Added pic My first reverse flow smoker build

[irvin78787884]

Name the smoker thread is up.

Name my smoker build.

My smoker build needs a name. Help me name it. I am going to make a plate that will have its name on it when it’s done. How about throw out names and the one with the most likes will be the winner when I am done building it. It’s a big old beast. 103” in total length of firebox and cook chamber...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

 

[irvin78787884]

FB is fully welded in. Doesn’t look like it but the joints under the welds were hit with grinder and wire brush to get them cleaned up before the welding. RF plate should be installed tomorrow. Called it an early night to have some beers. lol

 

[irvin78787884]

Alright folks. The RF plate is in. Holy crap what a heavy piece of steel that was. Got it right on the 12.5” mark from the end and the bottom of CC. I need to go around and hit with the grinder to get some more bare metal spots to spot weld it in the rest of the way and add the drain. Then onto the grates and exhaust.

 

[irvin78787884]

Well had to put everything up high, load trailer and jeep up Incase of the flood. We ended up not flooding this time. Wasn’t to far away from flooding tho. So the smoker has been delayed and will be for a few days till I get everything put back to normal.

 

[irvin78787884]

RF plate is welded in. Grease drain and dam is done. Time to start on the slides and cooking grates today.

 

[JckDanls 07]

I have to ask a question as I am confused on the grease drain...
Looking at the pic of the RF plate.. It looks like it has a pitch for the grease to drain to the sides ? I see a small hole (looks to be about 3/8") at the end there by the dam ?
Normally a piece of angle (1 1/2") is put down the center with the V down... Then the plates are sloped down to it for the grease to run into the V and then down the drain pipe (thats welded onto the bottom of the angle)... Maybe I'm just not seeing it right..

 

[irvin78787884]

I have to ask a question as I am confused on the grease drain...
Looking at the pic of the RF plate.. It looks like it has a pitch for the grease to drain to the sides ? I see a small hole (looks to be about 3/8") at the end there by the dam ?
Normally a piece of angle (1 1/2") is put down the center with the V down... Then the plates are sloped down to it for the grease to run into the V and then down the drain pipe (thats welded onto the bottom of the angle)... Maybe I'm just not seeing it right..

I have seen them that way also. I didn’t do it that way. Maybe I am wrong. Idk. The RF plate is sloped towards the drain and the end of it is at my minimum space under needed. The dam is made of square stock and they slope towards the middle of the plate where the 1/2” hole is for the drain. Should still work just different style. I guess if I don’t work I wasted my time on it. lol The level is on the RF plate and u can see it’s not level and flows towards the hole and the dam.

 

[irvin78787884]

After realizing how heavy things can get on these builds and I should have had 2 doors in stead of one big door. I decided I would split the shelves in half and have 4 smaller shelves in stead of 2 large shelves. Started on the slides for the cooking grates. Welded a nut on the bottom and run a bolt in. It’s going to be used for the stop when u slide the grates out. If I need to remove the grates all I need to do is screw it out and then they can be removed. I did get a start on the uprights for the upper slides also but didn’t take a pic of that part.

 

[JckDanls 07]

I tried the bolt deal on the back of the grate... Didn't work out so well... Was a pain in the ass to try and screw it out once it got all jacked up with grease and fat...

So I went a different route... So much easier and no fiddling around with anything... Just lift the front of the grate up at an angle and slide it out...

I cut about a 1/2"- 3/4" long peice of 1" angle and welded it to the side of the slide rail so it sticks out over the grate about 3 inches in from the front ... Then I welded a tab sticking up on the back of the grate... So when you slide it out the tab hits the angle on the slide and stops the grate from coming all the way out... I then grinded the tab down a little bit at a time until it would clear the angle iron when you lifted the front of the grate up and it will come all the way out... Trust me... WAY BETTER than the nut/bolt idea...

Hope you understand what I'm trying to explain... If not I will see if I can get some pics...

 

[irvin78787884]

I tried the bolt deal on the back of the grate... Didn't work out so well... Was a pain in the ass to try and screw it out once it got all jacked up with grease and fat...

So I went a different route... So much easier and no fiddling around with anything... Just lift the front of the grate up at an angle and slide it out...

I cut about a 1/2"- 3/4" long peice of 1" angle and welded it to the side of the slide rail so it sticks out over the grate about 3 inches in from the front ... Then I welded a tab sticking up on the back of the grate... So when you slide it out the tab hits the angle on the slide and stops the grate from coming all the way out... I then grinded the tab down a little bit at a time until it would clear the angle iron when you lifted the front of the grate up and it will come all the way out... Trust me... WAY BETTER than the nut/bolt idea...

Hope you understand what I'm trying to explain... If not I will see if I can get some pics...

I think I get the idea. Thanks. I never thought about the bolt having issues unscrewing after awhile but I see ur point on that. I can see about changing it that’s not an issue.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Here's some pics of what I'm talking about.... Also... I used 1 1/2" angle... not 1"





That's lifting the front of the grate so the tab can slide under the angle

Also... Here's another neat little feature (got the idea from @boykjo)

When you lift the door it locks automatically and holds the door open... Then just lift the door and raise it a little to let it close...

 

[civilsmoker]

I didn't put stops on mine.... but I like the lid lock Keith has above! FYI my RT doesn't have stops either.....

The larger shelfs have one on each side

smaller shelfs just one.....

 

[irvin78787884]

Ok cool ideas. Thanks I think I can do that for sure.

 

[irvin78787884]

Here's some pics of what I'm talking about.... Also... I used 1 1/2" angle... not 1"

View attachment 693929

View attachment 693930

That's lifting the front of the grate so the tab can slide under the angle

Also... Here's another neat little feature (got the idea from @boykjo)

When you lift the door it locks automatically and holds the door open... Then just lift the door and raise it a little to let it close...

View attachment 693931

I didn't put stops on mine.... but I like the lid lock Keith has above! FYI my RT doesn't have stops either.....

The larger shelfs on one on each side
View attachment 693946
smaller shelfs just one.....
View attachment 693945

Thanks guys cool Ideas for sure. I will change my rack stops for sure. I need them incase I get a bit intoxicated cause that happens now and then and I could see me dropping a rack with food on it. I like the lock also unfortunately as heavy as my door is because I didn’t make 2 doors. Which I should have but I am not changing it now. I am gonna have to go the counter weight direction and that will hold the door open also.

 

[JLeonard]

I need them incase I get a bit intoxicated cause that happens now and then and I could see me dropping a rack with food on it. .

Yeah my fear also! Nothing like trying to knock dirt and etc off a brisket before any one sees ya. And those darn racks are heavy bouncing off your shins!

Jim

 

[JckDanls 07]

Jim (@JLeonard ) ... Those would work on your grates as well ...

 

[irvin78787884]

Yeah my fear also! Nothing like trying to knock dirt and etc off a brisket before any one sees ya. And those darn racks are heavy bouncing off your shins!

Jim

didn’t think about them hitting the shims. I could imagine explaining that one.

 

[irvin78787884]

3 of the 4 cooking racks are framed and test fitted. Slides and racks are only tacked. Lots of cleanup, welding and more grinding to go. It’s coming along tho.

 

[irvin78787884]

4th rack is tacked together and installed in the slides. All fit fine door closes without interference ect….. Fully welded the slides in and took the grinder to what I could get to in order to clean them up after welding. Need to go around and get in the tight areas with the die grinder at some point tho. Now to get the expanded metal cut and racks finished. Gonna take a break for 2 days to get plow removed off of my side by side to go on a ride Saturday. Should be back on smoker on Sunday.

 

[seenred]

4th rack is tacked together and installed in the slides. All fit fine door closes without interference ect….. Fully welded the slides in and took the grinder to what I could get to in order to clean them up after welding. Need to go around and get in the tight areas with the die grinder at some point tho. Now to get the expanded metal cut and racks finished. Gonna take a break for 2 days to get plow removed off of my side by side to go on a ride Saturday. Should be back on smoker on Sunday.

Looing good! I like how you improvised and came up with a way to break those long cooking racks in half - I like it! I'll bet that took some thought and planning...nice going!

It's really coming along!

Red