Red's Santa Maria Build - A Custom Grill for JIMSMOKES!

[seenred]

Epic build, going to be the gold standard everyone else will point too. Great work Joel. Merry Christmas to you and the family!

Looking great Joel! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

Ryan

That looks like a beauty and coming along nicely.
Merry Christmas

Thanks Gents - Merry Christmas!

Red

 

[JckDanls 07]

Coming along nicely... Which I didn't have any doubt... Merry Christmas to you and yours... See Ya next year...

PS. Remember, Don't drink and drive... Might hit a bump and spill your drink... Then that would be alcohol abuse...

 

[Fueling Around]

Me Likey! A little big for a stocking stuffer.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

 

[seenred]

Coming along nicely... Which I didn't have any doubt... Merry Christmas to you and yours... See Ya next year...

PS. Remember, Don't drink and drive... Might hit a bump and spill your drink... Then that would be alcohol abuse...

Merry Christmas Keith!

Only place I drink anymore is in the comfort and privacy of my own home! So I can’t be accused of abusing alcohol!

Me Likey! A little big for a stocking stuffer.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.

Merry Christmas John!

It’d take one enormous stocking lol!

Red

 

[DRKsmoking]

That's gonna put a bow on this project for 2025! Here's hoping everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Next update will be in 2026!

Red

Very nice Joel, enjoy the season , Merry Christmas and have a Happy Happy.
chat next year.

David

 

[irvin78787884]

Awesome build. If I ever build my own I will be using this as a template if you don’t mind. Love your builds and write ups. Merry Christmas and enjoy the time with the family.

 

[seenred]

Very nice Joel, enjoy the season , Merry Christmas and have a Happy Happy.
chat next year.

David

Thank you David! A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family as well!

Awesome build. If I ever build my own I will be using this as a template if you don’t mind. Love your builds and write ups. Merry Christmas and enjoy the time with the family.

Thank you Tom! I don't mind at all! Merry Christmas my friend!

Red

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

A bit late to the party my friend, but definitely following the rest of the way. That is a top notch build you have going on, just like your other builds have been.

Enjoy the fam time buddy… Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

 

[gmc2003]

I'm not sure what you do/did for a living Joel, but if it's not metal fabrication - you missed your calling. That's turning out to be a work of art like your other peices.


Chris

 

[912smoker]

Another superior build Joel!
Merry Christmas

Keith

 

[seenred]

A bit late to the party my friend, but definitely following the rest of the way. That is a top notch build you have going on, just like your other builds have been.

Enjoy the fam time buddy… Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.

Howdy Justin! Thanks my friend! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you and your family Brother!

I'm not sure what you do/did for a living Joel, but if it's not metal fabrication - you missed your calling. That's turning out to be a work of art like your other peices.


Chris

Thank you Chris, but I'm certain that a real, professional welder would laugh and shake his head at my skills lol! My only fabrication strengths are, I'm meticulous, and I'm stubborn - I won't quit til I get it right!

I'm retired now, but I was a public school educator. Over the course of 31 years, I was a teacher, coach, principal, and district administrator. But I grew up in the country where everyone learned how to do lots of different things.

Another superior build Joel!
Merry Christmas

Keith

Thanks Keith! Merry Christmas!

Red

 

[JLeonard]

David, you're gonna swell my head where I can't get through a doorway lol!

Red

Thats why you got the big door on the shed!

Everyone that sees Tatanka comments on the workmanship and attention to detail. seenred gets all the credit for his builds.

Jim

 

[seenred]

Howdy Friends!

Hope everyone's holidays were as happy as mine, and Happy New Year to all!

I've got some progress to post on Jim's grill. Last thing I updated was working on the firebrick channel around the interior of the main body.


I got the back piece tacked in and checked everything for square and plumb.

Then stitch welded it all the way around.

Next I turned my focus to fabricating the overhead structure that supports the lift mechanism. Laid out and tacked together on the welding table.

Then a test-fit to see how it looks in the grill body. That bottom cross piece is only a temporary brace to hold it all square while I weld it - then I'll cut that off.

These holes in the vertical supports will take the hub that the axle rod spins in.

A shot of one the hubs. not welded in yet, just test fitting for now.

Then I set out to work on the side brasero. This is basically a burn box for wood splits/logs.

There are round-stock bars, making a fire grate for the wood splits to sit on as they burn down...the coals fall through, and are then shoveled under the cooking grate in the main grill.

I also test-fitted the fire bricks - which will line the bottom of the brasero. (haven't cut any of the bricks yet - which explains the space in the front right.).

After getting the brasero welded out, I clamped it in place on the side of the grill - just to see if it fits good.

Haven't decided quite what to do across the front of the brasero - I'm still thinkin on it. I've looked at Santa Maria grills where the brasero is left completely open across the front...and others where there's a plate that covers the upper part of the opening. I'm leaning towards a plate that'll cover about the top third or so of the opening. It'll definitely be completely open below the fire grate so you can get a shovel in there. And I also want to trim out the top of the brasero with some angle iron or something - just to give it a little more finished look. Then I'll be ready to weld the brasero in place.

Anyway, that's where I am now. I took today off to rest this old man's sore back. But I'll likely be back in the shop tomorrow. I should have another update in a day or three...

Red

 

[Brokenhandle]

Howdy Friends!

Hope everyone's holidays were as happy as mine, and Happy New Year to all!

I've got some progress to post on Jim's grill. Last thing I updated was working on the firebrick channel around the interior of the main body.


I got the back piece tacked in and checked everything for square and plumb.

View attachment 729690


Then stitch welded it all the way around.

View attachment 729692


View attachment 729693


Next I turned my focus to fabricating the overhead structure that supports the lift mechanism. Laid out and tacked together on the welding table.

View attachment 729694


Then a test-fit to see how it looks in the grill body. That bottom cross piece is only a temporary brace to hold it all square while I weld it - then I'll cut that off.

View attachment 729695

These holes in the vertical supports will take the hub that the axle rod spins in.

View attachment 729696

A shot of one the hubs. not welded in yet, just test fitting for now.

View attachment 729697

Then I set out to work on the side brasero. This is basically a burn box for wood splits/logs.

View attachment 729698

There are round-stock bars, making a fire grate for the wood splits to sit on as they burn down...the coals fall through, and are then shoveled under the cooking grate in the main grill.

I also test-fitted the fire bricks - which will line the bottom of the brasero. (haven't cut any of the bricks yet - which explains the space in the front right.).

View attachment 729699

View attachment 729700

After getting the brasero welded out, I clamped it in place on the side of the grill - just to see if it fits good.

View attachment 729701

Haven't decided quite what to do across the front of the brasero - I'm still thinkin on it. I've looked at Santa Maria grills where the brasero is left completely open across the front...and others where there's a plate that covers the upper part of the opening. I'm leaning towards a plate that'll cover about the top third or so of the opening. It'll definitely be completely open below the fire grate so you can get a shovel in there. And I also want to trim out the top of the brasero with some angle iron or something - just to give it a little more finished look. Then I'll be ready to weld the brasero in place.

Anyway, that's where I am now. I took today off to rest this old man's sore back. But I'll likely be back in the shop tomorrow. I should have another update in a day or three...

Red

Looking great Joel!

Ryan

 

[civilsmoker]

Its coming together nicely! The brasero looks nice and yes they are usually open in the front and a partial over the fire area to keep the heat focused on making coals. My only Q or Suggestion is to cut "passage way" at brick level between the brasero and cooking chamber? Often times you just slide the coals over. I have also seen a flat bottom shovel which appears to be the plan. The thing, I do like on your plan is the brasero heat wont mess with the grate heat so you have more control with uniformity.

Another thought on the brasero is you could add a overhang rod or angle from the grate truss so items could be "hung" with a hook to roast over the brasero fire...... I know I'm trouble....

 

[JLinza]

Lookin awesome.

 

[schlotz]

Lovin' your work Red! This is going to be one heck of a grill

 

[fumarone]

I only have smiles. Great craftsmanship. I like it.

 

[JIMSMOKES]

I only have smiles. Great craftsmanship. I like it.

Smile? I'm grinnin like a possum eatin a fermented honey bun!

 

[seenred]

Its coming together nicely! The brasero looks nice and yes they are usually open in the front and a partial over the fire area to keep the heat focused on making coals. My only Q or Suggestion is to cut "passage way" at brick level between the brasero and cooking chamber? Often times you just slide the coals over. I have also seen a flat bottom shovel which appears to be the plan. The only thing I do like on your plan is the brasero heat wont mess with the grate heat so you have more control with uniformity.

Another thought on the brasero is you could add a overhang rod or angle from the grate truss so items could be "hung" with a hook to roast over the brasero fire

Thanks Cortney - I think it's coming along real well. And you're kinda confirming what I have in mind for the face of the brasero - a partial plate-cover above fire grate level...mostly to tame the log fire and concentrate heat.

I thought about a completely open pit design with the brasero and cooking chamber all in one large space...landed on the current design after looking at a ton of Santa Maria builds and deciding exactly what you said: the heat of the brasero won't interfere with a controlled burn in the cook chamber. And I plan to fabricate a flat-bottomed shovel for Jim to scoop coals from brasero to cook chamber.

I know I'm trouble....

And yes, you sure are...

But seriously, I love your input - keep those ideas coming (within reason and budget of course lol).

Red