NEW BUILD START TODAY>>> finished pics

[feldon30]

Looking great and those hinges are serious business.

Gonna have lots of room in there.

[slapout]

For my counterweight, I used a piece of wood similar in dimension to the counterweight supports. I put a bolt through it to make it hinge so I could play with the angle. I was able to clamp it to my door hinge but you could tack a scrap of angle on there.

After I got it where I wanted it, I welded up the support arms and attached them. The next step was to weld a cap on one end of the 4" tubing. I used sand as the ballast and kept adding it until I got it just right then welded the other cap on. It opens with ease and will stay open by itself.

[DC_KS_BBQ]

that is a good idea. thanks for the help. i like the idea of sand as the ballast but does it rattle as you open or close the pit? does it close as easy as it opens?

[slapout]

It actually makes no noise at all. The toughest part was getting it into the tubing with it welded horizontal. I would put some in there and pack it with a 2X4 then add some more. I would estimate my 26" weight is 80% full of sand. My door weighs 93 lbs. and opens with one hand and stays open.

[DC_KS_BBQ]

had some work problems arise so had to stop working on pit for a few days.gunna try to get back on her sunday or monday.

[DC_KS_BBQ]

well got my fire box/vertical chamber picked up today. here is some pics of the box and lid.
box is 30X24X48 1/4 inch thick

[k.a.m.]

DC_KS_BBQ, your fire box is shaping up nicely. I will be watching for some more updates.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[DC_KS_BBQ]

planning on working on her quite a bit tomm. have two more weekends to finish the smoker itself so i can practice on it before winter q.

[Awning Guy]

looks great.... keep the photos coming
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First Build[/url]
Pig Cooker
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Disco

[dukhunter785]

DC KS BBQ.........I really like the way your counter weight came together!! This is gonna be one bad smoker! You ever get to Manhattan.....give me a holler!

[DC_KS_BBQ]

wel got fire box mounted and counterweights finished.

here are the pics

[DC_KS_BBQ]

cut 4, 4inch holes in the door for my air inlet. also got the door hinges for the vertical and firebox designed. will have pics tomm probably. just an update of todays progress.

[DC_KS_BBQ]

rf plate installed today. it has a bend in the center to allow grease and what not to flow down.

[DC_KS_BBQ]

well worked approx 13 hours on smoker today!
got the doors mounted on fire box/vertical chamber, air inlet pipes welded in, inlet dampners, and got it mounted on 4X4 tubing base. also got the divider plate welded in between the firebox and vertical to seperate the two. here are some pics of build progress

also had to fire her up with some charcoal and a 2X4 i had laying around. she draws nicely and cant wait to have it done so i can start cookin on it.

[day_trippr]

Very impressive build so far, DC_KS_BBQ! You made a lot of progress in those 13 hours!

But I'm looking at your intake control and as cool as those flappers look, I suspect that setup is going to be wicked touchy in actual use, compared to a sliding damper plate. On the up side, if it proves too sensitive it won't take any heroic measures to change it up.

Looking forward to seeing how that big rig runs!

Cheers!
_________________
Save the planet: it's the only one with beer!
FrankennBrinkmann ECB
Char-Broil Commercial Gasser

[DC_KS_BBQ]

I guess u could say the intakes are there mainly for pretty. I bought a stoker so ill us it mainly but have to figure out some way to make the intakes all open with unison.

[DC_KS_BBQ]

got it mounted on the base yesterday and got it welded solid and set on ground.

[tieman]

Very nice job DC_KS_BBQ, workmanship looks great. I am realitively new here and was reading your post and in one post you mentioned that yours doors warped some when cutting them out. Can you get a little more specific on how you got them to fir better?

I cut mine out with a plasma cutter I bought for this my build and its the best tool in my shop..love it. However it does not keep me from doing stupid things like cutting my second door 3 inches to small. I cut on the wrong side of my guide. Anyway I cut the 3 inch piece out and welded it to the door and that was where the warpage came in. Just trying to get it closer than it is now. I can almost stick my finger the bottom left hand side.

[DC_KS_BBQ]

as far as the warpage of the doors i fixed it with a rosebud torch, two come-alongs, big dead blow hammer, and wet rags to control movement of the metal. it helped that i had a guy that built trailers and stuff helping me. he knows exactly how to shape metal and how it will react to heat and stuff. but other than that, i didnt have to do to much else.

[DC_KS_BBQ]

wish i coul be at home finishing my smoker. instead in orlando for work. this sucks