Vertical Insualted Cabinet Build

[CheddarCheeseQ]

Hello all, thought id throw my build on here to help anyone along the way of theyre build an learn from my mistakes lol…. This is my first Smoker build so bare with me , input is Appreciated as i am building this day by day when time permits. Cook Chamber will be 40” tall by 20” wide after 1.5 insulatIon sandwiched in between 10 gauge thick sheets, fire box inner will be 1/4” thick then 1.5 tubing framed an 10 gauge outer sheet…..smoke stack will be 5x5 an 14” tall, air intake will be 3x3 and i will have 2 of them one lower to feed the fire an the other for airflow … the firebox has 3 2x8 air inlets to allow smoke into the cook chamber. Cook chamber is to be completely sealed with no grease drain i am thinking a 2” tall grease pan will do the trick

 

[CheddarCheeseQ]

After cutting the pieces , i mitered the ends an lined them up flush with the tubing to the plate steel. I did it in a sequence like 1/2/3/4 an worked well an each corner frame was square . I did end up with some gaps an i just filled with small pieces of 1/8 an filled the gap an turned the welder down a tad… i would grind smooth the top welds so the sandwich top sheet would fit flat and as flush as possible. I would also jump my welds around after tacking to prevent any warpage.

 

[CheddarCheeseQ]

This is my Firebox Cook Chamber insert i will call it.
This is the only piece that is 1/4 sandwiched with 1/4”. I made the mistake of not having my air inlets inset enough so i had to do some extra work to make the side pieces fit flush … some much unwanted grinding an slight cutting …. :/ we live and learn lol.

I will have 2” grease pan on top an the reason i had the air inlets 1” taller was to not allow any grease to enter the firebox area at all.

Now looking back i wish i would have just bought 2x8 tubing instead of fabbing up some because they were slightly off and made little more difficult than should have been. I figured ah i have scraps that i can just build some … but mine didnt turn out as square as they should have … whoops

Which made lining up the bottom sheet a Nightmare but we got it done…. And again if there was a substantial gap i didnt like i would add some 1/8” plate to help fill

 

[babydocsmoker]

Hello all, thought id throw my build on here to help anyone along the way of theyre build an learn from my mistakes lol…. This is my first Smoker build so bare with me , input is Appreciated as i am building this day by day when time permits. Cook Chamber will be 40” tall by 20” wide after 1.5 insulatIon sandwiched in between 10 gauge thick sheets, fire box inner will be 1/4” thick then 1.5 tubing framed an 10 gauge outer sheet…..smoke stack will be 5x5 an 14” tall, air intake will be 3x3 and i will have 2 of them one lower to feed the fire an the other for airflow … the firebox has 3 2x8 air inlets to allow smoke into the cook chamber. Cook chamber is to be completely sealed with no grease drain i am thinking a 2” tall grease pan will do the trick

Best of luck. Love to see how it goes along the way!!

 

[jaxgatorz]

Looks like you are off and running. I look forward to your pictures of the progress !!

 

[JLeonard]

Looks great thus far! Keep the pics coming.

Jim

 

[CheddarCheeseQ]

This is the what i got accomplished today… finished up one side with the two air inlets. One Lower to Feed the Fire and an upper to help airflow. Im sure some will recognize the knofe im using to cut the insulation with. Still alot pf grinding and welding to do… on this particular piece ill have to shave down a 1/16th because its just a hair over on some edges but it will work.
I just found my spot where I thought the bottom would be good an traced around it with my silver pencil an fired up the plasma an free hand cut it .
Once they would slide right it i clamped the pieces together an got them aligned…. Started tacking an then welded away. On to the Next side LoL

 

[02ebz06]

Good progress...

 

[JC in GB]

Very nice. I love new builds.... following...

JC

 

[CheddarCheeseQ]

Well here’s today progress…. Really hoping insulated is the way to go because the amount of working going into it is quite substantial LoL. Im sure there is a more efficient way of doing this.
Got the backwall & sidewall for for the Firebox welded up an grinded down.
Grinded for some time because some pieces aren’t symmetrical so needed to make them flush.

This are a rough example of what the Firebox is going to Look like

I have been using Walter FlexCut 5” grinder discs an they work phenomenal

 

[CheddarCheeseQ]

The reason for such a tall Firebox i was hoping to prevent the Bottom of the CookChamber having a Hot Spot & would like to see how it does with wood for a test cook to see how it’ll perform…i would probably reduce it down to like 14” if this design doesn’t do what i hope ….
The Charcoal basket will be 3” tall for airspace underneath and i think i will make it hold around 30/40 lbs

 

[CheddarCheeseQ]

Todays Progress…
Got the Firebox 90% all squared up an welded…
The cook chamber pieces are all ready to go . Smoke Stack piece is 90% jus need to add a damper to control airflow… the bad, while grinding a chip flew an broke the window on ol Betsy ….
We gettin her done tho

 

[CheddarCheeseQ]

Definitely learning alot on this build…
Made a mistake on my measurements for my door so ended up having to add 2x2” angle iron :/
That 2” ended up on the firebox door so ill jus end up adding angle iron on the sided so it looks flush to fix my error.
This thing is a Tank
Things left to do are
-door handles
- cooking grates
- Charcoal Basket
-door latches
- wheel setup
- dampers for exhaust & inlets

Just been doing alot of welding an grinding lol
Once its done to i have a lot of dressing up to do to make her more presentable

Next Build i will build the Frame first and slap the pieces on an see how that goes
Hopin to have her Fired up this weekend
Fingers crossed :)

 

[CheddarCheeseQ]

Progress for Today…
Grates wrapped up jus need to put the stoppers so they dont drop an tilt over, charcoal basket 80% done , air dampers for air intake and air flow pretty much done….. hoping to wrap her up tomorrow an then decide what i will do for her Wheels.

 

[JC in GB]

Very nice work so far. Can't wait to see your first cook in it.

Have you decided what you are going to cook first? I would try a pork shoulder first time around. They are pretty forgiving and lower on the price scale. Plus it will give you a great feel for the unit's long term stability. My $0.02

JC

 

[JC in GB]

Definitely learning alot on this build…
Made a mistake on my measurements for my door so ended up having to add 2x2” angle iron :/
That 2” ended up on the firebox door so ill jus end up adding angle iron on the sided so it looks flush to fix my error.
This thing is a Tank
Things left to do are
-door handles
- cooking grates
- Charcoal Basket
-door latches
- wheel setup
- dampers for exhaust & inlets

Just been doing alot of welding an grinding lol
Once its done to i have a lot of dressing up to do to make her more presentable

Next Build i will build the Frame first and slap the pieces on an see how that goes
Hopin to have her Fired up this weekend
Fingers crossed :)

Prototyping is all about getting close enough so mistakes can be fixed.

Looks good so far.

JC

 

[CheddarCheeseQ]

Yeah JC im thinking some Pork Shoulders should do the trick… when i do a burn out to season ill have temp probes at the top an bottom an see how well it holds an maintains temperatures.
Maybe even do a biscuit test well see.
Stoked to fire her up

 

[CheddarCheeseQ]

Finished up the Grate stops an doing the seasoning. She got to temps quicker than expected… after 45 minutes the temps evened out and shes Holding grate with air inlets and exhaust barely open …
Last thing up is build a frame to make her mobile.

 

[OldSmoke]

Nice looking build and a tight temp spread. Can’t wait to hear about the first smoke!

 

[JC in GB]

Finished up the Grate stops an doing the seasoning. She got to temps quicker than expected… after 45 minutes the temps evened out and shes Holding grate with air inlets and exhaust barely open …
Last thing up is build a frame to make her mobile.

Looks awesome. Well done sir! Props for sure. Can't wait to see that maiden cook out of that bad boy/girl/or non-binary cooker. Hey, I don't discriminate....

JC