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

[seenred]

A bit rusty on my metal training, but I believe 1" flat would make a stiffener for your meat tray.
Next build to consider.

LOL A BIT RUSTY...Metal training! Nice pun there my friend!

Now if you're talking about the cooking grate, I used some scrap 3/4" angle iron I had laying around to brace up the center of the grate...but flat bar would probably do it too. I like angle for bracing, because it's just a little more rigid than flat bar.

Looking great so far...

May I suggest some kind of handle on the ash pan to lift it up over the lip and slide it out...

Hey Keith! I wanted to wait until fabrication is complete on all the main components, then see what kind of room I have...but yes, I do plan to fabricate some kind of handles for the ash pan, the coal basket, and the cooking grate - as long as space allows.

Red

 

[DRKsmoking]

Love the up close coal basket option for high heat searing , cooking

Don't make it too heavy, the shipping is going to kill me , lol

Looking great Joel, love where your vision is going so far.

David

 

[seenred]

Love the up close coal basket option for high heat searing , cooking

Don't make it too heavy, the shipping is going to kill me , lol

Looking great Joel, love where your vision is going so far.

David

LOL Thanks David! Yeah, its probably only gonna weigh somewhere between 2-3 hundred pounds, but shipping to Nova Scotia would be a bear!

Red

 

[Winterrider]

Ingenious on making coal basket to move up top also. That is gonna be a sweet rig

 

[seenred]

Ingenious on making coal basket to move up top also. That is gonna be a sweet rig

Thanks man! Can't really take credit for an original idea though...stole this idea from Bradley Robinson of Chud's BBQ. Saw a similar drop-in coal basket in a YT video he did featuring his Chud Box.

Still...I appreciate the comment!

Red

 

[civilsmoker]

It’s looking fantastic!

Thank you my friend!

I like the feet on the ash pan idea! I want to keep enough clearance between the ash pan and the bottom of the coal basket so the ash pan will slide out without needing to remove the coal basket...but if feet on the ash pan won't mess up that clearance, I'm doing that for sure.

Red

I would just make the feet a 1x1x1/4”. Just need a slight air gap on the bottom…. I didn’t do that on my copper pot ash tray at first and the rusty stuff went right to work…..

To keep your clearance some inverted in angle on the ash pan will give you something to grab and not affect the clearance at all as well!

 

[seenred]

It’s looking fantastic!


I would just make the feet a 1x1x1/4”. Just need a slight air gap on the bottom…. I didn’t do that on my copper pot ash tray at first and the rusty stuff went right to work…..

To keep your clearance some inverted in angle on the ash pan will give you something to grab and not affect the clearance at all as well!

I can definitely do 1/4" standoff without worrying much about clearance. I think my clearances are gonna be fine. And inverted angle iron is one of the options for a pull handle I'll look at for sure. I've also got enough scrap plate to manufacture something...so there are options.

Red

 

[crazymoon]

Red, You are building one helluva smoker , very impressive !

 

[seenred]

Red, You are building one helluva smoker , very impressive !

Thanks buddy!
Red

 

[ajbert]

I'm taking notes and spy photos for the future!

 

[seenred]

I'm taking notes and spy photos for the future!

Ha! No need…I’ll share all the info and photos I have!

Red

 

[JC in GB]

I got some mig wire yesterday, and made quite a bit of progress today!


First thing I did was finish the fire/coal basket. All welded out, and the expanded metal reinforced with 1/2" round bar in the bottom.

View attachment 714878

View attachment 714880

Just making sure it still fits on the rails and slides in and out like it should.

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So with the bottom basically done (except for mounting and hinging the door), I started working on the top end.

I cut out a cove in the front, to provide easy access to the cooking grate.

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Tacked in the top rails for supporting the cooking grate.

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Here's one of the things that I believe will make this cooker versatile. I designed the coal basket so that it would drop into the top rails. Once I get the cooking grate finished, it can sit right on top of this...to make it a high-heat searing grill. The coals will be about 5 inches below the cooking grate in this configuration.

View attachment 714885


Got the cooking grate framed out.

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Again, just double checking that it still fits on the rails.

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Cooking grate is finished. It measures 23 1/2" x 22 1/2", making the total cooking space 528 sq. inches. Maybe enough room for 8 racks of spare ribs, or 6 pork butts, or 2-3 nice big briskets...or a whole mess of chicken parts!

When the top door assembly is complete, there should be about 7 inches of head space above the cooking grate.

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Here are a couple shots that show the coal basket dropped in the top, with the cooking grate slid in on top of it.

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Gotta look close, but you can see the coal basket under the cooking grate.

View attachment 714891


That's it for today! I'm fairly happy with how it's going so far. Unless I hit a major snag, I should have it ready to build a fire in it pretty soon!

It'll be a couple days before I get back in the shop...my 7 year old grandson is on spring break this week, and he's coming tomorrow to stay with us for a couple days. So Grandad will be too busy playing to get any work done until he goes home Monday night!


Red

Very nice. Really looking good. Can't wait to see your completed unit.

JC

 

[seenred]

Very nice. Really looking good. Can't wait to see your completed unit.

JC

Thanks JC!

Red

 

[millerbuilds]

Red, coming along really nicely, thanks for posting!

- Jason

 

[seenred]

Red, coming along really nicely, thanks for posting!

- Jason

Thanks Jason!

Red

 

[radioguy]

I used 1/8" thick 1/2" 90 angle to support my wide areas of wire mesh. Point 90 tip up . 90 angle much more structural than round or flat stock.
I left a lot of room under my basket. I have 3/4" fire brick (fireplace insert bricks) I'm then able to clear ash out the door with a angled fireplace tool. I use an ash bucket.

RG

 

[seenred]

I used 1/8" thick 1/2" 90 angle to support my wide areas of wire mesh. Point 90 tip up . 90 angle much more structural than round or flat stock.
I left a lot of room under my basket. I have 3/4" fire brick (fireplace insert bricks) I'm then able to clear ash out the door with a angled fireplace tool. I use an ash bucket.

RG

Agree about angle.

So from your comments, do I understand correctly that you've done a similar build? Is there a thread? Or pics? I'd love to see/hear more...

Red

 

[DRKsmoking]

LOL Thanks David! Yeah, its probably only gonna weigh somewhere between 2-3 hundred pounds, but shipping to Nova Scotia would be a bear!

Red

I know it would be, I guy can dream though. Once your build is done . I will look around my neck of the woods to see what is out there in compare to your build.

David

 

[radioguy]

Agree about angle.

So from your comments, do I understand correctly that you've done a similar build? Is there a thread? Or pics? I'd love to see/hear more...

Red

Red, I'm just one of those handy guys. Self taught welder fix it. I built a left handed version RF flow and a few accessories.

RG

First Build Patio RF 50 gallon "Lefty" version

Well, I've done enough reading and research, time to make some sparks! Since this is custom why not make a left-hand version. Really looking forward to some smoked meats this summer!!! 52 gallon compressor tank dated 1927, flat rolled steel, welded rolled ends, stout and heavy. using...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

 

[seenred]

I know it would be, I guy can dream though. Once your build is done . I will look around my neck of the woods to see what is out there in compare to your build.

David

David, if I'm really gonna sell it, I wish I could figure out a way to get it to you that wouldn't cost more than the smoker costs LOL!

I know there are several pit builders here in the lower 48 that sell something similar...but I don't know any Canadian builders...but there are sure some guys up there who do it!

Red, I'm just one of those handy guys. Self taught welder fix it. I built a left handed version RF flow and a few accessories.

RG

First Build Patio RF 50 gallon "Lefty" version

Well, I've done enough reading and research, time to make some sparks! Since this is custom why not make a left-hand version. Really looking forward to some smoked meats this summer!!! 52 gallon compressor tank dated 1927, flat rolled steel, welded rolled ends, stout and heavy. using...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

Nice RG! I must have missed that build thread the first time around...nice build sir!

Red