Mini Max and the Woo?

Matt86m

Yes, I used the search feature. I read at least 2 pages of MM threads. Didn't find what I was looking for.

Got me a MM! Need a plate setter or the Woo ring. 

Yes I searched,,,,,,

Woo handles or no? Do the handles interfere with another stone or food?

Is it nice to have the food a little higher above the coals?

Have a ceramic BGE PS in my XL, never used the Woo.

sancho65

I have a MM and a small BGE I like the handles on mine, makes it easier to add lump or wood chunks if needed. It also makes putting in or removing the stone or drip pan easier. The food being just a little higher up makes a big difference!!  Just my $.02. Spend it wisely !!

Cornholio

Don’t know myself but there’s a video on the CGS website that may help.  And people always say to call him with these types of inquiries if you don’t get quick answers from others here.  Congrats on the new MM!

https://youtu.be/sZQH1d4EY9g

https://ceramicgrillstore.com/collections/big-green-egg-minimax-small-accessories-by-ceramic-grill-store/products/150-mini-max-woo-bge

bubbajack

I use the plate setter on most low and slow cooks. It allows room for more charcoal. I use the woo to raise the grid for grilling, 

TEXASBGE2018

I've got a MM. I had @stlcharcoal hook me up with one of the last Woo with handles and a stone that he had left. You might check with him. This thing is cool. Grate sits about an inch above the felt. Doesn't really interfere with cooking. I would argue that cooking something like a pork butt it would actually help compress everything so it doesn't touch the edges of your dome. They definitely will help with loading in more lump during a low and slow cook. which you will most likely need. As far as cooking steaks and such, it takes it just a tad further away from the coals and helps avoid flareups that much more.

MO_Eggin

I've got a woo w/o handles for my MM.  Frankly, I don't use it with the PS very often when going indirect, the PS alone gets the grid above the felt line if you put it on the fire ring (not in the notches).  Also, sometimes I flip the woo over for either a second level or to get really high in the dome, not sure you can do that with the handles.

pgprescott

I have no handles on mine. Hard to argue with the comments above. You need gloves to handle the setup anyway. I don’t think I would
want the handles on the MM personally. It’s a personal preference thing anyway. 

cookingdude555

I like the handles for my woo.  I love being able to take the setup out.  I think I moved this woo from my small egg when I sold it, I works really good here in the MM.

cookingdude555

another angle before this cook started ..

pgprescott

cookingdude555 said:

I like the handles for my woo.  I love being able to take the setup out.  I think I moved this woo from my small egg when I sold it, I works really good here in the MM.

If the handles weren’t there, what prevents you from grabbing it and pulling the whole thing out? One simply needs to grab where the handles are attached. Either way I guess. Idk 

cookingdude555

pgprescott said:

cookingdude555 said:

I like the handles for my woo.  I love being able to take the setup out.  I think I moved this woo from my small egg when I sold it, I works really good here in the MM.

If the handles weren’t there, what prevents you from grabbing it and pulling the whole thing out? One simply needs to grab where the handles are attached. Either way I guess. Idk 

Its a valid point.  I have woos on all of my eggs.  The one that pisses me off the most is the XL, which does not have handles.  I really prefer my setups with the handles, handles makes moving and managing the setup so much easier.

pgprescott

cookingdude555 said:

pgprescott said:

cookingdude555 said:

I like the handles for my woo.  I love being able to take the setup out.  I think I moved this woo from my small egg when I sold it, I works really good here in the MM.

If the handles weren’t there, what prevents you from grabbing it and pulling the whole thing out? One simply needs to grab where the handles are attached. Either way I guess. Idk 

Its a valid point.  I have woos on all of my eggs.  The one that pisses me off the most is the XL, which does not have handles.  I really prefer my setups with the handles, handles makes moving and managing the setup so much easier.

I would think they are much more necessary for the larger setups if for no other reason than the weight. Nice wings btw. 

Matt86m

cookingdude555 said:

another angle before this cook started ..

Curious what the nuts welded on are for? (edit - I think I see it, they rest on the fire ring?) 

Thanks for your and everyone else's comments!

cookingdude555

pgprescott said:

cookingdude555 said:

pgprescott said:

cookingdude555 said:

I like the handles for my woo.  I love being able to take the setup out.  I think I moved this woo from my small egg when I sold it, I works really good here in the MM.

If the handles weren’t there, what prevents you from grabbing it and pulling the whole thing out? One simply needs to grab where the handles are attached. Either way I guess. Idk 

Its a valid point.  I have woos on all of my eggs.  The one that pisses me off the most is the XL, which does not have handles.  I really prefer my setups with the handles, handles makes moving and managing the setup so much easier.

I would think they are much more necessary for the larger setups if for no other reason than the weight. Nice wings btw. 

Agreed.  I had a woo in my medium without handles, its a really old woo.  When I realized on the newer setups how much I liked it, I replaced the medium woo with one with handles.  Even tho its a little bigger than the medium, I find I like it a lot more.

The wings were good, I think this was my inaugural MM cook from two years ago.

cookingdude555

Matt86m said:

cookingdude555 said:

another angle before this cook started ..

Curious what the nuts welded on are for? (edit - I think I see it, they rest on the fire ring?) 

Thanks for your and everyone else's comments!

Yep, the older woo’s had nuts welded to them to increase stability.  I’m sure there’s a joke in there somewhere.

unoriginalusername

No handles allows for the flip extended grid 

Matt86m

Called CGS, you can still get the Woo with handles for the MM. Placed an order: Woo w/handles, 10'' stone and drip pan. 

Got some band spacers from my local dealer cause I can't seem to find the original ones.

Does color matter on the spacers? Is there a color specific to the MM?

Photo Egg

pgprescott said:

cookingdude555 said:

pgprescott said:

cookingdude555 said:

I like the handles for my woo.  I love being able to take the setup out.  I think I moved this woo from my small egg when I sold it, I works really good here in the MM.

If the handles weren’t there, what prevents you from grabbing it and pulling the whole thing out? One simply needs to grab where the handles are attached. Either way I guess. Idk 

Its a valid point.  I have woos on all of my eggs.  The one that pisses me off the most is the XL, which does not have handles.  I really prefer my setups with the handles, handles makes moving and managing the setup so much easier.

I would think they are much more necessary for the larger setups if for no other reason than the weight. Nice wings btw. 

I went no handles on my Woos. I like being able to spin the cooking grate with tongs. Handles for me just get in the way.
If I had the plate setter woo I would probably go with handles. But I have no intention of buying another PS.

cookingdude555

Photo Egg said:

pgprescott said:

cookingdude555 said:

pgprescott said:

cookingdude555 said:

I like the handles for my woo.  I love being able to take the setup out.  I think I moved this woo from my small egg when I sold it, I works really good here in the MM.

If the handles weren’t there, what prevents you from grabbing it and pulling the whole thing out? One simply needs to grab where the handles are attached. Either way I guess. Idk 

Its a valid point.  I have woos on all of my eggs.  The one that pisses me off the most is the XL, which does not have handles.  I really prefer my setups with the handles, handles makes moving and managing the setup so much easier.

I would think they are much more necessary for the larger setups if for no other reason than the weight. Nice wings btw. 

I went no handles on my Woos. I like being able to spin the cooking grate with tongs. Handles for me just get in the way.
If I had the plate setter woo I would probably go with handles. But I have no intention of buying another PS.

Makes sense, good perspective. I like that Tom gives options either way. 

mEGG_My_Day

This is my SBGE, not a minimax.  I have the woo with handles and a minimax grate stacker for a second level.  It has a 3 inch rise, so plenty of room in the dome.  The thermo sometimes gets in the way, but that is easy to pull out a bit. This setup lets me go indirect with two levels if I want.  I can also go direct raised grid, or remove the top level to cook something larger like a butt. 

My preference for the SBGE would be a CGS extender/dgrate like I have on my large.  But they don’t make that. 

I say all this to say I like the handles.  It makes it easy to pull everything out at once.  But I do see the advantages of no handles for flipping it over.