As promised... LOADS OF PICS!!! (Sorry these are post cook. I have a few of the meat in the pit I need to get loaded next)
The custom made spark arrester (more to keep the animals from nesting and look cool)
This is an inside view of the firebox ribbing. This is to prevent warping of the top of the box and it is 3/8" x 1.25" welded steel
A shot of the bricked in firebox. I used 3/8" steel bar to make a cage to hold the bricks for transit. I used angle iron to make a ledge for the bricks to set on and not restrict the airflow through the vents. I used 1.25" thick bricks on the side, 2" on the bottom. I recommend getting a 4.5" diamond saw blade to make trimmings on your bricks as this was the simplest and cleanest cutting tool for the $.
This is outside looking into the firebox. it's made form 3/16" cold rolled steel. the entire thing is cut in pieces, welded and blended. Everything you are seeing is hand fabricated. The rack is a combo wood/charcoal rack. the expanded steel is a 3 sided box with 1/4" steel framing which can be removed and is setting on top of a 5/8" steel rod frame wood rack. This will last forever!
This is showing the bracing I did on the door. In the initial test burn, I had some slight warping so I made up this frame from 1/4" steel and left it open in the middle for a possible insulation application.
These are 3 of the 4 - 6" vents on the pit shown in different positions. I screened them to keep ash from falling out, spring loaded them to keep the tension consistent from hot to cold and they are made from 1/8" steel. Also on the lower side of the firebox, you will see I installed 350lb per wheel steel casters to prevent the firebox from dragging if it bottoms out on a steel driveway.
Thanks!!
