so how far?

[RedneckRocket]

Today I worked on the new pit a little more. I made the damper for the chimney, and built a sweet little handle for it. This should keep the critters out and the weather. Plus it looke pretty cool. It even opens and closes. Bonus!

R.R.

[k.a.m.]

RedneckRocket, looking good my man I like the damper rod it looks very clean, nice touch Keep those pics coming.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[RedneckRocket]

Thanks for the kind words KAM I appreciate it. The rod turned out great. I made a year drop shaped damper lid for it to.

R.R.

[RedneckRocket]

I am getting ready to build my shelves pretty soon. How large are the holes on average in the expanded metal have to be. Is there some sort of baseline for this, or can I go with whatever I want? I just want to make sure that I have good flow where I need it. Thanks.

R.R.

[k.a.m.]

RedneckRocket, the most common expanded metal used for grates is #9 3/4'' flat, but I have seen a lot of cookers with smaller and some larger. When I smoked the hog for easter that cooker had stainless woven mesh the holes in it were probably 3/8''.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[RedneckRocket]

Excellent, thanks KAM!

R.R.

[RedneckRocket]

I have all my steel cut out for my fire box. I am making it out of 1/4 inch and it is 20" wide by 18" tall. I am wondering if this will be to heavy and make it want to tip to the fire box side. Maybe I am just woering to much about it. What do you think?

Thanks.
R.R.

[k.a.m.]

RedneckRocket, I think you will be fine. Unless you have repositioned the cooker on its stand, I looked back and the firebox side is right at the end of the cooking chamber, so you would be tilting the entire cooker, with that size box I do not think it will be heavier than your cooking chamber.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[RedneckRocket]

Thanks KAM. The cooker chamber will be positioned just as it sits in the pictures, and the fire box will be just maybe an inch or two off of the end of the framework. Seems I will be ok then. Thanks for the advice KAM, I greatly appreciate it.

R.R.

[RedneckRocket]

Today I got the fire box to cooking chamber cut out, an got the fire box welded in.



Here is the beginning of the fire box. I chose not to weld it all together on the floor, due to not having anything to pick it up with once its all complete. Worked out great.

[RedneckRocket]

Here is a picture of the welds holding the fire box to the cook chamber. They came out pretty nice I think. Unfortunately I ran out of gas for the welder and had to change back to the flux core wire. Still turned out good, just like has welding better than the flux core.

[RedneckRocket]

This is the other side of the fire box.

[RedneckRocket]

Just another weld picture. I sure do like my little welder.

[RedneckRocket]

And here is where I sit now. Still need to make the door for the fire box, and the shelf, and the cooking grates. Then off to the sand blasters.

[zilla]

That's really shaping up nicely. Are you going to double flange the doors?
_________________
Zilla

GIANT BBQ

[RedneckRocket]

I will need to double flange the doors. I have just a bit of warpage on the cook chamber door. So I figure once I get that taken care of and the extra flange outside it should seal up well. Thanks for the comments. I appreciate it.

R.R.

[zilla]

[k.a.m.]

RedneckRocket, your firebox looks good sitting on there I am guessing no tipping issues arose. It wont be long now you will be firing her up.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[RedneckRocket]

I am not sure what gauge the tank was. I am going to guess it at 3/16". After looking at it further, I think the warp came from when I put the hinges on. Tomorrow, I believe I will cut the door side kinge off and rebuild it. If I take the bolt out of the hinge and let it sit where it wants to the door fits really well.

[RedneckRocket]

Thanks KAM. The box is coming along nice. I really like working with the thicker metal that I can't warp hehe hehe hehe. Maybe tomorrow I can get the door for the fire box mocked up. Have a couple of different ideas, but not sure how I am going to do it yet.

R.R.