500 Gallon that has waited years to be finished

[kingpapawawa]

Picked this up Saturday. Needs a bit of work before it is ready for cooking but I am already hard at work.



Starting with the trailer.. straightened out the dovetail. Getting ready to give it a roof.


RF plate is in place. Have not calculated the openings yet.


I assume this mess was intended to be a grease trap? I plan to gut these trays.


Not sure how I feel about the hinges yet. They need some work anyhow.


Grate level is 7" over the Plate which is 12" up from bottom.


Came with some scrap.. Anyone ever used this for grates? I have 4 sheets of 4x8 expanded metal but these might work ok.. Butts always seem to stick to expanded metal.


Got a section of pipe with it also. was looking for some 10in but this may be ok..



Going to be working on this pretty steady for the next 2 weeks. Any thoughts opinions ideas are welcomed.

 

[dcecil]

Thats a massive project, look forward to seeing the build progress

 

[starwoods]

Looks like a fun job! Cant wait to see the finished product!

 

[kingpapawawa]

Got the jacks welded onto the back for leveling trailer


Started framing out the enclosed area for the front. Tank is going to be moved back about 5 ft still.


Spot for a generator started and new jack in place.


Don't know if I will get much done tomorrow.

 

[kingpapawawa]

Finished out most of the framing for the roof and small room (7x8) on the front of the trailer. Moved the smoker to the back but still need to raise it up a couple inches.


Found some cedar for a shelf on the side of the smoker.

 

[kingpapawawa]

starting on the roof

 

[kingpapawawa]

The next week will be more about the smoker rather than the trailer =)

 

[kingpapawawa]

Built some supports out of 3x3 3/16 steel and got the smoker set at its final height. Ordered 2" ball valves to put in drains. Trying to get to sandblasting by the end of the week.



Discovered that the firebox is not perfectly square in relation to the tank. The tank is lined up with the trailer but the firebox is off by 1/2 inch or so. I won't tell if you don't. Were going to cover up the ends of this 3x3 so wasps dont nest.

 

[kingpapawawa]

designing the door hinge lift mechanism - first with cardboard


then with steel!

Cant post video i will upload it to imgur or somewhere and try to link it. havent tried to link anything yet so not sure if it will allow me =)

 

[kingpapawawa]

 

[daveomak]

Nice engineering.... OK.... What's the lift rate of the spring ?? You have a part # ??
Thanks .... Dave

 

[kingpapawawa]

Nice engineering.... OK.... What's the lift rate of the spring ?? You have a part # ??
Thanks .... Dave

I do not... but i'll try to get it. My boy Arnold (seen in video opening door) showed up with them and said "This is what you need". I put the reciept in my box at the shop but I may not be there until tomorrow.

 

[daveomak]

Thanks....

 

[kingpapawawa]

Sandblasting done

 

[kingpapawawa]

 

[flatbroke]

Looking good

 

[kingpapawawa]

Been busy with other aspects of this project but finally got some more work done on this smoker.

Trimmed out the doors and added some ribs to keep them from flattening out. Tomorrow will get handles on and start on the firebox and/or stack.

 

[kingpapawawa]

Finished the racks but not the top rail yet



Door springs finished... will probably CNC some custom pieces here later but for now flatbar will do.



This is the pattern my friend is trying to get me to use for the air vents on the firebox door... he hasn't had much luck talking me into it =)

 

[kingpapawawa]

finally had a chance to get some work done.... more to come this week.

 

[kingpapawawa]