Mark
somebody shut me the fark up.
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2003
- Messages
- 12,546
- Reaction score
- 9,650
- Points
- 113
- Location
- St. Peters MO: 38.786730,-90.642551
Too bad I could only get the 1. I wanted to spread my score around to other interested bretheren and I told the guy I could easily sell the rest for him so not to sell them but he didn't wait.
Anyway, no pics yet but I built it last weekend. I'll get pic's when I can but I wanted to share my air vent design (see diagram below).
First step it to get a square piece of steel and drill a hole in the exact center.
Second step is to drill another hole in the exact center of the barrel bottom.
Third step is to align the holes of the square plate and the hole in the bottom.
Fourth step is to mark the outline of the square.
Fifth step is to make plunge cuts with a metal cut-off saw blade on all inside lines.
Sixth step is to cut out triangles by cutting the outside of the square between every other triangle shape. I used a grinder with 7.5" cut-off wheel.
You can get something similar that will fit circular saws.
Seventh step is to grind (or file) the sharp edges off the openings.
Eighth step is to attach the plate over the opening. with a nut, bolt and 2 large washers.
Assuming you cut out the top of the barrel, the ninth step is to grind air flow notches around the circumference of the top and place in the bottom of the barrel, elevated a little bit by some means. The bolts attaching the 5 metal casters aroung the outside perimeter of the barrel bottom accomplished this purpose for me.
Finally, rig a handle of some sort to the plate and the outside of the barrel so you can adjust air flow.
I did a test firing yesterday full open and all wood. It was rock steady at 400 deg. F. for nearly 2 hours. (PS: using the same plunge cut technique, I made a fuel door in the middle of the side. This also came in handy for attaching the casters).
Anyway, no pics yet but I built it last weekend. I'll get pic's when I can but I wanted to share my air vent design (see diagram below).
First step it to get a square piece of steel and drill a hole in the exact center.
Second step is to drill another hole in the exact center of the barrel bottom.
Third step is to align the holes of the square plate and the hole in the bottom.
Fourth step is to mark the outline of the square.
Fifth step is to make plunge cuts with a metal cut-off saw blade on all inside lines.
Sixth step is to cut out triangles by cutting the outside of the square between every other triangle shape. I used a grinder with 7.5" cut-off wheel.
You can get something similar that will fit circular saws.
Seventh step is to grind (or file) the sharp edges off the openings.
Eighth step is to attach the plate over the opening. with a nut, bolt and 2 large washers.
Assuming you cut out the top of the barrel, the ninth step is to grind air flow notches around the circumference of the top and place in the bottom of the barrel, elevated a little bit by some means. The bolts attaching the 5 metal casters aroung the outside perimeter of the barrel bottom accomplished this purpose for me.
Finally, rig a handle of some sort to the plate and the outside of the barrel so you can adjust air flow.
I did a test firing yesterday full open and all wood. It was rock steady at 400 deg. F. for nearly 2 hours. (PS: using the same plunge cut technique, I made a fuel door in the middle of the side. This also came in handy for attaching the casters).
