Started my "Northwoods Amateur" build tonight (BWS Pro Clone)

[Jaskew82]

Subscribed!

[TTNuge]

Originally Posted by cpw

I would think you'd want to keep the door and the firebox separate, just so you don't have to slide out the firebox every time you want to peek at the fire. I would definitely put it on rails so you can slide it out easily, and add a handle. That's one thing my backwoods doesn't have, so it's a bit of a pain to slide in and out to add charcoal or chunks of wood.

Also, you may want to check on the size of the fan for the stoker. I have a fatboy and use the 5cfm with no issue. 25cfm may be overkill.

Good point, I didn't take into account the times I'll just want to look at the fire. I think I'll order hinges and latches and keep them separate.

I agree that the 25CFM fan might be overkill. I'm hoping it will work but if I have to bump it down a size I'll be fine with that too. I figured with as expensive as the fans are I might as well get the big one to start instead of having to buy it later.

[TTNuge]

Little more progress today. Got the bottom of the interior panels welded up. The smoke stack cut, fit and welded into place. And the interior top panel cut, trimmed, hammered, persuaded and finally welded into place.







Top it all off with a UPS delivery of the 25' roll of insulation, 25' of door gasket, and latches for both doors. I hope the hinges aren't far behind.




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[speers90]

Welds are looking good! I can't wait to make some time and try that welder out, I will have to use a MIG on the whole hog cooker that I am planning for next winter.

[TTNuge]

Wasn't happy with my welds tonight. Was some tricky spots welding the edges of two sheets together and had to keep adjusting the power to keep from burning through. But I got it done and it won't look half bad once finished.



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[RevZiLLa]

I'm enjoying your build

[JEC]

Great build, can't wait to see it finished, I even turned on Inventor today and got round to having a go at finishing my design off, I'm going for a fully folded cook chamber with built in water pan that I will have made by someone else but hope to do the rest myself

[Big George's BBQ]

Looking good so far Looking forward to watching your progress

[Bluehawg]

Originally Posted by Will work for bbq

Cleaning is always good, I would only use abrasives and stay away from chemicals. Brake cleaner is a popular thing to use among gearheads to clean grease and grime from metal but if heated produces deadly gasses.

If you need it really clean, after you use flap disk on it you can either wipe it down with acetone (wife's nail polish remover, without her knowing it of course) or rubbing alcohol, which I use pretty often especially if I'm going to TRY to tig weld... But if I'm stickwelding or wire welding I just apply a flap disk to it breifly and then brush dust off with a clean wire brush... You can get it "too" clean for stick welding sometimes and you will know it if you do cause daggum rods will start to stick on you when you strike your arc like CRAZZZZZZY and cause you to use strong adjectives.

[TTNuge]

Thanks guys. I got over there again last night and got the two interior side walls cut and welded into place. Forgot the camera again so no pictures, not that there is much to look at. Funny how you go at it for 4 hours or so, come out drenched in sweat with a sore back because you worked your arse off and then you look and all you got done were two panels that don't look like much. Can get frustrating if you let it. On the plus side each panel was 5'x2' in size so there was about 28 feet of welding involved so it wasn't a small task by any means.

[speers90]

4 hours at a time is about what I did! For me that is about the right amount of time, because it's long enough to get something done but not so long that you get tired of what you are doing.

[TTNuge]

Doors are built! Got both the top and the bottom door welded together tonight. They are still rough and need grinding but the insulation is in and both the interior and exterior panels are completely attached.





Might have to order some different hinges, not sure if the 120's I got from Cottco will be big enough with the 3/4" bulb fiberglass door seal I got. Should find out soon though as I don't have much left. Need to put the outer skins on yet, rails, build the firebox, water box and the racks and we should be ready to smoke.



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[speers90]

It's coming along!

[LoneStarMojo]

Really lookin good....all of us 'build-heads' will be havin to find more builds to follow soon!

[ClintHTX]

Looking good so far