A New Build: 24x30 Vertical Offset - A Custom Build For JLeonard!

[JLeonard]

seenred that’s looking damn good buddy… I know your humble… but that’s one fine smoker there… you do awesome work!

JLeonard … By the way… I am still willing to take one for the team Jim… have the perfect spot for it! Just looking out for you my friend… then you don’t have to worry about pushing that HEAVY thing around!

Man Justin you say it’s April and y’all are getting snow. Once Bryce is out of high school I might have to find a spot up there to park this thing. As long as you promise to help push it around!

Jim

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

Man Justin you say it’s April and y’all are getting snow. Once Bryce is out of high school I might have to find a spot up there to park this thing. As long as you promise to help push it around!

Jim

Yea… April showers… whoever said that shit hasn’t lived in the NW… It’s snowed in July here…

Oh man Jim… I have the perfect spot… she will look so purty… I’ll name her Joelle Leonarde… That work?! She’s Irish!!

 

[gmc2003]

The Mississippi Queen is really starting to take shape Red. It's almost too nice for Jim LOL

Enjoy that baby Jim. She's a beauty.

Chris

 

[JLeonard]

Yea… April showers… whoever said that shit hasn’t lived in the NW… It’s snowed in July here…

Oh man Jim… I have the perfect spot… she will look so purty… I’ll name her Joelle Leonarde… That work?! She’s Irish!!

But I come with it Justin!

Jim

 

[Brokenhandle]

Just for the record Jim... it doesn't snow in Iowa in July! Just hot and humid! But not far from Arkansas either lol.

Ryan

 

[JLeonard]

Brokenhandle once Bryce decides what he wants to do post high school there is no telling where I might end up!

Jim

 

[seenred]

seenred that’s looking damn good buddy… I know your humble… but that’s one fine smoker there… you do awesome work!

JLeonard … By the way… I am still willing to take one for the team Jim… have the perfect spot for it! Just looking out for you my friend… then you don’t have to worry about pushing that HEAVY thing around!

Justin…I’m sure Jim will agree - your selfless sacrifice is touching!

Thanks for the kind words Buddy - much appreciated!

Red

 

[seenred]

The Mississippi Queen is really starting to take shape Red. It's almost too nice for Jim LOL

Enjoy that baby Jim. She's a beauty.

Chris

View attachment 693658

LOL thanks Chris!

Red

 

[seenred]

Happy Friday Evening to all my SMF Friends!

I've had another fairly productive week, and this build is getting very close!

So since my last update, I made a checklist of the smaller fabrication jobs I still needed to finish on this pit to have it ready for a test burn - and then for prep and paint.

I've been steadily crossing those items off my list.



First, I built an ash pan for the FB. I welded on a little tab so Jim can lift and slide the ash pan out without removing the fire grate (as long as he's wearing good gloves ).

Next, I got holes drilled and installed 2 thermometers in the CC door.

Also...Keith JckDanls 07 was wondering if the cooking racks would fit on the storage rack underneath. This is also a good place to point out that the storage rack is plenty big enough to store cooking racks when Jim needs to remove them from the CC.

Then drilled 2 more holes in the right side of the CC for probe ports.

Then I welded a drip guard on the interior of the CC door. This should keep grease from running down the front of the cabinet - any condensation/grease on the inner side of the door will drip back into the water pan.

Then I cut a hole in the bottom of the CC and welded in a 1 1/2 " drain pipe.

It's threaded on the end so I can screw a cap on the end of it - or Jim could add a ball valve later if he wanted.

And finally, I fabricated a pull handle. Made it out of 11 gauge, 2" square tubing...beefy enough to horse this heavy mother around when Jim needs to.

So far, it's only tacked in place. I removed the casters to finish the weld-out of the undercarriage...and don't want to put them back on until I get some paint on the feet and lower legs. So I won't weld out the pull handle until I get the casters back on, and know for sure I like the height I attached it at.

That's where we're at! I think I have 2 fabrication jobs left:

1. I'm gonna build a table to weld to the front below the door - something that'll hold a tray and/or Jim's thermometers.

2. I've still got to decide on the stack height and get that attached, and get a stack damper fabricated.


Once those last 2 tasks are done, I think the fabrication of this pit is complete! Then it'll be time for a test burn, and then prep it and paint it!

So I'm getting very close to the finish line!

As always, thanks for checking out my progress!

Red

 

[irvin78787884]

Happy Friday Evening to all my SMF Friends!

I've had another fairly productive week, and this build is getting very close!

So since my last update, I made a checklist of the smaller fabrication jobs I still needed to finish on this pit to have it ready for a test burn - and then for prep and paint.

I've been steadily crossing those items off my list.



First, I built an ash pan for the FB. I welded on a little tab so Jim can lift and slide the ash pan out without removing the fire grate (as long as he's wearing good gloves ).

View attachment 694272

View attachment 694273

View attachment 694274



Next, I got holes drilled and installed 2 thermometers in the CC door.


View attachment 694275


Also...Keith JckDanls 07 was wondering if the cooking racks would fit on the storage rack underneath. This is also a good place to point out that the storage rack is plenty big enough to store cooking racks when Jim needs to remove them from the CC.

View attachment 694276


Then drilled 2 more holes in the right side of the CC for probe ports.


View attachment 694277

View attachment 694279



Then I welded a drip guard on the interior of the CC door. This should keep grease from running down the front of the cabinet - any condensation/grease on the inner side of the door will drip back into the water pan.


View attachment 694280

View attachment 694281



Then I cut a hole in the bottom of the CC and welded in a 1 1/2 " drain pipe.


View attachment 694282



It's threaded on the end so I can screw a cap on the end of it - or Jim could add a ball valve later if he wanted.


View attachment 694283

View attachment 694284


And finally, I fabricated a pull handle. Made it out of 11 gauge, 2" square tubing...beefy enough to horse this heavy mother around when Jim needs to.

So far, it's only tacked in place. I removed the casters to finish the weld-out of the undercarriage...and don't want to put them back on until I get some paint on the feet and lower legs. So I won't weld out the pull handle until I get the casters back on, and know for sure I like the height I attached it at.

View attachment 694285

View attachment 694286


That's where we're at! I think I have 2 fabrication jobs left:

1. I'm gonna build a table to weld to the front below the door - something that'll hold a tray and/or Jim's thermometers.

2. I've still got to decide on the stack height and get that attached, and get a stack damper fabricated.


Once those last 2 tasks are done, I think the fabrication of this pit is complete! Then it'll be time for a test burn, and then prep it and paint it!

So I'm getting very close to the finish line!

As always, thanks for checking out my progress!

Red

So awesome almost there for sure

 

[HushyQ]

Wow, that is so Awesome. So jealous Jim. We better get baby pictures of your first few cooks!!!!

 

[Brokenhandle]

Just awesome Red!

Ryan

 

[seenred]

So awesome almost there for sure

Thank you Sir! Yep - getting close!

Wow, that is so Awesome. So jealous Jim. We better get baby pictures of your first few cooks!!!!

Thank you! I expect Jim will post plenty of pics!

Just awesome Red!

Ryan

Thanks Ryan! I'm real happy with it, but the true test will be when there's a fire in it - hope it holds temps okay, and cooks as good as it looks.

Red

 

[DRKsmoking]

Looks great Red, Its the little details that make it special

Right down to the whitewalls, lol
Jim is going to be the cock of the walk for sur.

David

 

[seenred]

Looks great Red, Its the little details that make it special

Right down to the whitewalls, lol
Jim is going to be the cock of the walk for sur.

David

LOL thanks David! I'm hopeful he'll be very happy with it!

Red

 

[jaxgatorz]

That is going to be an awesome smoker !! Great work, Red !

 

[seenred]

Thanks Mike! Appreciate the kind words, and thanks for checkin' in!

Red

 

[jcam222]

Coming together for sure! That's going to be one fine smoker.

 

[02ebz06]

Lookin' darn good Red!
Unsure if this is necessary since I am not there, but I would suggest cutting off/rounding the corner of the drip guard on the door to avoid the sharp corner catching a leg.

 

[JLeonard]

Wow, that is so Awesome. So jealous Jim. We better get baby pictures of your first few cooks!!!!

Oh man, your gonna be like…” yeah yeah you got a smoker. Enough with the pics.”

Lookin' darn good Red!
Unsure if this is necessary since I am not there, but I would suggest cutting off/rounding the corner of the drip guard on the door to avoid the sharp corner catching a leg.

you may be right! All I need is a trip to the ER on my first cook!

Joel, I am over whelmed with the thought and work you are putting into this thing! And good lord, I think it’s getting bigger with every pic you post!

Jim