Midnight Smoke
10-10-2013, 01:46 PM
I have not posted much in awhile, been busy with some projects around the house. For one I am in the middle of resurfacing my kitchen cabinets. Hope to have that done in 2 weeks.
So in my down time waiting for stain to dry I made a new handle for my Egg.
The tree is an Acacia, come to find out it is an Exotic type of tree. I had to do a little pruning, 1st thing I made was a hiking stick, it came out so good I knew it would look good as a handle. The wood is very hard similar to Mesquite, not sure how it would do a wood for Smoking meat.
First the tree, it actually leaned over last year during a big wind storm, we thought it was gone but it seems to be happy.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture207_zpsd0cccfe6.jpg
Started with a limb as straight as I could find.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture211_zps29147b62.jpg
I had a buddy cut it in half with a Band Saw and then secured it with some metal straps. I used the old handle as a template for drilling the holes and cut to length.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture013_zpsdf72f038.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture009_zps72172bff.jpg
The bark is so hard a 40 Grit orbital sander just bounced around on it. Took the Makita grinder and smoothed it down.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture057_zps8d7b1b8d.jpg
Preparing to finish sanding and ready for stain and exterior Spar coating, I used 5 coats. I have some concerns about how it will hold up in the Arizona summers, I try to keep the Egg under the patio most times.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture067_zpse990d912.jpg
So it came out pretty good for a 1st time try. Fits my hand better and has a nice beefy look.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture204_zps080c7cbb.jpg
After it was done I thought Dowel pins may have worked better. The screws are Stainless Steel so they will last a lifetime.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture186_zps8df23c5e.jpg
Thanks for checking it out. Let me know what you all think.
So in my down time waiting for stain to dry I made a new handle for my Egg.
The tree is an Acacia, come to find out it is an Exotic type of tree. I had to do a little pruning, 1st thing I made was a hiking stick, it came out so good I knew it would look good as a handle. The wood is very hard similar to Mesquite, not sure how it would do a wood for Smoking meat.
First the tree, it actually leaned over last year during a big wind storm, we thought it was gone but it seems to be happy.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture207_zpsd0cccfe6.jpg
Started with a limb as straight as I could find.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture211_zps29147b62.jpg
I had a buddy cut it in half with a Band Saw and then secured it with some metal straps. I used the old handle as a template for drilling the holes and cut to length.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture013_zpsdf72f038.jpg
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture009_zps72172bff.jpg
The bark is so hard a 40 Grit orbital sander just bounced around on it. Took the Makita grinder and smoothed it down.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture057_zps8d7b1b8d.jpg
Preparing to finish sanding and ready for stain and exterior Spar coating, I used 5 coats. I have some concerns about how it will hold up in the Arizona summers, I try to keep the Egg under the patio most times.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture067_zpse990d912.jpg
So it came out pretty good for a 1st time try. Fits my hand better and has a nice beefy look.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture204_zps080c7cbb.jpg
After it was done I thought Dowel pins may have worked better. The screws are Stainless Steel so they will last a lifetime.
http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k66/photolinks/Misc/BGE%20Handle/Picture186_zps8df23c5e.jpg
Thanks for checking it out. Let me know what you all think.