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First Build Patio RF 50 gallon "Lefty" version

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I like that idea, Dave always comes thru.

Gary
 
Dave....plenum it is. Have to read up and see what is in the snow covered scrap pile.

Thanks again

RG
 
I'm following this thread closely because I soon hope to start construction on one very similar to this. Tank is a little bigger, but the concept is the same. Do u think u will have any issues with the back wheels located so close to the fire box? I wonder if they will melt..
 
UGA Fan said:
I'm following this thread closely because I soon hope to start construction on one very similar to this. Tank is a little bigger, but the concept is the same. Do u think u will have any issues with the back wheels located so close to the fire box? I wonder if they will melt..
Click to expand...
UGA,

I have about 2" clearance (both V&H)  from the FB to the inside of each wheel.  I made the base wider so it would be stable and not  so tipsy.  Tank is only 18" wide.  The bottom of the FB should not get too hot as I have a fire grate so the fire base is 3" or so inches off the bottom.  The wheels are all cast iron with a hard rubber coating, so it would not be a big deal if I lost the rubber portion.   I purposely avoided inflated tires being mindful of the heat factor.  I found these, high quality roller bearings and liked the look.    

Follow along and learn from my mistakes.  I making it up as I go along. 

RG
 
How far down?

Any suggestions for height on the smoke stack above cooking grate?  I've looked around the forum and can't find a definite answer.  I have seen / read stacks exiting at the grate height to a few inches above it.

I will be building a plenum for my stack to keep it on the center line.  I am thinking to put it 3-4 inches above the grate, my reason is that if it is located too high then too much heat will be allowed to escape. 

Any thoughts on making an adjustable slide (up /down) to allow fine tuning for heat?  I would keep the stack pipe opening the same just be able to move it up / down by a few inches? 

Or am I over-thinking this one?  Just want to make sure it drafts well. 

Thanks,

RG
 
RG, morning..... What ever the volume of the stack calculated to be, have that amount above the CC.... the stack volume to the plenum and including the plenum doesn't figure in.... that's how I interpret the numbers......

Dave
 
Dave thanks for your reply. I've got the volume thing above the CC understood. Any thoughts on where the exit opening should be?? At grate level? Above it? My thinking is that smoke and heat would exit faster the higher the opening is. So I am tending to want to locate it 3-4 inches above cook grate. H ope this makes sense...
 
Bottom of the plenum 3-4" above the cook grate sounds good to me..... That should pull the heat and smoke across the food without sucking all the heat out of the CC.....
 
Well forget that question. For some reason I only saw where you had the pipe sitting on top of the FB. It's obvious I'm getting old.
 
Alaska,  I got it....old guy here too.  I just did a quick post from my phone.  It was cold last night!! 

I am getting so stoked as the end is near.  All I need to get cooking is RF plate and cooking grates.  I do have some other finishing touches but I really want to see how

this thing cooks and flows.

RG
 
Finally got around to finishing this project!!

As you know life has a way of getting in the way.

At this point in time I did a test burn with temp fitted RF plate and found out that I could not
get it to burn well. Meaning CLEAN and HOT. I toyed around with it for a few more test burns. I did find out that my intakes (see post #7) were too low and not big enough. I temporarily raised my fire grate and got a decent burn. This is where I got disgusted and discouraged and shelved the project for a while.

Winter 2018
I patched up those first D shaped intake vents and cut a new one lower (and larger) in the
firebox.

20180127_114544.jpg
Old intakes patched....not a fun mistake!


20180131_185312.jpg
New larger and lower intakes.
I ended up making these 35% larger than original Feldons numbers.

20180203_164114.jpg

20180209_201800.jpg
Very good test burn ! I seasoned it with some Bacon fat and spray oil over a
few more test burns.

20180310_085355.jpg
First cook! Pork butts plus a Frittata for breakfast .
 
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