22 year old pit (redo) with pictures UPdate 8-3-08

Chuck · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject: update 7/23/08

Update on this old pit

These 2 pictures are running a test fire.
Sprayed the inside of the pit and ran the fire
for 5 hours at around 350 deg.

I put a ash dump with a holding box under the fire box when I
frist made the pit. Had to redo the ash door.

Picutres of the pit and parts being primed and painted.

On the redo we put hot and cold water tanks on the pit
for clean up.

This was a water faucet I found in the back of the shop.

Cold water tank

The trailer for this pit is small not a whole lot of room on it
so we put a little table on top of the pit. 1 to keep things warm
2 might help with the heat 3 will not scrach the paint ???

This is a picture of the arm that will hold the lights at night for Billie.

On the frist post I did on this pit I showed the hot water tank
inside the pit, but I did not have the vent on the tank.
This picture is with the vent on, I turn it down to keep the
grease from going into the pipe. The tanks holds 5 gal. of
water and gets to about 120 deg. This also helps with the temp.
inside the pit.

Hot water tank on the table.

Sorry guys kind of long winded here 4 more pictures to go.

Pits are us

Billie with his redo and a beer

Billie's baby ready to go home.

Now it is time for a few beers.

Billie has to paint the fire box, fix the lights, run the water lines and
a few more things, then it will be time to cook and maybe have
some more beer????????????????????????????????????????????

Stilwell Chuck

jferger · Newbie Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 43 Location: Kansas City

Awesome work Chuck! Wish I would have taken shop classes back in high school........look forward to seeing some food pics!

JF
_________________
"It is what it is"

tnbarbq · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject:

That is one of the most impressive fabrication jobs I've ever seen!! I'm sure the food coming out of it will be equally impressive!! Great job!!
_________________
Scooter
Large BGE
Char-Broil American Gourmet
Brinkman Bullet

Skidder · BBQ Super Pro Joined: 10 Feb 2008 Posts: 1720

You guys are something else. Nice work.

BabyHuey · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject:

NICE work! Very impressive!

Why do you need so many pits?
_________________
God Bless the "Q" and the People who eat it.... Amen!

Link to my pit build slideshow:

http://s333.photobucket.com/albums/m398/LilBabyHuey/?action=view¤t=4675c7d7.pbw

Chuck · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject: subject

jferger thanks man Billie is thinking about a cook next weekend cooking on this one is up to him but will post pictures

tnbarbq thanks if billie does a cook there will be pictures

Skidder I have known billie from high school way to many stories

BabyHuey I ask that myself this is the frist time I had 3 pits
at the same time for ever always sell them. I do want to make
a new one next year but I might half to get a little lite on 2
of them

Stilwell Chuck

HillbillySmoker · BBQ Pro Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 917 Location: WV

I really like the work you do Chuck, can i ask why you went with Two dualie axles on your big cooker?, is it that heavy?

Boomer · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject: redo

Chuck

Real neat Chuckie, the pics of all the pitts sitting together should be hanging in your house. Like I tell you every week, your work is off the wall. The pics of the wrought iron you sent are impressive. I know your not real good with taking compliments, so I won't go there. RIGHT
Your a master craftsman my friend, and you always share your knowledge with others. You have helped me so many times with the cooker the kids at school built. I only wish you lived closer to have shared some of your expertise with the kids at the vo-tech. They have seen every thing you have built in the last 2 years and they think your GOD.
Your a class act

Will talk to you soon my frend

BOOMER
_________________
Life isn't about how to survive the storm,
But how to dance in the rain.

Chuck · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject:

HillbillySmoker thanks man on the axles on the big one
1 it is not lite does pull better than my bob cat
2 got a good deal on them each axle is 12000 lbs
3 could go with either 4 wheels our 8 wheels
4 I like the 8 wheels
5 made a lot of pits and trailers, duaile axles tow and run
better down the road in my mind ??????????
The big pit has all the chrome off of it right now
will be doing a bbq com. later this year with it
I do this because I am lazy to much to clean.

Stilwell Chuck

BabyHuey · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject: Re: subject

HillbillySmoker · BBQ Pro Joined: 25 May 2008 Posts: 917 Location: WV

Hoosier Daddy · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject:

Great work Chuck, truly remarkable. Do you remember or know the size of the original tank on the redo smoker? I was looking into a project with a similar looking tank. Just curious about the dimensions and how you like the shorter fat chamber vs longer skinnier ones, etc. Thanks and great work again
I would attach a picture of the one i'm looking at, but I don't know how just yet
Any tips would be great

cody · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject:

do u want to sell any of them

mrcustomsteel · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject:

Man, that's just super quality work! Nice!
_________________
D. Tillery
Texan transplanted in Billings, MT
www.mrcustomsteel.com

Chuck · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject: Subject

Hoosier Daddy thanks, the tank is 25"x40"As for�shorter fat chamber vs longer skinnier ones ???????
When I made this pit I found the tank down town at this place.
They had 6 of them, I think I paid $20.00 per tank, got them all.
Billie has this one and a kid that used to work with me has the other.
The other 4 are some where here in town, I saw one of them about
ten years ago.

What ever tank I can find that I like well you can see what happens
another bbg pit.

Stilwell Chuck

Hoosier Daddy · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject:

Thanks Chuck. Seeing your pit gives me a little inspiration with the tanks i've found.
I appreciate the inf0

Chuck · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject: paint

Baby Huey to me $30.00 a gal for paint is cheap

I painted a pit about 15 years ago had about $500.00 in paint
and primer.

In the pictures you can see some of the parts to the pit and
the tank primer. I use a self etching primer on all my tanks.
You can use really any kind of primer on the parts and the trailer
but I have found out over the years that the etching primer
takes the heat better. (50 50 mix)

On the last 4 pits I painted I have been useing
Valspar - Tractor & Implement enamel ( oil paint )
color # 4432-02 Massey Ferguson Red.
$28.00 a gal (cheap)
Also I mix in a hardener with it they sell it at the same place.
TSC stores.

The wetter you can spray it the better it holds up in the sun.

I will say car paint is a lot better, but for the money this paint
is not to bad.

Stilwell Chuck

Hoosier Daddy · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject:

Hey Chuck, could you roast a hog on the pit that you are redoing (the 40x30).

Chuck · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject: Hog

Hoosier Daddy don't really know, I think this pit is kind of small
I for got to take pictures of the inside of the pit showing
the racks, when Billie does his cook on it I will get more pictures.
I have only cooked 1 hog or pig in all these years
it would have to be real small to cook in this pit.
BBQMAN could tell you more about this matter than I can ??????

Stilwell Chuck

Hoosier Daddy · Posted: Jul 24 2008 Post subject:

thanks Chuck