YOLANDA is ready for the maiden voyage!

[bjarolim]

After months of cuts, grinds, welds, cussing and revisions(drinking a given) this baby is ready to get her cherry popped.

I am so stoked about this I can't even express how gitty I am about it.....

This is my first ever legit smoker(if it works) and my first ever try at building one...so I guess I'm popping my own cherry too.

I AM SO STOKED I WANNA LIGHT IT UP RIGHT NOW. But I would be up way late and dragging a** tomorrow, which I could not give a rip about at this point.

Seasoning and maybe a biscuit test tomorrow. If I wasn't going to the lake I would be firing this bad boy up and smoking a brisket(i feel that has to be the first one, seeing as I've never smoked a brisket before).

The door latches are on order and hopefully be here within the week, that's all I lack and easy fit-up.

U can find the hold build here....
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3561387

Here she is in all her gloryhttp://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b426/bjarolim04/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-06/20160627_193535_zpssy0v7sib.jpg

MAYBe this is the glory shot!!!!!
http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b426/bjarolim04/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-06/20160627_193706_zpsd4eizvgv.jpg

[Eddiecalder]

Love it.
You gonna paint it?

[Fwismoker]

I love it ...love it...love it!!! :clap:

[jdefran]

Nice looking build! Is that v-shaped thing a smoke 'diverter' and grease pan?

A shelf down below could be useful for ya.

[bjarolim]

Love it.
You gonna paint it?

It will get painted yes...but I'm gonna give her a good test run and seasoning before I paint of any OTHER revisions need to be made.

[bjarolim]

Nice looking build! Is that v-shaped thing a smoke 'diverter' and grease pan?

A shelf down below could be useful for ya.

V plate is my custom tuning system...I dunno how it will work...me and my brother deliberated about it and I wanted my own niche of a smoker...if it doesnt work ill just take out and do the standard tuning system.

I contemplated the shelf...but my tuning system prohibits another self except at the top which I might do....this was a personal cooker for now... Won't be doing massive cooks, but another build is in the future already...much more well thought out too!

[jdefran]

V plate is my custom tuning system...I dunno how it will work...me and my brother deliberated about it and I wanted my own niche of a smoker...if it doesnt work ill just take out and do the standard tuning system.

I contemplated the shelf...but my tuning system prohibits another self except at the top which I might do....this was a personal cooker for now... Won't be doing massive cooks, but another build is in the future already...much more well thought out too!
I was thinking a shelf down below like near the wheels, welded to the frame for additional rigidity and support.

[m-fine]

Light it up!

[Decoy205]

Looks great! Awesome work!

[Bigbears BBQ]

Nice job, can't wait to see some of the cooks

[JustBilling]

Awesome man! Congrats.

[bjarolim]

Forgot to say the tuning rig will act as a grease diverter too....will make a removable box for it to collect into for easy cleaning and maybe some dripping sauce of some sort


I was thinking a shelf down below like near the wheels, welded to the frame for additional rigidity and support.



Oh yes, excuse my misinterpretation, their will be one for wood storage along with some folding tables . I'm just ready to light her up, been bustin my arse to get her to cook. That was my main goal.

Her center of gravity o
Is really high and I'm hoping the wood storage rack with being it down a bit. I JUST WANNA FARKING SMOKE SMOKE MEAT ON HER, and well see if my build is adequate as well.

[Smoke on Badger Mountain]

That looks really great! Nice work!

[bjarolim]

Is it 3:00pm cst yet....im ready to see some tbs

[bjarolim]

Here we go folks....the time is upon me and seasoning has commenced.......woooooooohhoooooooo.

Got her cleaned up and wiped down with canola oil and fired up....this is the greatest feeling EVER!!!

I can't be more overwhelmed with gratification right now...I'm 2.5 hours in and sitting pretty at 375° and maintaining it very very well. I had it as high as 450°, think I could push 600° if I really wanted too but as I won't ever be in that range there isn't much need to do....I can safely assume the if I wanted to cook a pizza on the grill top I can definitely hit 600-700 no problem, as I have gave the grill top that that blueish purple,I've been to hot, look. I don't have that discoloration on Firebox walls, only the grill top.

I wanna thank everyone for the help and much need information I sought after and was provided by the brethren.

Its like creating a baby outta steel with your blood sweat and tears and its already grown up and matured and off on its own into the unknown.

Ok ok, I've rambled enough here are some pictures!!!!!

Its only fitting to drink spare rib pale ale during seasoning

http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b426/bjarolim04/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-06/20160628_154706_zpsipcfabqi.jpg

YOLANDA lubed up and ready to get her smoke on.

http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b426/bjarolim04/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-06/20160628_161056_zpsegmumkrb.jpg

Intake is working freaking great.

http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b426/bjarolim04/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-06/20160628_164418_zpsqv7iowzd.jpg

Only a 5° temp difference from 1 inch above tuning rig to top grate....I will take that all day long. Its about 16" gap.

http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b426/bjarolim04/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-06/20160628_182729_zpsb6h5vzr1.jpg

After 2.5 hours of seasoning

http://i1042.photobucket.com/albums/b426/bjarolim04/Mobile%20Uploads/2016-06/20160628_182750_zps51pg7b1i.jpg

[pjtexas1]

awesome job on the build! 5 degrees difference is great. how is the temp side to side? looks like the heat deflector design is working.

[G'Daddy]

Looks great!

[bjarolim]

awesome job on the build! 5 degrees difference is great. how is the temp side to side? looks like the heat deflector design is working.



Not sure side to side yet....will be doing a biscuit test maybe monday...going to the lake this weekend and busy rest of the week(kinda ticked bout it, I wanna smoke some meat now). Plus I still have door latches and high temp sealant to apply maybe Thursday.

Just threw couple chicken breasts on to test run her with.

[bjarolim]

Well....she made it thru her first season....prob season her again monday or Tuesday after door latches and high temp sealant cures.....

Thanks for looking