Help me realign my home built smoker door :-o

[oremus]

Hello,

I'm currently building a home made smoker from an old water pressure tank that stands about 5 ft tall and probably about 30 inches or so in diam. Well, the first cut I made for the door was the hinge side so that I can install the hinges and have a perfect fit for the door.  I only mounted the hinges by screwing in one screw on each hinge and marked out the other holes then I made the additional cuts and I had a perfect fitting door... for a few minutes. I removed the door for ease of working on the unit and now am having a heck of a time getting it back on aligned again. I welded on corner pieces as door stops and thought this would also aid in aligning the door... but nope. Anyway, I'm having a heck of a time getting this thing aligned back on right and was wondering if there were any tips anyone could offer? I've attempted to make shims to help get the proper gap around the door but to no avail... yet.

 

[daveomak]

Pictures would help...   It may take awhile for them to load as new members are put on hold until the pics can be viewed by the staff....

 

[marctrees]

Oremus - Welcome to SMF.

At this point, I would think using wood tapered wedge shims, the type Carpenters use to set windows and door, level kitchen cabinets, etc.

Available at all Lumberyards.

Adjust your door centering in hole with those.

Make sure it's in the right place every which way, not only sideways in hole, but properly flush in all corners.

If your hinges have ANY play - Hopefully they don't, make sure you take that into account.

Accommodate for any "sag" problems, considering door final position in use - Horizontal smoker, or vertical??

THEN NEXT step- TACK weld on hinges in a way that could easily be ground loose if needed.

Remove shims, check door for fit, confirm nice opening - closing,  and FINISH welding hinges.

That should do it.

IF you find the door is warped or twisted, then it takes something different.

But I don't think you'll have that problem.

If you do, we can talk about that then.

Next time you do this - Cut door opening , BUT  leave  an inch at every corner UNCUT.

Then, fully weld on hinges.

ONLY ---  ONLY ----  after that, finish the little corner cuts.

Of course, make some arrangement to prevent the door from hinging in (falling into hole) when you make the final  final cut.

Let us know how it goes.

Give a few photos, AND explanation on what configuration and all you want to end up with.

We can save you future headaches if you do that.      Marc