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cheez59
05-08-2009, 09:51 PM
Well guys after much searching and researching I have finally started my smoker build. I have scrapped the reverse flow idea because of all the feedback I read about high wood consumption. This will be a clone of the Gator pit. The pit will be 36" X 72". I really wanted to use some extra heavy 24" pipe that I already have for the firebox but if I go with the 1/3 rule of thumb I reckon the 24" pipe will not work. Sooooo I am going to fabricate a big rectangular firebox. It will be easier to insulate anyway. Here are a couple pics. More to follow as I progress with the build.

McClung
05-08-2009, 10:02 PM
Nice start, I'm jealous!

jestridge
05-08-2009, 10:43 PM
Looking good, very good

jack040806
05-08-2009, 11:03 PM
Thats solid, can't wait to some some que coming off of that. Bet the neighbors are excited too.

traildust
05-08-2009, 11:57 PM
Daaang that looks tough! It even looks stout enough to double as a submarine :-P

Que-Dawg
05-09-2009, 08:36 AM
Nice work

Meat Burner
05-09-2009, 10:23 AM
John, looks great!!! Going to be around here anytime?

cheez59
05-09-2009, 01:01 PM
John, looks great!!! Going to be around here anytime?

Thanks Keith, I will be coming out that way sometime in early June. I'll give you a shout when I am in the neighborhood.

Dr_KY
05-09-2009, 01:10 PM
Yes sir yes sir that looks like a beautiful start! I love the massive chain links as hinges.

cheez59
05-09-2009, 09:08 PM
Yes sir yes sir that looks like a beautiful start! I love the massive chain links as hinges.

Thanks brother. The chain links are not the most beatiful thing I could weld on the smoker but they will never need to be replaced and best of all they were free!:biggrin:

Meat Burner
05-09-2009, 09:14 PM
John, bring some of your homemade hushpuppies when you come in. Looking forward to watching the smoker build. So far it looks great!!!!!!!

cheez59
05-09-2009, 09:22 PM
John, bring some of your homemade hushpuppies when you come in. Looking forward to watching the smoker build. So far it looks great!!!!!!!

Will do Keith. I would have had some pics of the firebox today but my plasma torch decided to give me a fit.:icon_frow
I will get it fixed on Monday so maybe by mid week it will look like a smoker.

Meat Burner
05-09-2009, 09:29 PM
Are you doing a reverse flow on this one? The pics look like it a a pretty big smoker.

cheez59
08-19-2009, 10:58 AM
Well I had nearly a 3 month work stoppage on the smoker project. My real job and other responsibilities kept me from working on it. I got in a couple days this week so the smoker is now functional. About a day for cosmetic work then it is off to the sandbalster and then the paint booth.

Norcoredneck
08-19-2009, 11:05 AM
Looking good.

countyliner
08-19-2009, 11:11 AM
but if I go with the 1/3 rule of thumb I reckon the 24" pipe will not work.

Could you explain the 1/3 rule please? Or direct me somewhere to read up on it?

Very nice pit! Looks like its gonna be a monster.

Wampus
08-19-2009, 11:13 AM
Awwwww.....that thing'll NEVER work. No way. It's ugly too.
Tell you what.....I'll come down there, pick it up, bring it home to IN and dissassemble and scrap it for you. Heck, I'll even give you $50 for your troubles. It's a shame you wasted all that time on it though.:wink::biggrin::twisted:

warren
08-19-2009, 11:17 AM
looks great my pit is almost done

82muchhomework
08-19-2009, 11:59 AM
I love the chain links! Thats very creative.

BBQ_MAFIA
08-19-2009, 12:05 PM
I wish I could build stuff.

Great looking cooker. Good luck with it.

cheez59
08-19-2009, 02:40 PM
Could you explain the 1/3 rule please? Or direct me somewhere to read up on it?

Very nice pit! Looks like its gonna be a monster.

I have read about the 1/3 rule from several different sources. It is a rule of thumb for pit building. The Smoke Ring is one of the best sources other than here for ideas on pit building.

I should have enough capacity to do most any cooks that I will encounter. This pit has 2- 30" X 30" racks and 2-30" X 36" racks.I plan to build a couple of big rib racks to more than double the capacity for ribs.

Thanks for the compliments guys. All the work has been done out in the Georgia sun this summer. Most of the rust has come from me dripping on the metal.:biggrin:

Phubar
08-19-2009, 02:44 PM
Dayum!
What a beast!
Looking good,love the hinges!

hardy02ttu
08-19-2009, 02:53 PM
Looks great! I wish i had put pull out racks in mine, the smoke fetching meat off the back really sucks!

Kickback BBQ on Guam
08-19-2009, 07:51 PM
Looks good so far. Where can I score some of those chain links

dmaurer
08-19-2009, 08:25 PM
Awesome!

cheez59
08-19-2009, 08:37 PM
Looks good so far. Where can I score some of those chain links

I install and service sawmill machinery. They were leftovers from a job I did a couple years ago. You can contact Webster chain company. The size I used here is H132. HS 82 would have been more than enough but I like the herky look of the much larger chain.

Phesant
08-19-2009, 09:29 PM
Sweet looking grill, can't wait to see the finished product

HHpepper
08-19-2009, 09:31 PM
Got any more leftovers? :wink :wink

moocow
08-19-2009, 10:54 PM
Nice job Cheez, glad you got some time to work on it. Do you still head over here to SW Missouri anymore?

countyliner
08-20-2009, 12:00 AM
Hate to ask again, but I could dig all night and not find a reference.

Does the 1/3 rule of thumb refer to the size of the firebox in relation to the size of the pit?

cheez59
08-20-2009, 07:21 PM
Nice job Cheez, glad you got some time to work on it. Do you still head over here to SW Missouri anymore?

Thanks Moocow. Yes I am still coming over there from time to time. I will be coming over for a couple weeks in the first of September.

Hate to ask again, but I could dig all night and not find a reference.

Does the 1/3 rule of thumb refer to the size of the firebox in relation to the size of the pit?

The rule of thumb refers to the cubic inch area of the cook chamber. In other words my cook chamber is about 72,000 cubic inches and my firebox is about 24,000 cubic inches. I will seif I can find the exact reference but I am sure you can find it by doing a search on here.

Meat Burner
08-20-2009, 09:11 PM
John, looking good there brother. Can't wait to see the finished product.

countyliner
08-20-2009, 09:49 PM
Ok Cheez,

Your explaination was what I needed. Building a cooker myself and the size of the firebox in relation to the cooker wasn't something I hadnt considered.

Thanks

CROSSCZEK
08-21-2009, 07:33 AM
Nice looking pit John!
Can't wait to see some quality Q coming off that thing!

-scott

gtsum
08-23-2009, 03:50 PM
very impressive! Nice job

r2weq
08-23-2009, 09:12 PM
nice job, keep the pics coming