New bands for mini BGE

loco_engr

I purchased my mini in 2009 and it has a 12" OD.
Will the current new bands work on this older model?

WeberWho

I want to say the outside diameter changed. At one point I looked into updating my band on my mini and it wouldn't work. I want to say a few people used a felt gasket between the egg and band to accommodate a new band.

WeberWho

I'm out working in the garage. I just took a tape measure between an older mini and newer mini. The new mini is 1/4" bigger in width.

RRP

1/4” in the manufacturing of ceramics made by the process called slip casting means ZIP. Or another way of explaining the one 1/4” smaller in diameter was probably taken out of the mold 5 minutes earlier than the other...OR having been cast down there in MEXICO the day the larger one was was removed it wasn’t as HOT that day!
IOW 1/4” doesn’t mean much when it comes to the width of a BGE anyway!

WeberWho

RRP said:

1/4” in the manufacturing of ceramics made by the process called slip casting means ZIP. Or another way of explaining the one 1/4” smaller in diameter was probably taken out of the mold 5 minutes earlier than the other...OR having been cast down there in MEXICO the day the larger one was was removed it wasn’t as HOT that day!
IOW 1/4” doesn’t mean much when it comes to the width of a BGE anyway!

The mini has grown over time. The new fire ring and fire bowl won't fit the older style mini. The outside diameter has grown. I'm only going on what my tape measure says and have learned on the forum over the years. 

Photo Egg

WeberWho said:

RRP said:

1/4” in the manufacturing of ceramics made by the process called slip casting means ZIP. Or another way of explaining the one 1/4” smaller in diameter was probably taken out of the mold 5 minutes earlier than the other...OR having been cast down there in MEXICO the day the larger one was was removed it wasn’t as HOT that day!
IOW 1/4” doesn’t mean much when it comes to the width of a BGE anyway!

The mini has grown over time. The new fire ring and fire bowl won't fit the older style mini. The outside diameter has grown. I'm only going on what my tape measure says and have learned on the forum over the years. 

 Cooking grate is also larger in newer model. Agree with you.

cookingdude555

I have fit new mini parts in my old mini, although my old mini is from about 2008 or so, cant remember exactly.  My old mini only has the dome and base as original, the remaining parts are all new.  Only photo I have of them together as the older one stays on my desk at work.  I do remember the bands cinched up more on the older mini when compared to the new one, but to answer your question, they worked.



I have two fire rings in my minis for a raised grid effect.  The older mini still has the smaller cooking grid, so its a balancing act on the fire ring.



I am pretty sure the larger cooking grid would fit in it.  I will double check the width of it again Monday at the office.

Of course, the mini is preaching that size isn't everything to a crowd of weber 26" kettles during one of our cooks.  They didn't listen, they never do.

Eoin

cookingdude555 said:

I have fit new mini parts in my old mini, although my old mini is from about 2008 or so, cant remember exactly.  My old mini only has the dome and base as original, the remaining parts are all new.  Only photo I have of them together as the older one stays on my desk at work.  I do remember the bands cinched up more on the older mini when compared to the new one, but to answer your question, they worked.



I have two fire rings in my minis for a raised grid effect.  The older mini still has the smaller cooking grid, so its a balancing act on the fire ring.



I am pretty sure the larger cooking grid would fit in it.  I will double check the width of it again Monday at the office.

Of course, the mini is preaching that size isn't everything to a crowd of weber 26" kettles during one of our cooks.  They didn't listen, they never do.

Nice idea on the second fire ring.

cookingdude555

Thanks it’s not too expensive, I think I paid under $40. 

Hotch

1st gen mini has a 9 1/2" cooking grid. (Same one fits the Chimina base!)

2nd gen has a 10" cooking grid.

Eoin

cookingdude555 said:

Thanks it’s not too expensive, I think I paid under $40. 

I'm not sure the same trick will work on my MMX because of the dome taper.

cookingdude555

Eoin said:

cookingdude555 said:

Thanks it’s not too expensive, I think I paid under $40. 

I'm not sure the same trick will work on my MMX because of the dome taper.

It's possible it might.  One thing you cant really tell from my picture is that I have the fire ring upside down so that it tapers in.  Plus the fire ring on the MMX is much shorter in relation to the egg size compared to the mini.  Take your fire ring to a dealer and ask if you can put it in their floor model to verify before you buy one.  However, in the MMX, I just use the woo from ceramicgrillstore.com, it works really well here.

Eoin

cookingdude555 said:

Eoin said:

cookingdude555 said:

Thanks it’s not too expensive, I think I paid under $40. 

I'm not sure the same trick will work on my MMX because of the dome taper.

It's possible it might.  One thing you cant really tell from my picture is that I have the fire ring upside down so that it tapers in.  Plus the fire ring on the MMX is much shorter in relation to the egg size compared to the mini.  Take your fire ring to a dealer and ask if you can put it in their floor model to verify before you buy one.  However, in the MMX, I just use the woo from ceramicgrillstore.com, it works really well here.

The ring will fit, but the grid might be too big at that height. No local dealer. I'll mock it up and if it'll work then I'll order another ring. 

loco_engr

My new local dealer is Westlake Ace Hardware in Leavenworth,KS.  I emailed them Monday about getting the BGE mini band set, but have not heard back from them.  CGS is also looking for me, thanks Tom!

loco_engr

Update:  Ace Hardware Leavenworth, KS has ordered me a new band set for a mini, due in next week.  Will advise