Starting the 20 Series Offset Build(s)

[mnbadger]

Certainly possible. For a 24"X48" cook chamber a firebox with a 20" pipe inside a 24" (2" air gap or insulation) would need to be 24" long; that would work pretty nice. When I spec out the 24 series I'll price this as an option.

I think that would be awesome. Something that is easily towable with a smaller vehicle and plenty big enough to cook for most family gatherings.

 

[mnbadger]

I think that would be awesome. Something that is easily towable with a smaller vehicle and plenty big enough to cook for most family gatherings.

Looking at some shirley builds an uninsulated basic basic trailer thats 24"x50" runs about $2800. I think if you could build something with the double walled pipe firebox and on trailer storage in the neighborhood of 3,000-3,200 that would be awesome. Welding up my insulated square firebox was a NIGHTMARE. If you can make it work with either mineral wool insulation or just an air barrier and two pipes that would save a ton of time and would still accomplish the same thing.

Heck Aaron franklin sais he prefers a round firebox over a square one. If you end up building a trailer like we talked about I'll be putting my order in for one in about 5 years. My wife would kill me if I got another smoker now since I just finished building my offset this spring. :loco:

 

[SmittyJonz]

:clap2:

 

[gtsum]

Nice looking build. I have no skills like that, so I certainly appreciate you showing the steps and tools used to make it come to reality. Very cool

 

[Norm]

Nice job Dave!

 

[Big Swole]

Sub'd for outstanding work.

 

[DownHomeQue]

Awesome Build! Through and through!

 

[diggles]

I'm about to start working on new cooking grates for my latest project. The last time I tried welding expanded steel to angle, I kept burning through the edges of the expanded steel and couldn't get a great bind with the angle. Yours must be pretty solid if the expanded is secured underneath the angle sides. Any tips on how to do it properly? I borrowed a buddy's wire-feed welder, so I don't know much about the setup. Thanks in advance.

 

[dwfisk]

I'm about to start working on new cooking grates for my latest project. The last time I tried welding expanded steel to angle, I kept burning through the edges of the expanded steel and couldn't get a great bind with the angle. Yours must be pretty solid if the expanded is secured underneath the angle sides. Any tips on how to do it properly? I borrowed a buddy's wire-feed welder, so I don't know much about the setup. Thanks in advance.

Assuming you are using 1/8" thickness angle (I usually use 1"X1"X1/8") and 1/8" thickness expanded metal and you are using a gas mig with .030 solid wire start with a setup that will give you about 125 amps and a wirefeed of about 200-300 inches per minute.

Some small migs have power and wirefeed setting knobs that are calibrated to a percent of the max spec for the machine. For example, I have a small Hobart mig with 180 amp max capacity and it has a knob for setting power with 4 settings (4 being max) so setting #3 is about 3/4 power or 135 amps, close to the 125 amps suggested above so that is what I would use for 1/8" steel. These kind of welders usually have recommended setting in the manual and/or inside the wire feed spool cover.

If it pops and crackles, increase your wire feed speed, you want it to sound like frying bacon, a nice steady sizzle.

If you are using flux-core wire without gas, 125 amps might be a little hot, if so turn the power down a setting

I like to start the weld on the angle and drag the molten pool over or onto the expanded metal to minimize burn out.

Practice on some scrap, best of luck.