I found two and maybe had a third one but not sure. Amazing how one worm, left alone, can seemingly eat an entire tomato plant. My usual around here seems to be just one or two and if I catch them early, very little damage.
I would really like some new grates for the smoker. The rectangular one for the horizontal tank is made from some scrap steel expanded metal I had laying around and the round grates are from an old Brinkmann smoker, were cheap chrome plated things, and have surface rust on them. The round ones are easy to find but three decent stainless steel ones would be $114. I was surprised to find something that will fit the rectangle but they’re sold in pairs for a Weber Spirit 300 grill and I would need three of them so I’d have to buy two pair. Another $100+.
I might have to make my own. I can get 304 stainless steel rod in 1/8” or 3/16” for the round ones and 1/4” for the rectangle for about the same cost and could make the rectangle in two pieces instead of buying four and using three. I would have to buy some stainless steel mig welding wire but a roll of that would last forever. The 304 SS is used for cookware and keeps it’s corrosion resistance up to 1,500 degrees. Who knows what the amazon sellers are using for SS alloy.
I can get by with what I’ve got. The rusty round grates have been sitting in the smoker and are coated black now LOL. Salmon always goes on foil. Dutch Oven doesn’t matter. Hanging sausage, doesn’t matter. Guess I’ll put it on my to do list — for Spring 2026.
Measured the old chest freezer. It’s 35” tall which is kitchen counter height x 28” deep x 62” long. I just stuck it out in the woods a week ago but it’s coming back today but not going in the driveway. It’s big enough that I could cut most of the front out and stick the old compressor in there. If you have an old chest freezer outside that doubles as a countertop and compressor shed, you might be a redneck.