Pit design

[parrothead]

Does anyone here have a CAD program that can use it pretty good? I am looking for someone that would like to help out with designing a pit. I will probably locate my smoke chamber first and design around that. I am thinking at least 30" pipe x 6 to 8 feet long with a vertical at the end. Gonna do it from scratch including the trailor.

There has been a lot of talk in the past about brethren cooking teams. I think it is time for someone to jump in and start it. I am hereby semi-announcing the start of the first middle coast team, consisting of myself, Bob (mrb), and one other to be announced. I do not plan on entering any competions though until 2005. You guys that are clustered together should think about the same thing. It looks like a lot of fun. You St. Louis guys could probably put together about three teams. You don't have to have a big portable pit. I saw people there that placed really well with just a couple of webers.

[chad]

I don't have CAD - so the following are just observations.

Why build it yourself? By the time you get a trailer and the steel you'll be getting pretty close to the price of a ready built rig.

Also, if you don't weld (I mean at the level needed to put this rig together) you'll need to "hire" somebody to do it -- even if it's "volunteer" and all you do is feed 'em. This really adds up.

Tech support - you build it and you ARE your tech support. You buy from Klose, Lang, or another manufacturer you'll get some support and tuning help.

Just my observations -- I've gone round and round over this same issue myself! :D

[willkat98]

David.
Go join Greg's Yahoo Group called Outdoorcooking.

Look in the photo section under both the Greg folder and the Parrothead folder.

Then you'll see why he builds his own.

Because he's farking crazy.

Still love that cooker made from that casket.

[chad]

I've looked at the site. Nice and insteresting.

I was just offering my $.02 worth. If I want a rig that works first time and I want the trailer to last, I'll go with Klose, Lang, etc. Besides, the design he's considering is already in production at both Klose and Lang - though Lang calls his version of the verticle chamber a warmer. Again, just my thoughts.

I wish them best of luck and will enjoy seeing the product of their/his labor :D

I built my own stuff, too. But often the costs are higher than if I custom ordered or bought "off the shelf".

[Mark]

I know almost nothing about Q contests. However, I've heard that contests have been won using little bullet smokers. So is a smoke chamber 30" diameter x 6 to 8 feet long a little overkill?

PS: most smoker trailers are big and ugly. Here'se some that aren't.

http://www.wilmingtongrill.com/COOKER.htm

[BBQchef33]

Im going to semi-hijack here...

Using Klose and Lang in the same sentence is like using solid gold and gold plate interchangably. The Langs I've seen are recyled propane tanks and the like. I've seen both, used both and bought the Klose.

[willkat98]

Don't forget, when Greg cooks, the whole farking neighborhood shows up.

[parrothead]

Want to biuld my own, mostly because I like biulding stuff. Plus I figure that about half of those 12,000 dollar pits are probably labor. Gotta be big because like Bill said, when I cook it is for the entire neigborhood. I still have not ruled out buying a Klose, but will kick around biulding one over the winter and try to determine price and everything first. Plus, my current mobile is not road worthy.

[Mark]

I suggest you cruise the smoke ring for webs that sell trailered smokers. There's plenty. Some sell plans. Personally, I like the ones whose smoke chambers are parallel to the vehicle rather than long ways. Makes for a more compact rig and easier access (no wheels in the way). I'd look for maybe a 5-foot pipe or propane tank and weld the rear axle of a front wheel vehicle to it. Two pieces of angle iron, one on each end of the tank and brought together at a trailer hitch. Should be able to obtain materials for a few 100 bucks. No it won't be a Klose. But money is an object for most of us.

Mark (STL)

[BigAl]

:shock: Dave (was a member of us on Yahoo, not sure now). Detailed his efforts and total material cost to build his second trailer cooker. Suggest you go to his site before you start this huge effort. Things not thought of, like welding rod cost, etc, etc. His latest is called The HOG look in his photo section. Try this link,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIYcookersandmeats/

[chathorne]

Greg

i'm a draftsman if you need some CAD help just let me know !!!


i tell ya what go to this site download a evaluation version of RHINO (search RHINO 3D)
as long as you dont save you can use it for ever(you get 25 saves
anyway you can use this to look at almost any drawing format

[rbinms33]

Hey Greg.....I don't know if you visit Ray Basso's KCBS site or not but there was a guy by the name of Luke on there that built his own pit and kept a journal of it.

http://www.lukesbbqpit.com/

It's pretty interesting reading. As far as a team goes, I'll extend the same invitation to you as I did Buzz. You get down this way doing a competition give me a yell and I'll be happy to help out.

[midnight]

Don't have much to say about building your own smoker, I made a back yard model that works but boy is it UGLY :shock: Hope your a better welder than me!

Just a thought about a competion team: I judged at the Minnesota in May contest last year and there were 2 teams that used Banderas. Alot of the teams I talked to are going to 3 or 4 smaller cookers instead of the big trailer cookers, mainly beacuse they can adjust the temps better for the different food on each one. Almost every team had a WSM or something like it in thier cook areas, and one of the 2nd place winners used only 2 weber charcoal grills!

I think the Banderas are perfect for competition and a Brethern Team would be great.(unfortunatly I live up in South Dakota and would not be able to make it to most contests)

[2Fat]

: I judged at the Minnesota in May contest last year and there were 2 teams that used Banderas. Alot of the teams I talked to are going to 3 or 4 smaller cookers instead of the big trailer cookers, mainly beacuse they can adjust the temps better for the different food on each one. .(unfortunatly I live up in South Dakota and would not be able to make it to most contests)

Hey I judged at Minn too(cooked ther last year) and wife was a tsable captain, it is a great contest, will cook there for sure this year. Agree with ya what ya say about cookers--this year used a couple of BWS Party and a wsm but next year will use the bigger BWS-competitor--and a wsm. Should all fit in the 7x12 Featherlite just fine

Am a transplanted Nodak Kid(and miss it)--ya aren't far from the contests in Nebraska and Iowa

see ya

Buzz

[in2que]

I have been in many BBQ/chili competitions and they are a blast. Great people and great fun. Unfortunately the one I loved was cancelled after 22 years when the Chili Society and the Leukemia Society got sideways with each other. :(

I liked doing both Q and chili, but mostly now it's either/or.

[midnight]

hey 2fat,
I will be at the MIM again next year but don't know if I will be judging, cooking, or helping another team. My wife's brother lives in Davenport Iowa, so I might have to "visit him" and check out some of the bbq contests.
Have you been to any contests in IA or know which ones might be good to check out?