new offset build coming along, a few questions

cookietruck · Joined: 24 May 2013 Posts: 16

hey guys, i think this might be my first post. i'm in central texas, grew up eating smoked meat because my dad had a smoker. i was kinda so so about it all until i ate some central texas style brisket. Been a few years now and I couldn't help it any longer, decided to learn to weld and build a smoker.

want to make sure this all looks good before I start putting it together. I used the ratios spreadsheet so I think I should be pretty good so far.

i have a 20"x20"x20" square firebox (haven't fabbed the door yet), .250" plate.

The firebox to chamber opening is 3.5"x 16", a quick measurement looks like the top of the opening for the firebox will be 6" below my grates, is this good?

i will have a small baffle there and probably a few tuning plates, I wouldn't mind if the firebox side of the pit is a little hotter than the other side.

my chamber is 24" diameter by 48" long.

for the chimney I think I'll be using 4"x4" square tubing, 26" long seems right.

do most use 3/4x#9 expanded steel for the grates?

also, will 1.5"x1/8" angle iron be strong enough for the legs or should I get some 2"x3/16" iron for that?

thanks for the help guys.

the door is still connected at four points here, i'm kinda thinking it's going to spring a little. i thought about welding some small rods on the inside to triangulate the door but i think i'll just use KAM's method of angle iron chain and a hammer to work back into shape if it does spring.

GF · Posted: Jul 07 2013 Post subject:

cookietruck, looks like your off to a good start. Very Happy

I can't help much but, 3/4 x #9 for the grates should be fine.

For the legs, I would use 3/16 minimum, I would probably go 1/4", but that's just me.

Good luck with it and keep the pics coming. Very Happy

SoEzzy · Posted: Jul 07 2013 Post subject:

Please read PMPNLT650pxOTLS!
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cookietruck · Joined: 24 May 2013 Posts: 16

Wreckless · Posted: Jul 07 2013 Post subject:

I'm thinking 1/4" x 2" legs minimum angle. FWIW, I am using 3/16" x 2 x 3 tubing on my legs.
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SoEzzy · Posted: Jul 07 2013 Post subject:

Thanks for your understanding and speedy alteration! Wink

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cookietruck · Joined: 24 May 2013 Posts: 16

k.a.m. · Posted: Jul 10 2013 Post subject:

cookietruck, it looks like all your measurements will work.
The 6" distance you have for your grates to opening will be fine for a cooker with tuning plates, if your planning on a reverse flow I would raise the opening to a minimum of 5".
1.5" to 2" x .250 wall pipe is more than adequate for legs on that cooker.
I hope this helps. Very Happy

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cookietruck · Joined: 24 May 2013 Posts: 16

thanks K.A.M.

yeah i ended up getting .250 - 2" angle for the legs
should have pretty much everything to finish this thing up now, got the hinges tacked on. the door moved a few mm on one corner...or actually i think the pipe moved.
maybe it would've worked better if i had capped the ends before cutting out the door. oh well.

now that i have the rest of the material i guess it's just a matter of putting it all together now.

i think i'll mount the pipe to the legs
then put the angle iron in for the grates and the tuning plates (this is not reverse flow btw)
then i'll mount the firebox and chimney and then cap the ends...i have a bunch of scrap plate that i'm going to use to cap it off so there will be some extra welding which is probably good for me to practice
will probably build the grates last

might do counterweights for the door

also debating on how to do the intake, i think i'll probably end up just making a rectangle cut in the door and a slide with an extra piece of steel plate

Wreckless · Posted: Jul 12 2013 Post subject:

cookietruck, while it does make for easier access performing the work you mentioned before capping the ends, it may add to any door woes you may currently have. For sure, adding the rails will be suspect. A bit harder to get a good weld on the rails with the cap on depending on your design and location but there are work arounds for this. Just something to consider. Looking good so far tho. Very Happy

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cookietruck · Joined: 24 May 2013 Posts: 16

thanks wreckless, that makes sense. perhaps i will cap this thing before i continue.

i guess i could roll a jack in there and see if i can get that gap to close up then cap that side and mount the firebox. at that point i'd probably just cap the other side too if the gap over there stays nice. it's about perfect on that side right now.

cookietruck · Joined: 24 May 2013 Posts: 16

so i welded some smooth round on the underside of the door before i cut it loose all the way, hoping to keep it from springing.
after it moved a little i decided to cut the rod loose, it was working some because both sides sprung some more after that.
but i used my jack and a chain to bend the door.

have a nice fit now.
so i guess i'll move to welding the firebox and capping the ends to keep the fit nice.
will have to be sure that i weld out real slow on the horizontal door strapping i guess.

smootz · Posted: Jul 15 2013 Post subject:

Nice looking job so far cookietruck.

Since your ends are already open I would for sure get those tray supports in before welding the ends. The supports will help hold your radius. I always cut door openings and weld internals before welding the ends and don't have door fit problems. "knock on wood"! Just my experience, your mileage may vary. Wink

The 180RF in my sig was done that way and so were the next 3 like it.
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k.a.m. · Posted: Jul 15 2013 Post subject:

cookietruck, nice fix on your door she straightened great. Very Happy

Take your time on the strap it still may move on you but you know how to tweak it now so it shouldn't be a problem. I look forward to seeing some more pics and updates. Very Happy

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Txagg · Joined: 17 Jul 2013 Posts: 2

Looks like your project is coming along. Where are you in central Texas? I'm near Waco and started working on building my first cooker last weekend. Thanks for asking some of the questions that I needed answered also!

cookietruck · Joined: 24 May 2013 Posts: 16

txagg i'm in austin.

might post some more pics later this weekend, cut the plates that will be for the casters on the ends of the legs, have some nice heavy duty casters
same with the chimney, hoping to make some progress this weekend

been thinking about how i'm going to do the door for the firebox. tempted to just cut a square for the intake with a slide...but i'm also thinking i might copy K.A.M's veritcal lifting door with the notched iron to hold it in place, i guess what i do will just depend on how i'm feeling at the time Laughing

cookietruck · Joined: 24 May 2013 Posts: 16

got the intake for the door started
stealing K.A.M's design...

and got the chimney capped on the bottom, 4"x4" opening at the bottom, figure that's plenty...
also welded the angle to some .250" plates for my casters

cookietruck · Joined: 24 May 2013 Posts: 16

got the intake for the firebox about done, seems to be working fine, strapped the door, seems i might need to add a strip of the even sealer gasket or something to one seam on the door, i didn't trap the door with the hinges so i can pull it off if i need to...
also didn't get these smaller metal pieces as squared up as i would've liked, those guys moved around alot...

also got the chamber on legs/wheels
need to get more angle iron before i continue.
don't really have much left...

cookietruck · Joined: 24 May 2013 Posts: 16

got some decent work work done this weekend and last weekend.
tied in the legs last weekend and i think i welded in the rails for the slides for the grates.
this weekend i mounted the firebox, welded in the heat baffle (3/16" plate, 6" deep, happened to have that scrap here so i used it) and rails for tuning plates to slide up and down. also framed up the cook chamber grates.

i hope 6" isn't too much baffle, if it is i might drill a few large holes in it...

my neighbor has a small O/A torch setup so i'm going to get him to help me cut the plate to cap the ends. i don't really have any desire to spend a weekend cutting that with a cutoff wheel...

the two upper rails in the firebox i installed in hopes of being able to fire pizzas in there and maybe sear steaks or something...
i didn't trap the door with the hinges so i don't have it on right now.

the heat baffle has about a 5 degree kickdown i guess and it ended up 5" below the grates...well 6" really i guess since i used 1" angle to frame the grates...5" to the bottom of the rails for the grates.

Maniac · BBQ Super Pro Joined: 02 Oct 2010 Posts: 2433 Location: Pa

cookietruck looks good

i like your split grate...should give you lots of options. keep us posted.
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