Coming along just Grate ( ha ha ) Joel
This is going to be a fun machine to smoke/cook on for Jim.
David
This is going to be a fun machine to smoke/cook on for Jim.
David
Red's Santa Maria Build - A Custom Grill for JIMSMOKES!
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Thanks Gents! I definitely getting excited to see Jim cooking on this rig!
Red
Thank you Sir!
I guess I haven't decided for sure, Keith...but I think not. Only things that need seasoned will be the grates - everything else will be painted. I can heat-season the grates with my torch. That'll make Jim the first guy to light a real fire in this sucker!
Red
It occurred to me that I haven't posted an update in over 2 weeks. That's mostly because I wasn't in the shop much until this week - some grandad responsibilities and a stretch of cold weather kept me out. But here's what I've accomplished since the last update.
So I think I mentioned that I was working on the cooking grates. Jim wanted 2 separate grates that will drop in or lift out to allow for other cooking surfaces to be added, like a griddle, for example.
Here's a shot from about halfway through the fabrication of the first grate. This turned out to be a fairly labor-intensive step. Each half-size grate has 20 individual 1/2" round steel bars. I cut them, grinded off all the rust and mill scale, down to bare steel, then notched both ends of each one before welding them in one at a time - with a spacer between each to get em all equal distance apart. This was a slow process, but I think they turned out pretty good. And man - they are hefty! Not sure what each weighs, but they ain't light lol.
First one all welded together.
And here's the first half dropped in the cooker.
Then repeated the whole process again. Here's the second half dropped in place.
They're not fully finished, because I want to weld in a cross-brace under the centerline of the bars. I want to do that with a length of 1/2" square tubing...and I realized this afternoon that I don't have any. So I'm gonna have to make one last material run.
After that, I have just 2 or 3 minor tasks to wrap up...then this grill will be ready to start prepping it for paint!
Won't be long now until this project is wrapped!
Red
So I think I mentioned that I was working on the cooking grates. Jim wanted 2 separate grates that will drop in or lift out to allow for other cooking surfaces to be added, like a griddle, for example.
Here's a shot from about halfway through the fabrication of the first grate. This turned out to be a fairly labor-intensive step. Each half-size grate has 20 individual 1/2" round steel bars. I cut them, grinded off all the rust and mill scale, down to bare steel, then notched both ends of each one before welding them in one at a time - with a spacer between each to get em all equal distance apart. This was a slow process, but I think they turned out pretty good. And man - they are hefty! Not sure what each weighs, but they ain't light lol.
First one all welded together.
And here's the first half dropped in the cooker.
Then repeated the whole process again. Here's the second half dropped in place.
They're not fully finished, because I want to weld in a cross-brace under the centerline of the bars. I want to do that with a length of 1/2" square tubing...and I realized this afternoon that I don't have any. So I'm gonna have to make one last material run.
After that, I have just 2 or 3 minor tasks to wrap up...then this grill will be ready to start prepping it for paint!
Won't be long now until this project is wrapped!
Red
pineywoods
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Ha!
Good luck with those Cortney! I didn't appreciate how many man-hours would go into building these bar grates by hand. I suppose a guy with all the right machining tools could have done it faster and easier - but I don't have any of that!Much appreciated Jerry!
Red
Those grates look awesome ! I could see you getting many orders!
Ryan
Thanks Ryan! Not currently taking new orders lol!
Grates look great, Red.
Looks like it's all coming along nicely
Thank you Sir!
Red
When I did the v-grates on the X-Fire, I cut a bunch of furring strips on the table saw for the full-width for near full-length spacers then lined them all up at once, put a couple of inset wood cross bars and finish nailed in place and couple of clamps and tact'd away....... ie pretty much built a quick jig...Ha!
Much appreciated Jerry!
Red
PS...this saved a few 4 letter words....
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I could see you getting many orders!
They'd be easier to ship.... Just saying ...
They'd surely go in a fairly flat FedEx or UPS box, but they are sure heavy! No telling what freight would be on those Keith!
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