South georgia

[blakemcm01]

Build update
After a 2 hour rain delay I got the tank cut open and a lid installed on the fire box. Got the firebox hard tacked to the tank my dads 110 mig just didn’t really wanna do the job and I didn’t want to push his stuff that hard it was wide open wire speed and amps so I’ll get the engine driven stick welder from work to weld it all in.
I decided to go with a over hang on the firebox top and see how it’ll look done. Worst case I trim it flush later.
Didn’t get as much done as I wanted today but made decent progress. Tomorrow I’ll probly go back and cut the door and decide what type of hinges I want to go with so I can hurry up and burn the inside of this stinking joker out lol. And get the rf plate welded in if I have enough steel left over. I probly won’t get the smoke stack until middle of next week thanks Dave for the input on going 6” instead of the 4” pipe I already had.

 

[daveomak]

Weld the RF plate to the top plate of the FB... Measurements should be easy... Measure the inside of the tank along the RF elevation to check the sides for parallel... If you tack the RF plate to the top of the FB, then you can use a hydraulic jack to put a slight bow in it to collect grease etc.. Then tack the RF plate into the CC.. It doesn't need a full weld.. Skip weld 1" welds about every 4"... Then weld a "dam" on the end of the RF plate to pool the grease and install a drain that exits the bottom of the CC... I'd use 1" black pipe and a gate valve outside the CC...

.......
Barrel hinges, when welded in position, can and will cause you problems.. unless you elevate them on tabs that can be "adjusted" when all is said and done... The hinge pin must be welded/aligned 'outside' the air sealing strip so the door can open and close without pinching in the opening of the CC.... The seal strip can be made out of 16 / 18 gauge mild steel strips.. It's easier to bend them to follow any contour problems..

If the door or tank springs "back" to earlier days when you cut it...
"STRAIGHTEN" IT NOW , before you do any more welding to make sure the door will fit air tight once the seal strips are installed.....

 

[blakemcm01]

Thanks for the insight
I decided to go with some 5/8 rod bent into some pipe for the hinges. When I laid it out it seems like it should clear the trim. If not I’ll make some taller raised hinges out of some of the 1/4 plate.
Got the lid cut and thankfully it kept its shape pretty good

 

[daveomak]

You want your smoker AIR TIGHT for excellent temp control.....

 

[blakemcm01]

You want your smoker AIR TIGHT for excellent temp control.....

Yea I gotta get a bigger machine from work to fully weld up the firebox to cc don’t wanna push my dads mig that hard. It really isn’t wanting to lay down in the 1/4

 

[blakemcm01]

Didn’t get much progress done today the weather didn’t hold out.
I did get the cc and fb welded together solid, the reverse flow plate cut and welded in, the rack for the cooking grated welded in, and two of the top holes filled and welded. I’m gonna leave the other two open for now and cover them with a lid stop.
In had a guy getting me a 6” pipe be he never came through so looking like another week or two before I can get back on it for the plenum and stack.

 

[blakemcm01]

Got a little more done today. Next weekend I plan on doing the stack and vents and lid stop hopefully. And the drain Pipe and damn for end of the rf plate.