Red's Newest Build: A Direct-Heat Smoker/Grill

[JckDanls 07]

But it's true that the right tools can make anyone - even an amateur like me - look better!

"A grinder and paint makes the welder you aint" .. That's my motto

 

[seenred]

Another for the peanut gallery.
Love watching your builds.
I keep the heckling to a minimum

Thanks John! And heckle away when I have it coming LOL!

Red

 

[seenred]

"A grinder and paint makes the welder you aint" .. That's my motto

Yep! I resemble that remark!

Red

 

[tridiot]

Man those Fireball squares caught my eye! Would love to have those, not super cheap, but they're good stuff!

 

[chopsaw]

I like them...just haven't pulled the trigger on one. I may end up with one of those...one of these days!

Yeah , 7 1/4 saw . The actual evolution , with the safety features and the chip collection .
Cuts mild steel like butter . Just need to respect it .

 

[seenred]

Man those Fireball squares caught my eye! Would love to have those, not super cheap, but they're good stuff!

What's up Danny! Yep...no doubt - they're kinda spendy! I won't deny, I had a hard time letting go of what those squares cost...but man - they've sure been handy to have! I use 'em on almost every fabrication project.

Red

 

[seenred]

Quick update:

I spent a few hours in the shop today, with not much visible progress. Spent that time welding out all the panels on this cabinet. That little cabinet has 18 feet of welds in it so far - and I have a ways to go. I welded until I ran out of shielding gas...so I'll have to make a run to the welding supply before I can continue.

Here's the cabinet all welded out. Like I said already, it's 24" wide x 24" deep. This part of the cabinet is 30" tall. The cooking chamber will be a total of 32" tall by the time I get the lid assembly fabricated and added.

So not sure what'll be next...I need to cut out the fire/coal basket access door. I need to measure, cut, and install angle iron rails for the grate and coal basket. I also plan to fabricate an ash pan. And I need to fabricate the lid assembly. I've also still got some hardware to order - handles, hinges, casters, etc...then build a cart for it to roll around on.

That's it for tonight - short n sweet!
More to come!

Red

 

[ajbert]

I doubt your skills are as limited as you claim, but always remember, a grinder and paint make the welder you ain't!

 

[seenred]

I doubt your skills are as limited as you claim, but always remember, a grinder and paint make the welder you ain't!

LOL yeah - I heard that one before!

Red

 

[JckDanls 07]

LOL yeah - I heard that one before!

Red

Might have even been in this thread

 

[tridiot]

I doubt your skills are as limited as you claim, but always remember, a grinder and paint make the welder you ain't!

A principle I make use of regularly. lol

 

[sandyut]

late to the party, in for the ride!

I really appreciate you guys who have the skills to fabricate stuff like this.

 

[seenred]

late to the party, in for the ride!

I really appreciate you guys who have the skills to fabricate stuff like this.

Thanks David!

Red

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

I am definitely in on this ride. Another great idea my friend and look forward to the updates. You always make some nice units that are like a work of art. I very much respect your talent!

 

[seenred]

I am definitely in on this ride. Another great idea my friend and look forward to the updates. You always make some nice units that are like a work of art. I very much respect your talent!

Justin - Thanks Buddy! We'll see how it turns out!

Appreciate ya checking in Brother!



PS just to give a quick update, I got a full bottle of shielding gas and finished the weld-out of the main cabinet this morning (no pics cuz nothing new to see yet).

Set my laser level up again and laid out the cuts for the fire/coal basket access door...and also for the cut-in at the top where the door assembly will fit. That probably won't make sense yet and hard to visualize - I think it'll make sense when you see what I'm planning with the door opening to allow easy access to the main cooking grate.

Next time I work on it, I'll be ready to cut out that access door and start fabricating a fire/coal basket and an ash pan.

Later friends!
Red

 

[seenred]

Made some progress today!

I got the access door to the fire/coal basket cut out.

Then I fabricated an ash pan out of 16 gauge sheet metal.

Test fit to make sure it'll slide in the bottom of the door opening.

It fits good!

An lastly, I fabricated rails for the fire/coal basket to slide on.

I've only tacked them in place for now...until I'm sure I like how everything will fit. I want to get the coal basket fabricated and do a test fit on it before I weld out these rails.

That's all for today. I was happy with what I got done. Next up will be that fire/coal basket. If everything in the bottom fits up nice, I'll start working on the rails and cooking grate in the top.

More to come!
Red

 

[DRKsmoking]

I am really interested in this style of smoker.
So like I mentioned way above, watching the build Joel.

Coming along nicely

David

 

[seenred]

Thanks David! I'm getting interested too! When I began thinking about this project, I was mainly trying to come up with something different to build. But the more research I do on these direct-heat cookers, the more eager I become in trying cooking on it. In honesty, it wasn't something I planned to keep - figured I'd end up letting it go to another SMF member at the end of the project. But I'm beginning to wonder if I'll like it too much to let it go lol. I guess time will tell!

Red

 

[DRKsmoking]

Thanks David! I'm getting interested too! When I began thinking about this project, I was mainly trying to come up with something different to build. But the more research I do on these direct-heat cookers, the more eager I become in trying cooking on it. In honesty, it wasn't something I planned to keep - figured I'd end up letting it go to another SMF member at the end of the project. But I'm beginning to wonder if I'll like it too much to let it go lol. I guess time will tell!

Red

I'm with you o0n that Joel, like you mentioned also. Was kind of like neat different kind of cook, and mostly only ever seen it used by Bradly in his " Chud ". But ever since you started your build I have been thinking more about it and can see different kinds of things ( foods ) to do with one.

And now back to the shipping, wish I lived closer , lol

And that will be a nice tool for some SMF member if you don't keep it. but I can see you keeping it in your stable of cookers, lol

David

 

[seenred]

A quick update tonight! Today's progress was cut short, because I ran out of welding wire. Irritating...I thought I had another spool of wire, but no. So I'll order wire in the morning and hope it's here by Friday so I can get back at it.


Started working on fabricating the fire/coal basket. Here's the top frame. This will be the slide contact point with the rails inside the cabinet.

Tested it to make sure it'll fit on the rails and slide in and out easy.

Fits good, slides good!

Then went to work finishing out the basket's frame. Ran out of mig wire before I could finish it - it'll have expanded metal and a reinforced bottom...probably round bar or angle iron.

But I got it close enough to check again for fit. And I'm real happy with the fit so far.

And I was able to check and make sure there was good clearance for removal of the ash pan...plenty of room to slide the ash pan out without removing the coal basket.

I hope I'll have more finished by the weekend - depending on getting more mig wire.

Red