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

TTNuge · 01-10-2012, 08:32 PM

Well after drooling over many different smokers including a few BWS Fatboys, Stumps, some clone builds and many more I decided to bite the bullet and try to build one myself. A lot of the inspiration comes from Winemaster and his clone, another BWS build I found at a different site as well as Ryan (speers90) and his build since he lives less than a mile from me and I got to see a bit of the action with his build thanks to this site.

I first started by buying my wife a Welder for Christmas. I got away with it and she actually liked it as she has mentioned an interest in welding in the past. I originally got a Hobart 140 but after some roundy round and some "advice" from my Dad who also was interested in a wire feed welder to go with his stick unit I ended up upgrading to a Hobart 190 with spool gun. I don't plan on using the spool gun for this build but I figured what the heck, why not get it anyways.

Then I made a trip to a local steel dealer and picked up a load of steel. Between the tubing and sheets it was just over 700#s so it's going to be a monster. I started with the thought of putting it on wheels but I may just end up with a dedicated trailer.... I'll figure that out later.

The unit is going to be just over 5' tall on wheels, 28" wide and 27" deep. The smoking chamber itself is going to be 48"x24"x24" with at least 5 shelves and at least 12 shelf locations. I have a 1/4" heat diffuser plate to go above the fire box and it will be set up with an intake dedicated for Stoker use.

Not much to look at right now but considering I only had a few hours, I have never welded two pieces of metal together before and I was alone I was pretty happy with my progress. I'll only get a few nights a week to work on it and I'll be losing a couple weeks the end of this month to business travel but I hope to have it done soon so I can practice and enter a few comps this spring with it.

Hopefully I'll have some more progress pics later this week. Also looking forward to my new Stoker w/25cfm fan to arrive, hopefully with the wi-fi code.

Thanks for looking,
Trent

Lazybones · 01-10-2012, 08:38 PM

Looks good to me!....I'm planning on starting a clone build pretty soon as well. Should be a fun project!

speers90 · 01-10-2012, 09:16 PM

Alright!

Will work for bbq · 01-11-2012, 12:53 AM

Nice start

WineMaster · 01-11-2012, 06:24 AM

Very cool. Looks good so far. Just make sure that a full size aluminum pan will fit on the racks. You wont regret that tip. Good luck. Keep us updated.

Dan

DaveMW · 01-11-2012, 06:45 AM

I look at these different build threads and shake my head at my lack of talent (and guts) to try building things like this. I look forward to following your progress.

Big George's BBQ · 01-11-2012, 07:41 AM

Sounds very interesting Keep posting your progress please

Cloudsmoker · 01-11-2012, 07:45 AM

My thoughts exactly. Thank God for these talented dudes.

TTNuge · 01-11-2012, 09:03 AM

Sitting here looking at my pics I realized I welded a cross bar on the top in the back where it should have been in the front. The one in back needs to be split for the exhaust to go up. Oh well, it can be cut to fit but I can't believe I did that and didn't realize until just now.

Reserve those "talented" comments until the end, we don't know how this is going to come out yet! :) Like I said, this is pretty much the first time I've ever picked up a welder, I've got more guts than brains I'm sure.

TTNuge · 01-16-2012, 08:26 PM

Finally got a bit more time to get over and work on the smoker again. Slow going so far but that's what happens with a demanding job, a wife and three kids. And now I leave on Sunday for 2 weeks in Chicago so progress will be slow once again.

Got the two cross braces on the front of the smoker, one across the top and the lower one that will be for the top of the firebox door and the bottom of the meat compartment door. Also welded in a couple angle brackets and finally the 1/4" diffuser plate that separates the firebox from the smoke chamber. Was pretty happy with the fit and the weld, first time welding 1/4" plate and there was a lot to weld. Welds may not look professional but they'll do the job.

Front View:

Side View:

Close up of the diffuser plate:

Thanks for looking.

Trent

speers90 · 01-17-2012, 12:40 PM

Looking good!

Full Draw BBQ · 01-17-2012, 01:57 PM

LOVE these builds!!!!!! Thanks for posting the updates!

HB-BBQ · 01-17-2012, 02:32 PM

Looks good so far. I too lack welding skills but am always intersted in these homemade smoker builds.

KingRanch450 · 01-17-2012, 03:26 PM

Keep posting pics of your progress. Love these build threads

TY~DY · 01-17-2012, 03:30 PM

Subscribed! Nothing like a good build thread to inspire!

01-10-2012, 08:32 PM	#1
TTNuge Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-22-11 Location: Waconia, MN Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Started my "Northwoods Amateur" build tonight (BWS Pro Clone) Well after drooling over many different smokers including a few BWS Fatboys, Stumps, some clone builds and many more I decided to bite the bullet and try to build one myself. A lot of the inspiration comes from Winemaster and his clone, another BWS build I found at a different site as well as Ryan (speers90) and his build since he lives less than a mile from me and I got to see a bit of the action with his build thanks to this site. I first started by buying my wife a Welder for Christmas. I got away with it and she actually liked it as she has mentioned an interest in welding in the past. I originally got a Hobart 140 but after some roundy round and some "advice" from my Dad who also was interested in a wire feed welder to go with his stick unit I ended up upgrading to a Hobart 190 with spool gun. I don't plan on using the spool gun for this build but I figured what the heck, why not get it anyways. Then I made a trip to a local steel dealer and picked up a load of steel. Between the tubing and sheets it was just over 700#s so it's going to be a monster. I started with the thought of putting it on wheels but I may just end up with a dedicated trailer.... I'll figure that out later. The unit is going to be just over 5' tall on wheels, 28" wide and 27" deep. The smoking chamber itself is going to be 48"x24"x24" with at least 5 shelves and at least 12 shelf locations. I have a 1/4" heat diffuser plate to go above the fire box and it will be set up with an intake dedicated for Stoker use. Not much to look at right now but considering I only had a few hours, I have never welded two pieces of metal together before and I was alone I was pretty happy with my progress. I'll only get a few nights a week to work on it and I'll be losing a couple weeks the end of this month to business travel but I hope to have it done soon so I can practice and enter a few comps this spring with it. Hopefully I'll have some more progress pics later this week. Also looking forward to my new Stoker w/25cfm fan to arrive, hopefully with the wi-fi code. Thanks for looking, Trent __________________ Butts, MAK n Que Competition BBQ Team MAK 2 Star General Backwoods Pro Clone Weber Performer (Non Gas Assist) Bradley Original Smoker

01-10-2012, 08:38 PM	#2
Lazybones On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-06-11 Location: D/FW, Texas Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looks good to me!....I'm planning on starting a clone build pretty soon as well. Should be a fun project! __________________ -Peter -Lazy Bones BBQ -Custom competition trailer with an offset and a cabinet. And a kettle or two.

01-10-2012, 09:16 PM	#3
speers90 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-28-11 Location: Waconia, MN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Alright! __________________ Ryan Butts, MAK n Que BBQ Team Smokin Horns BBQ (private parties) MJH by Backyard Bombers Cajun Fryer FF2 Weber Performer Weber One Touch Gold 22.5" 2006 Keystone Hobbi 220 Toy Hauler

01-11-2012, 12:53 AM	#4
Will work for bbq is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-23-10 Location: Bay Area, CA. Downloads: 12 Uploads: 0	Nice start __________________ Paul 00 Slowskys Racing CharGriller Acorn Komado AKA Milton (RIP), WGA, WSM 18.5", WSM 22.5" BBQ Guru Digi Q, Weber Kettles, Genisis Gold Gasser, Orange and Red ThermaPens and a Partridge in a Avocado tree. Agent 000 (Double O Zero) Certified MOINK Baller CLICK HERE to visit the BBQ Brethren Throwdowns When all else fails just ask yourself, WWGALD??? *Super sexy Farkernaut Avatar by N8man*

01-11-2012, 06:24 AM	#5
WineMaster Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-16-07 Location: Southern MN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Very cool. Looks good so far. Just make sure that a full size aluminum pan will fit on the racks. You wont regret that tip. Good luck. Keep us updated. Dan __________________ Dan MJH From Backyard Bomber BBQ ---- X 2 Junior & Stretch 22.5 Weber Kettle Blue Thermopen Comp Team Wine & Swine This is funner than chuckin rocks at a sign. John Godwin (Duck Dynasty)

01-11-2012, 06:45 AM	#6
DaveMW is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-31-10 Location: Edgewood, Kentucky via Livngston, Montana Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I look at these different build threads and shake my head at my lack of talent (and guts) to try building things like this. I look forward to following your progress. __________________ In a perfect world every lab would have a home and every home would have a lab. There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm. Weber Kettle 22.5" Restored "J" - Black Weber Smoky Joe "F"- Black Weber Genesis - Black (CL Score - brand new) Weber Go-Anywhere - Black UDS which surprisingly is not black Great Outdoors Smoky Mountain Smoker

01-11-2012, 07:41 AM	#7
Big George's BBQ somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-07-08 Location: Phoenixville, PA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Sounds very interesting Keep posting your progress please

01-11-2012, 07:45 AM	#8
Cloudsmoker Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-30-11 Location: Dallas, TX Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	My thoughts exactly. Thank God for these talented dudes. __________________ Primo Kamado \| Pitmaker Vault \| Klose Mobile Michigan Blue Thermopen

01-11-2012, 09:03 AM	#9
TTNuge Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-22-11 Location: Waconia, MN Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Sitting here looking at my pics I realized I welded a cross bar on the top in the back where it should have been in the front. The one in back needs to be split for the exhaust to go up. Oh well, it can be cut to fit but I can't believe I did that and didn't realize until just now. Reserve those "talented" comments until the end, we don't know how this is going to come out yet! :) Like I said, this is pretty much the first time I've ever picked up a welder, I've got more guts than brains I'm sure. __________________ Butts, MAK n Que Competition BBQ Team MAK 2 Star General Backwoods Pro Clone Weber Performer (Non Gas Assist) Bradley Original Smoker

01-16-2012, 08:26 PM	#10
TTNuge Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-22-11 Location: Waconia, MN Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Finally got a bit more time to get over and work on the smoker again. Slow going so far but that's what happens with a demanding job, a wife and three kids. And now I leave on Sunday for 2 weeks in Chicago so progress will be slow once again. Got the two cross braces on the front of the smoker, one across the top and the lower one that will be for the top of the firebox door and the bottom of the meat compartment door. Also welded in a couple angle brackets and finally the 1/4" diffuser plate that separates the firebox from the smoke chamber. Was pretty happy with the fit and the weld, first time welding 1/4" plate and there was a lot to weld. Welds may not look professional but they'll do the job. Front View: Side View: Close up of the diffuser plate: Thanks for looking. Trent __________________ Butts, MAK n Que Competition BBQ Team MAK 2 Star General Backwoods Pro Clone Weber Performer (Non Gas Assist) Bradley Original Smoker

01-17-2012, 12:40 PM	#11
speers90 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-28-11 Location: Waconia, MN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looking good! __________________ Ryan Butts, MAK n Que BBQ Team Smokin Horns BBQ (private parties) MJH by Backyard Bombers Cajun Fryer FF2 Weber Performer Weber One Touch Gold 22.5" 2006 Keystone Hobbi 220 Toy Hauler

01-17-2012, 01:57 PM	#12
Full Draw BBQ Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-22-11 Location: Frisco, TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	LOVE these builds!!!!!! Thanks for posting the updates! __________________ Full Draw BBQ Frisco, TX Lang 60D trailer Orange Thermapen 22.5 Weber Kettle - retired Rec Tec Grill

01-17-2012, 02:32 PM	#13
HB-BBQ is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-14-07 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looks good so far. I too lack welding skills but am always intersted in these homemade smoker builds. __________________ Lang 36 custom, Backwoods Patio, Horizon Patriot, UDS by Norco, Spirit E-310

01-17-2012, 03:26 PM	#14
KingRanch450 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-15-11 Location: Rockwall, Tx Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Keep posting pics of your progress. Love these build threads __________________ Gator Budget Mobile 24x48 with mods-----Char Griller Akorn

01-17-2012, 03:30 PM	#15
TY~DY On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-03-11 Location: Naples, FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Subscribed! Nothing like a good build thread to inspire! __________________ Weber Genesis Silver C, Weber Smoky Joe, Mini-WSM, Great Outdoors -(Ugly Vertical Cabinet), cheap a%% Kingsford Kettle

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