First Time Build

[Grems4Ever]

It's been a pretty busy week, unfortunately not necessary on the smoker. Before I get too much further on this, I'm going to have to put some wheels on it to make it a little more mobile which I totally overlooked when I designed the base for it. While making one last slog through my junk pile in search of something to make hinges out of, I stumbled across the mobility solution...



I've already worked out how to mount them and prepped them for welding. Once an extra set of hands gets home from running an errand, I'm hoping to get them burned into place. I'll post pictures when I'm done.

In case you're wondering why I'm worrying about this now, I have to do all my welding outside and moving the smoker in and out of the garage is only going to get more difficult.

[Grems4Ever]

It now has wheels...

[Grems4Ever]

Made a little more progress after dinner last night...

[Mule rider]

I see that you have used a 60 Gal. air tank. I started with on like that last week. Its almost 3/4 done. It has been challenging for me with my welder taking a dump on me and getting another welder. As soon as I can download the pics on my phone I will post them for you.

[Mule rider]

I see we are using the same tank. Did you realize the tank is powder coated. I am sanding mine down to bare metal because sand blasting will not take off the powder coating.Here are a few pics of mine. Keep me posted on your build.

[Grems4Ever]

I noticed it was powder coated when I sanded down the top seam of the door in preparation for welding the hinges on (which has not happened yet). So far it's come off pretty easy with 80 grit paper and my orbital sander.

It looks like I'm taking the complicated route to joining the firebox. I'm not sure how that's going to work out, so I may just wind up making it up as I go.

[Grems4Ever]

Made some more progress...

[Grems4Ever]

Weather is too nasty to be out welding, so I finished the rough draft of a handle...



Going down to the garage to start stripping down the tank I'm planning on using for a firebox here in a little bit.

[Grems4Ever]

I guess its about time to get serious about mounting the firebox. Since I need to see it to be able to wrap my brain around it, I took a couple of mock up shots. There's pros and cons to both, but at least I can start wrapping my brain around it.





I left the stuff on the tank for the moment to make it easier to move around...

[Mule rider]

It looks like if you mounted the smoke tank horizontal it might be too wide. Vertical you might not have a big enough fire box. You might want to split the tank in half and go end to end. Good job so far. Keep up the good work. I did my first cook on mine and found out I had too much heat near the fire box so today I cut 17"x 7" tuning plates to go across the tank. I did a test burn after some rearranging of plates and now I am between 5-8 degrees from front to back don't think I could get any closer. I ordered a new toggle latch for my lid. I also cemented and pop riveted the gasket material on the lid which when i get my latch seals the lid nice and tight.

[Mule rider]

This is how mine turned out.

[Grems4Ever]

Just a little more progress.



I'm going to have to fix that handle...



Wood was in there to help hold the angle iron in place while I welded it in.

[Grems4Ever]

Quick mock-up so I can start marking things out on the firebox.

[Grems4Ever]

Made the sleeve to mount the firebox to the smoke chamber. It's made out of 2" wide 3/16th steel, but I'm wondering if I should have used 3". The inside opening is 38 sq. in. which is just larger than the 37.634 sq. In. recommended by the throat calculator. I just need to finish laying out the location of the firebox air intake and where I want the sleeve to fit and it will be time to start cutting & welding on the firebox.

[Grems4Ever]

A beautiful day and a rather empty schedule gave me a good amount of time to work on the smoker.

Opening cut in the bottom of the smoke chamber...


Firebox passage mocked up on the firebox...


Door cut and the passage and hinges burned in...


Along with all this, I also managed to set my glove on fire.