Bandera Rescue

MX1 · 03-20-2009, 02:50 AM

Well, as I stated in my intro post, I inherited an CharBroil Bandera style smoker. Below are the pictures of the pit as it stands now.

Over the next few weeks I will be fixing it up and getting it ready for Da'Q.

First thing will be to install a replacement door baffle to control the air flow, then to build / buy a fuel box. I would like to use wood / pellets / charcoal, and need to know if I must have anything special for the wood / coal box other than make sure there is enough airflow and that there is an ash pan?

After that I will install a heat baffle between the firebox and the tower then a chimney cap. Fire bricks will be installed as well, and I have a question about those...can I just use the rocks for gas grills?

Last I will repaint her and then I should be ready to burn.

Any help, ideas, or input will be most graciously accepted.

Tim

Mark · 03-20-2009, 09:08 AM

First of all, your fire box needs a removable bottom/ash pan. If you build a fire on that grate without one, the bottom of your fire box will be toast in short order. A fire brick lined bottom is common, but I recommend a removable bottom/ash pan elevated slightly. The space between it and the firebox bottom will serve to insulate.

Secondly, line the top and sides with some stainless steel sheet metal. Especially the top because that's where most of the heat is wasted. Here's pics of mine.

CB · 03-20-2009, 09:27 AM

Hiya -you got my attention. Keep us posted!

MX1 · 03-20-2009, 11:15 AM

Thanks for the advice, I am in the process of looking for something to work as my fire box. I am having a hard time finding any kind of metal (sheet or expanded) that will work. I am now on the lookout for old grills that have been tossed to see if I can scavenge anything from them. I do plan on raising the charcoal / wood container up a few inches and raising the ash pan up off the bottom as well.

I did fab my heat baffle today from an aluminum stair tread and realized that another one trimmed down will work to replace the missing wind break from the firebox side door. I have to work the next two nights, but I hope to get those two items installed tomorrow.

Tim

Westexbbq · 03-20-2009, 11:28 AM

Great project,
you are well on your way;
nice going so far.

Mike - CSBBBQ · 03-20-2009, 11:42 AM

Looking forward to seeing the progress

Divemaster · 03-20-2009, 01:09 PM

You've got a great start!

MX1 · 03-21-2009, 08:21 AM

Finished up the heat baffle, trimmed it down to make it fit better. Picked up the other piece of aluminum stair tread and started working on it, to replace the missing louver for the air flow control. Have it mostly done, just have to cut the slots in it, and while I was drilling pilot holed for my saw, I burned up my drill.

Dang, the luck! So it will be a few days before I can get back on this.

Tim

BBQ_MAFIA · 03-21-2009, 08:26 AM

I can't give any advise, all I can do is wish you luck with the build out.

Can't wait to see the finished rebuild.

MX1 · 03-22-2009, 12:20 PM

Well, more bad news.

I borrowed a drill to finish up the louver for the fire box, and after all was said and dome, it was UGLY.
I did a test fit, and forgot to account foe the slid back and forth when I figured the length. So the way it is now, there would always be a vent hole open. I will try for version 2.0 in a day or 2.

Also, not being able to find expanded steel to make a coal bin out of, can I just install a cooking grate for a temp fix. I can pick those up all over. I would get one wide enough to install on the grate rest inside the firebox, this should get it up enough for good air flow.

Tim

LuckyDawg · 03-22-2009, 04:01 PM

I just restored a Dera a few months ago.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=54282

You CAN use a grate for the coal. The one you have now, looks like mine. If it is just like mine, and wide enough, you can take it out, flatten it out as much as possible, turn it upside down and slide it in on the bottom tabs on the fire box. That is how I am useing mine now, works great!

Also, New Braunfels used the same thing for the smoke chamber and fire box grill holders, ( tabs on the sides that hold the grills )that they used for the fire box vent louvers in the firebox door. ( when installed tabs stick through the door slots from the inside out )I think you could use those dimensions to make a template out of cardbord and test the piece befor fabricating the new one.

Good Luck!

MX1 · 03-22-2009, 04:53 PM

Thanks for the heads up on the template idea, I will give it a look this week.

On payday i will pick up some paint and thermometers, I will also sand down the outside with my orbital before I give her some new skin.

Now just need to name her, and have the wife me me a stencil of the name....

Tim

BBQchef33 · 03-22-2009, 08:32 PM

go get our bandera 101 document for the stuff to build a firegrate.

home depot has sheet steel you can use to build the firebox damper.

do u need the template for the baffle?

why do u think u need a new firebox. that one looks like it just needs a wirewheel and paintjob.

MX1 · 03-22-2009, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQchef33

go get our bandera 101 document for the stuff to build a firegrate.

home depot has sheet steel you can use to build the firebox damper.

do u need the template for the baffle?

why do u think u need a new firebox. that one looks like it just needs a wirewheel and paintjob.

I have the 101, it has been a great help. I have already made the heat baffle to put between the firebox and the cook chamber.

Most people do not notice that I am in Brussels,Belgium and there are no HD or Lowe's to run to for stuff. The local home improvement stores do not carry near the stuff that the US ones do.

The only think left for me to make is the louver on the firebox door, I do not need a new fire box at all. I already have the stuff to prep the whole pit for a fresh coat of paint, and will pick up the paint next week after payday.

Hope this clears up where I am at in this project. Thanks for all the help and support.

Tim

BBQchef33 · 03-22-2009, 10:45 PM

gotcha...

heres my bandera rebuild.. shows the lid rebuild, a baffle and firegrate.. double layer of expanded steel at 90* and framed.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=20976

03-20-2009, 09:08 AM	#2
Mark somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-13-03 Location: St. Peters MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	First of all, your fire box needs a removable bottom/ash pan. If you build a fire on that grate without one, the bottom of your fire box will be toast in short order. A fire brick lined bottom is common, but I recommend a removable bottom/ash pan elevated slightly. The space between it and the firebox bottom will serve to insulate. Secondly, line the top and sides with some stainless steel sheet metal. Especially the top because that's where most of the heat is wasted. Here's pics of mine. __________________ Dr. Mark (STL) Ph.D. (honorary) Bovine $hitology A thin line separates paranoia from an acute understanding of reality. Last edited by Mark; 02-26-2010 at 01:52 PM..

03-20-2009, 09:27 AM	#3
CB On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-11-07 Location: Seattle Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hiya -you got my attention. Keep us posted! __________________ [SIZE=2][B] [SIZE=3][COLOR=Navy][FONT=Comic Sans MS][I][SIZE=3][U]CB[/U]_____________ [/SIZE][/I][/FONT][/COLOR][/SIZE][/B][/SIZE]RED 3-Burner & Urban Grill Quantum 3-Burner & Urban Grill Silver & H2O Smokers Double Chef Smoker CB940X Charcoal Grill The Big Easy Oil-less Turkey Fryer Big Easy Smoker-Roaster-Grill Outdoor Stove-Top & Smoker Rambler on-the-go! grill

03-20-2009, 11:28 AM	#5
Westexbbq Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-02-05 Location: Rockin' Lake Ronfarkoma, Hinterlands of BBQ . Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Great project, you are well on your way; nice going so far. __________________ Illuminated, circa 1967. KCBS CBJ-Texas Transplant. Texas Smokemaster offset, Well-cured NB Silver Smoker, Santa Fe grill (retired). glory bee gasser. Texas International Pop Festival, Labor Day 1969. IMBAS Certified. Just roll me up and smoke me when I die. Always remember, no matter where ya go, there you are. I wanna tell you 'bout Texas radio and the big beat. Someday, I hope to visit Penelope. Hondo Crouch, Famous Late Mayor of Lunkenbach, Texas who advocated a 'dillo diet: "You can eat nothing but armadillos for a month, but you will have to run down and catch all the armadillos you eat and it can really take the weight off!"

03-20-2009, 11:42 AM	#6
Mike - CSBBBQ is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-29-08 Location: Columbia, MD Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looking forward to seeing the progress __________________ Mike CHIX, SWINE & BOVINE Bbq. Because Bad BBQ is Downright Criminal [COLOR=#000080]csbbbq.com[/COLOR] KCBS & MABA member - CBJ #21870 Jambo (Geer) Pit Lang 84 Deluxe w/roof system Lang 60 w/warmer

03-20-2009, 01:09 PM	#7
Divemaster somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 09-23-07 Location: North Side of Chicago Illinois Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You've got a great start! __________________ Jeff CBJ# 23376 Stockcar BBQ Race Fast, Cook Slow, and Enjoy Life! If it don't come off a smoker, it's just a side dish! Lang 60 Patio (The Mistress), Black Stainless Lang 36 (Little Princess), Large BGE (Ramona), Big Green UDS (Cottage Cooker), Brinkman SnP Pro (Little Bubba-Retired), 8 Burner Gasser, 3 - 22.5" & 1 - 18" (circa 1975) Weber Grills, & a Weber Smoky Joe.

03-20-2009, 11:15 AM	#4
MX1 Got Wood. Join Date: 03-17-09 Location: Brussels, Belgium Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the advice, I am in the process of looking for something to work as my fire box. I am having a hard time finding any kind of metal (sheet or expanded) that will work. I am now on the lookout for old grills that have been tossed to see if I can scavenge anything from them. I do plan on raising the charcoal / wood container up a few inches and raising the ash pan up off the bottom as well. I did fab my heat baffle today from an aluminum stair tread and realized that another one trimmed down will work to replace the missing wind break from the firebox side door. I have to work the next two nights, but I hope to get those two items installed tomorrow. Tim

03-21-2009, 08:21 AM	#8
MX1 Got Wood. Join Date: 03-17-09 Location: Brussels, Belgium Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Finished up the heat baffle, trimmed it down to make it fit better. Picked up the other piece of aluminum stair tread and started working on it, to replace the missing louver for the air flow control. Have it mostly done, just have to cut the slots in it, and while I was drilling pilot holed for my saw, I burned up my drill. Dang, the luck! So it will be a few days before I can get back on this. Tim

03-21-2009, 08:26 AM	#9
BBQ_MAFIA Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-10-05 Location: NORTH BERGEN, NEW JERSEY Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I can't give any advise, all I can do is wish you luck with the build out. Can't wait to see the finished rebuild. __________________ Guido Lang 60 Lang 84 Deluxe Warmer with Chargrill Large Spicewine Large BGE XL - BGE Med. BGE ( Bought it for my son Vincenzo) Brinkman Snp Brinkman ECB GOSM Weber Kettle Kenmore Elite Gasser Camp Chef Outdoor Stove 1-Banjo

03-22-2009, 12:20 PM	#10
MX1 Got Wood. Join Date: 03-17-09 Location: Brussels, Belgium Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Well, more bad news. I borrowed a drill to finish up the louver for the fire box, and after all was said and dome, it was UGLY. I did a test fit, and forgot to account foe the slid back and forth when I figured the length. So the way it is now, there would always be a vent hole open. I will try for version 2.0 in a day or 2. Also, not being able to find expanded steel to make a coal bin out of, can I just install a cooking grate for a temp fix. I can pick those up all over. I would get one wide enough to install on the grate rest inside the firebox, this should get it up enough for good air flow. Tim

03-22-2009, 04:01 PM	#11
LuckyDawg Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 11-27-08 Location: Red Oak, Tx. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I just restored a Dera a few months ago. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=54282 You CAN use a grate for the coal. The one you have now, looks like mine. If it is just like mine, and wide enough, you can take it out, flatten it out as much as possible, turn it upside down and slide it in on the bottom tabs on the fire box. That is how I am useing mine now, works great! Also, New Braunfels used the same thing for the smoke chamber and fire box grill holders, ( tabs on the sides that hold the grills )that they used for the fire box vent louvers in the firebox door. ( when installed tabs stick through the door slots from the inside out )I think you could use those dimensions to make a template out of cardbord and test the piece befor fabricating the new one. Good Luck! __________________ Tom ~ NB Bandera ~ ECB

03-22-2009, 04:53 PM	#12
MX1 Got Wood. Join Date: 03-17-09 Location: Brussels, Belgium Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the heads up on the template idea, I will give it a look this week. On payday i will pick up some paint and thermometers, I will also sand down the outside with my orbital before I give her some new skin. Now just need to name her, and have the wife me me a stencil of the name.... Tim

03-22-2009, 08:32 PM	#13
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 10 Uploads: 4	go get our bandera 101 document for the stuff to build a firegrate. home depot has sheet steel you can use to build the firebox damper. do u need the template for the baffle? why do u think u need a new firebox. that one looks like it just needs a wirewheel and paintjob. __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Klose built MoAB (Mother of All Banderas) passed on to Big Dog, 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 1 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 1 Pit Barrel Cooker, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

03-22-2009, 10:45 PM	#15
BBQchef33 Grand Poobah and Site Admin Join Date: 08-11-03 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 10 Uploads: 4	gotcha... heres my bandera rebuild.. shows the lid rebuild, a baffle and firegrate.. double layer of expanded steel at 90* and framed. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=20976 __________________ Site Administrator and Grand PooBah CBJ with a Fuzzy Blue Hat, 18 Foot Competition Trailer, Customized Klose BYC, Custom Klose built MoAB (Mother of All Banderas) passed on to Big Dog, 1 Double Barreled Lang 84, 1 Heavily Modified Bionic Bandera, 1 Custom Super Medium Stickburning Spicewine w/stoker, 1 XL BGE, 1 Mini BGE, 1 Pit Barrel Cooker, 3 WSMs, 3 Weber Kettles, an NB Hondo, A Modified Brinkman Horizontal, DCS 48" Grill, a Broilmaster P3, a covered, pellet pooping FEC100, and our duck died. :( News Flash: "A mans worth is judged by the weight of his integrity " You know your getting older when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy Smoke on KC. WWW.BBQ-BRETHREN.COM

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Should I rescue this grill?	JMSetzler	Q-talk	20	07-02-2011 03:45 PM
Should I rescue her for $10	NorcalBBQer	Q-talk	40	05-17-2011 04:59 PM
Help rescue my shoulder!	starvinmarvin	Q-talk	10	01-04-2010 10:06 AM