Sweet build Wes. I myself was a mason for ten years. I haven't picked my tools up in about six years though. I'm seriously throwing around the idea of building one out of brick. If you don't mind me asking about how much you have wrapped up in it? Just the materials? Any input would be much appreciated.
Thanks beef,
I had laid a few block for myself before, but never brick. It was an interesting project. My brother made a living laying brick for about 25 years. He gave me a lot of pointers and no help... :-)
The brick I had from our 1907 house. We tore down the chimney when we remolded in 2000. My project also included the fireplace. Totally brick were around 1300, plus fill. I used common for fill.
I pored the footing 13in. thick double run rebar on 1 ft. grid. Better safe then sorry. Overkill, maybe. But that's something you can't go back and fix.
My brother also built my doors, damper and shelves in his fab shop. It was free, but wasn't sure he would ever get them done.... I couldn't start the smoker without the doors. So I bugged the hell out of him till he got them done. :-)
Total cost I would guess to be around $1500.00. For both fireplace and smoker.
I think I had around maybe 350 - 400 brick in the smoker. Not sure how many firebrick. Some I had from a fireplace tear down at work. I started the base of the smoker with 8" block and stepped them in to 6 once over the firebox. I left about 2in. expansion on the sides of the smoke chamber and about 1" in back.
If I were building another one. I'd make it at least 4 to 6 in. wider.
This is probably more then you wanted, but I just kinda got to rambling. If you have any questions I'd be more then glad to help anyway I can.
My run down pretty much covers the basics of my build. With your working knowledge of brick work it would be simple for you to build.
Thanks for the kind words Michael.