Setup questions

These are just opinions:

1. The ceramic cap is only used when you're not using your egg.  Take it off if you want to use it.  The DW is used as an air damper when you're running your egg.  It can stay on when you open the lid.  Put the DW inside the egg when you aren't using it.

2. I have a torque wrench but after watching a video on band alignment, I just torque them until they're so tight the angle bracket starts bending.  If you have a good feel for mechanical fasteners, I'd say you could use your experience.  That said, having your lid fall off and break is a lot worse than a broken bolt, which is the wost thing that can happen if you overtighten.

3. Lots of threads and even more opinions on CI.  Nothing specific to an egg with it.  CI is best used in oven environments or where it can get even heating - the egg is that environment.

4. Get a thermapen first.  Save your money for a stoker rather than put that off longer by buying a maverick.   Calibrate your dome thermometer in hot water.  Check your food near when you expect it to be done with the thermapen.  Many times people put the meat probe of the maverick in the wrong place and under or over cook their food.  The thermapen can be used to rapidly check the temps in three dimensions throughout the interior of the food so you can find the coolest temps (and get a better feel for how it's cooking).