Building my first pit

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gklippert

Newbie
Original poster
Mar 29, 2016
12
11
Arizona
So I have been smoking using my master built electric smoker for a few years now and just feel like Its time to make a jump to a new pit. I do steel fab for a living and have access to a ton of material free of cost so I figured why not build one myself. I have my cook chamber it's a 23 inch I.D. pipe that's 45 inches long and a 1/2 wall. Firebox will be made of 3/8 diamond plate
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Going to be doing a reverse flow for this one. I have a lot of it calculated out and was just curious about a few things. Biggest 2 questions I have are how far back from my end cap should I stop my rf plate and should I have my smokestack come out at the top of the pit or lower on the side I've seen it done both ways. Here are a few pics of the material I have and a rough sketch of everything. Any input from you seasoned builders would be appreciated
 
Thank you I'll have to read that one. Got the sides and bottom of the firebox cut out on my lunch break today will hopefully have time to do a little each day on it ended up using 1/2 inch for the firebox ass well
 

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Nice. I was going to suggest trying to use .5 for the firebox as that's where most of the heat loss will occur.
Much easier to ask questions here first than having to grind off welds and change things.
 
Only reason ij hadn' planned on using it in the beginning was I didn' think I had enough to do it and my end caps in 1/2 but I found another chunk at the shop
 
Got the end caps torched out today. I love frehanding circles these are pre grinding
 

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Nice skills with the torch. I hadn’t used one since high school machine shop so mine looked like a hacksaw blade.
 
Thank you I don't use it it a ton but I have found a way that works for me.

Made the hinge prototype. They will get cut out tomorrow gonna be pretty cool when I get them done hidden pin so it all looks like one piece
 

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When you weld them on, offset them towards the back of the smoker. So the pivot point is further back. This way the door seal won't bind.
 
Still super rough. Just wanted to get an cut to try fitment since cardboard looked like it will work. Can' wait to work on them more next week
 

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They aren' yet. But there will be a hidden pin. Going between all pieces these are just roughed out to make sure they fitup correctly I'll refine them next week. When I'm back in my shop. Where the 2 out er 3/8 plate and the 1/2 plate that goes to the door come together there will be a 13/16 hole with a 3/4 rod going through but not protruding all the way out. The rod will then be welded in place and ground smooth. I'l take more photos and upload them through the steps
 
Make the hole the same size as the pin. Any slop what so ever will result in your door being crooked and a lot of movement.
 
Nice. I was going to suggest trying to use .5 for the firebox as that's where most of the heat loss will occur.
Much easier to ask questions here first than having to grind off welds and change things.
Hey I’m doing two 55 gallon drums welded together open ends for one big 110 gallon smoke chamber how big would you make the fire box would you do square or round the smoking chamber is insulated and another steel insert welded in this is for an traditional offset smoker chimney i have both 3 inch and 4 inch what would you recommend
 
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