Ok.....pics of the OKJ project

[ammaturesmoker]

Some of you know the story. Last year I gave my brother my OKJ to use since I was playing with a WSM. Well the WSM was stolen out in California at a park Tri-Tip and all. So anyway a few weeks ago I am at my brothers place and he had neglected the unit badly so I took it away from him, brought it home, and started a complete cleanup and advanced mods. Last year I had the firebox welded together. Yesterday I had it sandblasted and the firebox welded to the cooking chamber. It is glorious so far. Expose size NASA paint go on tomorrow as well as a cure and season session. Anyway here is the progress so far. I am also going to grind down the older firebox welds so they are flush. That RTV crap SUCKS BALLS!!!! I have a propane kit on order. Cannot wait.

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 9, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 9, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 9, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 9, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 9, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 9, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 9, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 9, 2016

 

[gearjammer]

Looking good, keep 'em coming.

     Ed

 

[joe black]

Looks great so far. Keep us informed.

 

[SmokinAl]

Wow, your doing a great job so far!

Al

 

[ammaturesmoker]

She is now painted with the special NASA paint. Supposed to bond, protect, and insulate as if it was a thicker metal. It better at 500 dollars a gallon. Good thing I had a hookup for it. I have now coated her in lard on the inside and will now season her tomorrow and cure the paint. It has to reach 450 degrees for that.

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 9, 2016

 

[bauchjw]

Wow! Looking awesome! Looking forward to seeing it finished!

 

[ammaturesmoker]

Well it's going to be a week or so. The kit for the gas will not ship till Monday which means a Friday delivery.

 

[ammaturesmoker]

It's not important how it looks for a finish. It's how it finishes the food.:biggrin:

 

[ammaturesmoker]

Ok an update that is really awesome. I reseasoned it today. Went very well. Now before when the heat went up to 400-450 in the cook chamber, the firebox would pop and bend inward towards the doc chamber. It was the metal warping. Which mean the firebox was probably around the 650-750 range or higher. Well the next day I would always pound and rebend the warping. Well the temps with having it welded together seem to take much more. The chamber needle was berried passed 625. It was a big and hot fire. But the unit did not flinch. I paid a total of 30 dollars to have this thing welded up. Both the two peices in the firebox and then the firebox to the cook chamber I recommend For every OKJ highland and longhorn owner to have done.

 

[ammaturesmoker]

Ok I did it...she's ready for the new propane kit coming. Spent 50 dollars having it sand blasted.....70 dollars on the new propane kit.....paint was free and the welder was 30 dollars. Not too shabby.

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 10, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 10, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 10, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 10, 2016

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 10, 2016

 

[ammaturesmoker]

OK....She's all done and ready for some BBQ. OK well the Propane kit has yet to arrive but that is s 5 minute job.

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 12, 2016

 

[crankybuzzard]

Amazing work!  Now all we need is a pic of a big brisket on there!

 

[ammaturesmoker]

once I get my kit....I will do a brisket. I am excited about those long smokes with the propane being added. I detest those long long days waking up in the wee hours of the day to get get a brisket done by 5:00.

 

[ammaturesmoker]

One thing about this.....I look at the total cost and it did sorta make sense for me. But the starting out was a nightmare. The next step will be adding a second rack. But I am going to break this down.

Bought the Highland model at Lowes with blowout sale in fall of 2014.

OKJ 200.00

Sand Blaster 50.00

Welding 30.00

Heat Retention Bricks 40.00

Heat management plate 80.00

Water Pan 40.00 (specially made for the management plate)

Lavalock gasket 17.00

2500 degree NASA paint *FREE*

Gate latches 24.00 (I cheated and used rivets)

Lavalock gauges 20.00

Propane conversion kit 79.00

Total comes to 580.00 when doing it correctly!

As for the cost of the what I initially tried.

RTV 11.00 (firebox got too hot and it melted....cannot do bbq roasting with this stuff on the unit)

Stove Rope 24.00 (never got it to seal correctly)

Make shift tuning plate made from large cookie sheet. 17.00 (did not work)

TIME TIME TIME TIME TIME TIME TIME TIME............WASTED ALL OF IT!!!!!!!!!

Would I do it all again since I do not live in the mid-west or Texas to pick from nicer units? Only the latter mods. 580.00 is not a bad cost if done correctly. I believe I did it with complete value all around with my resources. Now as for how this guy compares to my 1/4 inch thick Old Country Pit from Uvalco, it does well after the mods and holds its own with it. Out of the box? NO WAY JOSE!!! When you only have Lowes, HD, Walmart, SAM's, and Costco....that is what we have unless you go to a backyard specialty store and pay over 2 grand for a Yoder unit. There is no middle ground for us here. If you live near an Academy Sports and outdoor store, you can get the Pecos model that is all welded up and ready to go for less than I paid out. But for us OKJ owners, it can be a fight.

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• ammaturesmoker
• Jul 12, 2016

 

[bauchjw]

:points:
Great effort and cost breakdown! I especially like the comments on how geographic location limits options. I've looked around my relative area (days drive) for any type of pit worth dropping more money on, but I'm a few days removed from any option. That limits me for now. If you get a chance can you take some pics of tuning plates and location of heat retention bricks? Thank you, beautiful mods!

 

[ammaturesmoker]

Thx for the compliments. Whenever I hear somoene around here say they have a smoker I just assume it's a Traeger. That is all that is in the mindset of some people here because that is what gets sold and marketed.

The plate and bricks can be found at bbqsmokermods.com

 

[bauchjw]

Thx for the compliments. Whenever I hear somoene around here say they have a smoker I just assume it's a Traeger. That is all that is in the mindset of some people here because that is what gets sold and marketed.

The plate and bricks can be found at bbqsmokermods.com

Haha! I was just on a hunting trip (prairie dog shoot) in West Kansas and everyone there seemed to have Traegers! Nothing against them or using them, but it suprised me. They cost a ton of money and the guys I was with were frugal about everything but firearms. I was expecting backyard UDSs.

 

[ammaturesmoker]

What sucks is shipping from Texas to Utah is 1/3 of the price.