The X-Fire Grill

[motocrash]

This project is not just a build but is also a research project....

++X/-1=?

 

[HalfSmoked]

Going to have smoke by Easter??

Warren

 

[fivetricks]

Hey no problem. Just wanted to let you know that I'm still following very close!

 

[civilsmoker]

++X/-1=?

Going to have smoke by Easter??

Warren

If it’s not 100% it will be close & far along enough to test out!

Hey no problem. Just wanted to let you know that I'm still following very close!

Thanks, glad we can share the experience.

 

[civilsmoker]

We were only able to find a little time today to make progress. Also had to go to the brick supply house for a dozen more splits for the door.

Got the retaining pieces in for the vertical brick rows & got the bottom shelf in. It really helped stiffen it up! The angle by its self was to flexible.

We thought we better make sure an actual propane tank would fit vs the 3D.....

At this point we are really leaning toward putting doors on the bottom so we can keep it weather tight. I also think the frame will be needed for strength as well. This thing has some MASS to it!

 

[civilsmoker]

....next up is doors for the bottom and to start on the truss for the grill......once the truss is done we will loos fit the top and do the first test fire :-)

 

[civilsmoker]

Decided to put the bottom doors down the to do list and we spent time working working on the truss. We will work on the grill frame tomorrow. Once it is done and fit the truss will be welded in :-)

Also got a start on the interior door frame for fire brick. It is going to work nicely!

It is starting to look like a real grill....and starting to get exciting now!

 

[HalfSmoked]

Going to make it for a Easter Sunny cook??
Looking great.

Warren

 

[civilsmoker]

Going to make it for a Easter Sunny cook??
Looking great.

Warren

Thanks warren, We are sure going to try!!! That is why we changed from "outside" stuff and started focusing on getting the actually cooking things done! That part is getting close!

Thanks again motocrash & fivetricks!

 

[civilsmoker]

Well we have “lift off”!

I will say everything was going smooth till we started messing with the cables....err those were a PITA! Getting them the identical length was not fun, but got them there. We may change the cables out to the next size down and add a way to fine tune the length but need to keep moving......


So on to the doors.....and then the weekend ended :-(.

Doors, then cutting & tack fitting the top steel then test fire! But that won’t be till next week, bad work schedule then the boy and I need to go kill a turkey!

 

[motocrash]

/++=

 

[fullborebbq]

Thank you for sharing this awesome build! I finally put up picks of my modest Pellet smoker on the forum. Forums like this inspire the creator in all of us!

https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/my-pellet-smoker-build.286067/

 

[civilsmoker]

fullborebbq, thanks and nice build! I have thought about building a custom pellet oven, but since I have 2 commercial made ones I’ve been fixated on the old school stuff, but may have an insulated one in the future similar to yours......

 

[civilsmoker]

90beater thanks for the like!

 

[civilsmoker]

We haven't been able to find much time to make progress, so I don’t think we will make a Easter fire test :-(

But got the temp gauge from tel-tru today.

All I have to say is it looks legit! The 9” stem is going to really help get better temp readings as it will be closer to the true heat column. Just need to get a 1/2 NPT stainless coupler to install it....

 

[fullborebbq]

fullborebbq, thanks and nice build! I have thought about building a custom pellet oven, but since I have 2 commercial made ones I’ve been fixated on the old school stuff, but may have an insulated one in the future similar to yours......

It comes in handy in the Buffalo,NY winters. I have smoked Pulled Pork and ribs at ambient outside temps of 15 degrees F.

 

[civilsmoker]

You should be able to smoke at much colder than that.....when we lived in North Dakota for a spell the pellet grill was the only thing you could use in the winter. Minus 26 (yes -26) was about the coldest I did ribs....man the grill burned lots of pellets and not super even but they turned out pretty good considering. Our Memphis pellet grill is made in Minnesota so they know cold. It has a dual wall with 1 inch air gap. A full insulated one would have been the ticket!

 

[civilsmoker]

fullborebbq, thanks for the likes!

 

[civilsmoker]

Finally we found some time to make some more progress!!!

First, since we weren’t happy with the size of cable and how it wound up, we happened to see this smaller diameter stainless chain at the local hardware box store and it screamed TRY ME....

So winner winner soon to be chicken dinner, we changed out the cable and the new chain is perfect!

So we moved on to finishing the composite doors.

A view from the inside with it closed...just all smiles at this point!

So over all we are really happy with how the first door came together so next up is door number 2!

Once door #2 is done it will be on to the top (including hanging rods) and the v-grate & rod grate :-)

 

[fullborebbq]

A couple shaft collars or garage door spools might have worked for keeping the cable inline, But the chain looks like a winner! Outstanding build!!!


https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/31D508DPkHL.jpg