Originally posted: 07/01/2004
Last updated: 03/30/2010

Undercar Oil Drip Pan

A large-sized automobile oil drip pan--the kind you place on the garage floor to catch oil drips under your car--does a great job catching drips or spills from the cooker. It's also large enough to provide space for you to set down the lid and charcoal chimney without messing up your patio. In fact, you can light a charcoal chimney on the metal pan without scorching a concrete patio.

Made from galvanized steel, these pans resist rusting, clean up easily with soap and water, and can be stored away between uses.

Some people use a pan like this directly on a wooden deck. They report that there is enough air circulation around the bottom of the cooker that the wooden deck does not become scorched.

About $10 at auto parts stores.

These aluminum pans are placed under a hot water heater to prevent leaks from damaging your home. They measure 24" in diameter and 1-3/4" deep, just the right size to hold a WSM.

Like the undercar oil drip pan, a hot water heater drip pan will not rust, can be cleaned easily with soap and water, and can be stored away after use.

David Ward sent in this photo of such a pan in use.

About $20 at home improvement stores.

Grilling Pad

Made of fiber cement, these pads will protect your wooden deck from radiated heat or sparks. They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes; most are about 1/4" thick.

About $30-40 at barbecue specialty stores, home improvement stores, and Amazon.com.

Patio Paver

An 18" square cement patio paver will do a fine job of protecting a wooden deck from heat or sparks.

About $5 at home improvement centers.

Photograph of WSM on hot water heater drip pan: 2005 by David Ward
Photograph of WSM on patio paver: 2004 by Larry Davis