Small Repair/Fabrication Job on My Southern Q Gravity Fed Smoker

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seenred

Legendary Pitmaster
Original poster
OTBS Member
Feb 9, 2009
9,937
1,655
N.E. Oklahoma
Couple weeks ago, I purchased a used gravity fed smoker off a guy who used it for competitions.  It was mounted on his comp trailer, over the wheel well, which is why it had 1 short leg and no casters for moving it around.



Well Sunday, I was finally able to line up my schedule so I could borrow a relative's welding rig.  He helped out by doing a lot of the welding...my welding skill is pretty amateurish.  My only objective was to get this beast where I can move it around in my garage and on my driveway...which meant extending that one short leg and mounting casters.

First thing I did was use a grinder with a cutoff wheel to carefully cut the feet off all four legs.  I wanted to keep the feet intact so I could center them up on the legs and re-weld...something I can bolt the casters to.



Next, after measuring carefully to make sure we were getting it right, we cut a short length of 2" tubing from some scrap I had laying around, and welded it on the short leg...making all 4 legs equal length.  Mrs. Red took the photos...I didn't seem to get a good pic of this step, but we put a little makeshift jig together out of some straight, square 1x4 boards and some C clamps...so we could get the extension welded on straight.

After getting the 4 legs equal length, we welded the 4 feet back on the legs.  I had already grinded the old beads off the feet, then measured and drilled the bolt holes for the casters.


A little closer looks shows the new leg on the right rear corner.


Finished the welding, got bolt holes drilled in the feet, and mounted the casters.  Here she is sitting in my driveway on her new wheels, with a fire going...I'm getting ready to throw some ribs and a chuckie in it for the maiden cook!


Definitely not the prettiest welding you'll ever see...but it's sturdy.  I've still got some grinding to do to clean it up a little before painting it, then I still need to find some paint to match...but it's functional for now.

Thanks for checking it out,

Red
 
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Nice job man! It's always nice to get a new toy set up the way you want it 
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  I'll be looking for some trial smokes directly 
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Nice job man! It's always nice to get a new toy set up the way you want it 
banana_smiley.gif
  I'll be looking for some trial smokes directly 
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Jeremy!!  Too long since I heard from you Brother!  How ya been?  Thanks for stopping by...appreciate the kind words!

Yep...I've already posted the maiden smoke...that thread is here:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/244651/reds-maiden-cook-on-the-new-gravity-fed-smoker-finally

Thanks again Man...good to hear from you!  
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Red
 
How in the devil, did you get that MONSTER up on the bench.....   They are heavy.....    Nice job on the mod....  

When you get a chance, will you take pics of the air inlet, heat tubes and exhaust...  

Dave
 
 
How in the devil, did you get that MONSTER up on the bench.....   They are heavy.....    Nice job on the mod....  

When you get a chance, will you take pics of the air inlet, heat tubes and exhaust...  

Dave
Lol...Took 2 men to ease it up there.  We tilted it back against a blanket, then only had to pick up the bottom end and slide it up onto the table...and it still about strained my gizzard!

I coulda swore I shot the photos you asked for when I was home for lunch...and now I can't find 'em...  
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I'll shoot them again tonight and post what your after.

Red
 
Dave, here are some shots of the air intake, heat tube/diffuser, and exhaust stack.

Intake and firebox:







Heat tube, with a removable heat plate/diffuser above it:






And the exhaust stack:




Red
 
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