Pool Filter first cook 10/1

Here is the almost completed stainless pool filter cooker. One 3/4" close nipple and one 3/4" ball valve. I still need to make some sort of stabilizers. I wanted to see if the base even got hot during a cook first, though...and I can still hold my hand on it when the grate temp is 350 with the vent and valve wide open.


8 - 1/2" holes. 1/4" NPT cap for the pressure gauge fitting. Stainless drawer handles. They get too warm to grab gloveless, though. I need to buy a thermometer.


I had to block off the 2 3/4" plumbing fixture hole in the side. High temp silicone gasket. I used two 4" round stainless plumbing blockoff plates bolted together to close up the plumbing hole in the bottom center - under the coals. I didn't gasket that yet and may not have to.


The charcoal basket is expanded metal and Weber charcoal grate stitched together with stainless safety wire. The grill is 23 1/4" from the bottom.


It's stainless and scrubbed, washed and rinsed so no burnout was necessary...at least I didn't think so.
London Broil








I only put one chimney full unlit K and about 3/4 of one lit in at about 4pm, cooked from 5 to 6 with the temp hovering at 250 or so, and finally closed off the air vents at 10:30pm with the grill temp at 220. I guess that a full charcoal basket will go a long, long time. I'll need to figure out a jiggle rod...maybe through the air vent nipple...and an ash pan.

Next are stabilizers....but that will be on another thread after I draw up some ideas.

Thanks to all here that contributed ideas whether they knew it or not!

All the best,

bbq lover said:

....what's the cost of that bad boy after you are all said and done

Click to expand...

Including the tools I just had to buy --- weed burner, step drill set, new cordless drill since I finally broke the transmission in the one I had?

Not including tools.. $75 ish


The small charcoal basket is a great idea! I made this one farking huge

The no feet version is, I think, DrKY's idea? It saves drilling three more holes or buying the stainless bolts/washers/nuts. I was lazy and didn't cut the 12" wide piece of expando down shorter, so it will hold a serious pile of charcoal (417.8 ci for all you engineers). A smaller cylinder to go into this one is perfect...THANKS!!!!

The handles on the lid are stainless drawer handles. The lid is pretty heavy -- it's 11.5" tall. At this point I don't mind using gloves when I remove the lid. I mounted two of them 180 apart for maximum control. The tall lid will make it easy for the Thanksgiving turkey, that's for sure. I will need to make a second tier food grill to sit on top of the first one to maximize the cooking potential.


Stabilizers. Rocket fins, Bomb fins, Booster rockets, a flat plate, cross bars, L brackets, etc. I have an engineer friend who works at Stadco (http://www.stadco.com) and is coming over for something cooked on the smoker next Thursday evening. I am sort of hoping that he will weigh in on what will look good --- and maybe contribute some metal to the project. You'll definitely see another thread with ideas ---a poll maybe? Whatever they are, I don't want it to look like I was trying to emulate the guy that tried to make his smoker look like a helicopter. I don't want to be made fun of ....and yet still have it be fun. A very fine line, don't you think?





I also made a full custom smoker cover for it. I worked really, really hard on this one. There are supposed to be showers here tomorrow and I sure don't want it to get wet.