fasten his handiwork to the cooking section. These handles almost look like
original equipment.
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Mounting Knobs
Here are some photos of knobs
mounted on the cooking section using the top grill strap holes. You can use wooden, ceramic, or metal knobs
and two stainless steel panhead screws. Make
sure the screws match the size of the grill strap hole, are long enough to screw into the knob, but short enough
that they fasten tight against the grill straps inside the cooking section. Note
that the screws provided by the knob manufacturer may not be appropriate for the
task. Picture 1 shows a
ceramic knob. Picture
2 shows a wooden
knob shaped like a wine barrel. |
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Drilling Holes
For Handles If
you're feeling industrious, you can drill holes in the cooking
section at any height or position to mount knobs or handles.
When drilling a hole in your WSM, make sure to wear eye protection since
bits of porcelain enamel and steel will fly in all directions. Photos of Genie handles on WSM,
2002 by Steve Kalousek
Photos of Weber handles on WSM, 2007 by Chris Finney |
Back to Operating Tips & Modifications |
