I have been working lately to prepare myself the opportunity to build a masonry smoker. I have been so focused on creating a level area to build on that I lost track of the smoker itself. Today I took a day off to rest the body and was wondering where I could get a door for my firebox or a vent or a damper or a local metal fab shop, etc. I have been reading the forum and searching the web for a while. There are not a lot of options for pre-fab inventory to purchase as a consumer, as we all know. Then suddenly I thought back.
My father bought a lot up near Providence R.I. then built a house and never moved. Once early on he figured a wood burning stove would help heat his man cave downstairs in the finished basement. I guess he scraped up the money and had it delivered. Once he found out how much someone would charge him to make it safe and vent to the outdoors he stopped in his tracks with it. This stove has sat in his basement for over 40 years. He never called for another quote. LOL. Looks like he just moved it to the garage recently. It has never been used! I know, dad's do stuff like that. At least mine did anyway and I'm a chip off the old block.
So this stove, the former hiding place for my band-aid collection as a child comes to life again. I asked dad to send me a pic this evening. Thanks Dad.
Wow. I said mouth watering. I told him to put it in his suitcase when he jets down for a visit to my house in Florida in two weeks. But I'm thinking...... this thing is worth getting 1200 miles away. Am I crazy? I live in a warm climate. I would never use it indoors. I don't know how I could make it hold up in the salt environment outdoors where I live. But.. I sure want to make it part of my new smoker build. It looks like a tiki head even.
I remember the door had a solid seal. The handle had a latch that pulled the door closed tight. It was rather thick metal. I will have to see if I can get specifics from Dad tomorrow. I haven't seen it since I threw away those band-aids.
Anyone heading south on I-95 with a pickup truck?
I post this for fun. Kind of a pipe dream thing. Drop a line about your stove or what you would do with it. Meanwhile I will keep digging up my yard.
Last edited:
