Offset Smoker Build.

[Sean "Puffy" Coals]

Looks great! I love me a good build thread! Subbed!

[sthamm]

These smoker build threads are the best. On the edge of my seat...

[Rockinar]

Let us know how the door cutout process goes. Seem like that's where the warping and problems come in to play from what I have read.

[lewisc]

Originally Posted by Rockinar

Let us know how the door cutout process goes. Seem like that's where the warping and problems come in to play from what I have read.

Yeah, thats the part I'll be most nervous about. I'll set up some guides and make sure they're clamped really well. It's thick steel so hopefully it shouldn't be an issue.

[SmittyJonz]

Originally Posted by lewisc

Yeah, thats the part I'll be most nervous about. I'll set up some guides and make sure they're clamped really well. It's thick steel so hopefully it shouldn't be an issue.

If you leave end cap off, mark your doors and cut slots at corners, you can go in from ends and weld in bracing, then finish your cuts. I’ve never cut doors in pipe or a tank, but seen people say cut it in small sections/runs to minimize Heat/Warpage........? Or cut all but a few inches in the corners, add strapping, then finish cutting......

[lewisc]

And the firebox door is cut. I used a CNC router to create my templates for the plasma cutter. Sometimes my cutting looks perfect, other times it looks pretty messy. Nothing a bit of welding and some grinding can't fix. I made up some simple hinges using a metal lathe (could've bought some tube steel but this didn't take too long and used what was on hand). Aaron franklin has a pretty good video on hinges for his smoker build. Next up will be to finish the intake vent, weld the hinges on fully and add some steel to the inside of the firebox to block up the door gaps.

Once that's done, it's onto welding the firebox to cook chamber and installing it on the frame.

[Clay-b-que]

Looks good. Just a recommendation that I recently did....close the door and weld the bottom back to the door and cut out the door all the way to the bottom. It will make sweeping and scoping out all the ashes WAY easier! The lip at the bottom is a pita to get ash over. Keep up the great work!

[lewisc]

Originally Posted by Clay-b-que

Looks good. Just a recommendation that I recently did....close the door and weld the bottom back to the door and cut out the door all the way to the bottom. It will make sweeping and scoping out all the ashes WAY easier! The lip at the bottom is a pita to get ash over. Keep up the great work!

You're not wrong. I made the mistake of welding the door plate on too soon. I was rushing to get it done. If I had of thought about it, I would have welded the plate on and left the bottom section un-welded and cut the door that way.

If it turns out to be an PITA, it's just a weld and grind away.



A bit of a picture update for the door. Could be good, could be bad. Hopefully on the good side. I've come up with my version of the door and dampener. It was based on a bunch of threads a while ago on the Yoder Witchita smoker door. I made a few changes along the way, added in some flatbar on the edges to stop it falling in and minimise leaks and whatnot. The fire grate will sit around where the black arrows are on the last picture. It should get some good airflow at that point.

My planning went astray and the damper doesn't fully close with about a 25mm (1") gap on the left side. If it works, all good - if not, it's a bit of effort to redesign the door and dampener. The dampener will be held in place with a spring handle under a slight bit of tension. If anyone has a neat and tidy way of doing that, I'd love to see it.

After this, I'll sort out a door latch, hit it with the flap disk and weld it to the fire box.

https://youtu.be/8upVnmHfKM4

[lewisc]

It's alive!! Sort of. Got the firebox welded on and the whole thing attached to the frame. It actually moves around fairly easily because firebox helps to balance it.


I'm about to cut the smokestack parts. I've done a quick sketch based on Aaron Franklin's builds. Before I go and cut the parts for the smokestack, does this seem like it will be ok?

[SmokinAussie]

You seem to know what you're doing. I wouldn't be asking us idiots for advice!

[WeberWho]

I wish I had half of your fabrication talents. Thanks for posting. I've really enjoyed watching the process.

[angryelfFan]

How tall is the stack going to be?

[lewisc]

Originally Posted by SmokinAussie

You seem to know what you're doing. I wouldn't be asking us idiots for advice!

Fake it till you make it!

[Swine Spectator]

You are doing great. I can't wait to see the final product.

David

[lewisc]

Originally Posted by angryelfFan

How tall is the stack going to be?

I’ve got about 1metre (40”) of 100mm(4”) pipe. It’s in two pieces so I’ll need to weld it together. Feldon’s calculator tells me I need 25”. I was going to have it longer than that and trim it down if needed.