Klose Backyard Pit Rehab

Deputy J · 06-14-2019, 01:52 PM

Hi Brethren!

I'm a longtime lurker and first time poster here and have a question about a rehab I'm doing on a 17 year old Klose 20x 36 offset smoker I inherited from my uncle. It wasn't babied and so it needs some love. It had plenty of rust all over and some serious pitting on the firebox lid. I saved everything down as well as I could with wire brush bits and a drill, then painted the outside with 1k degree Rust-Oleum. I've got to put new wheels on it and have a crack in the baffle welded shut.

Here's my question: the bottom of the smoker box is flaking out really badly (picture attached) and I want to do whatever I can to keep it from rusting out entirely. I'm planning to have a new 1/4 inch plate welded to the bottom, to give it extra thickness and hopefully extend the life of this baby. It's this a bad idea? Like, would I be seeing myself up for more trouble with trapped gas or oxidation or something?

Thanks for reading and I'll post pictures when it's all done.

Springram · 06-14-2019, 02:56 PM

I think David Klose would be a great guy to ask. I think he knows a little bit about that stuff.

Big George's BBQ · 06-14-2019, 03:07 PM

^^^^^ agree give him a call

Zak · 06-14-2019, 03:07 PM

I'd recommend against welding a plate over the existing plate because it will trap moisture and cause both pieces to fail. I'd just keep using it till the existing floor starts to show holes then cut out the entire floor and replace with new. You can probably buy some time by putting firebrick down.

BuffettFan · 06-14-2019, 03:11 PM

How thin is the metal in the bottom of the fire box?
If it's just surface rust, I wouldn't be too concerned yet.
If it is noticeably getting thin, then I would think about a repair.
If you add the 1/4" plate to the existing, you are definitely creating a space for moisture and then more rust. As long as you are willing to do some fab work, and it sounds like you are, I would cut out the existing bottom plate and weld in the new material.
Looking forward to some pictures.

EDIT: Looks like Zac beat me to the post!

Deputy J · 06-14-2019, 04:24 PM

Thanks for your comments everyone!

I went ahead and called Klose and talked with Carol. According to her, I don't really have too much to worry about with putting a new plate on top and it should probably help prevent too much more rust out. She seems to think that the space between the two plates will be so small that it shouldn't provide much area for moisture to get into and rust out, assuming that I have a full weld done.

That answer seems a little easy. Assuming that it's clean and dry going in, and that it's sealed up with full welds, is there something else that could cause the rust/oxidation that would eat up my pit? I'm thinking of what Zak and BuffettFan said.

Thanks!

Rockinar · 06-14-2019, 05:45 PM

You could just get someone or Klose to fab and ash pan for the bottom. I dont think you need to weld anything to it.

4ever3 · 06-14-2019, 07:25 PM

I see no big deal with welding a new bottom in...

If it were mine I’d prolly drill a half inch hole in the existing bottom before I welded a new one in, but that’s just me...

Deputy J · 07-16-2019, 03:02 PM

Hey everyone, sorry for taking so long to follow up here but I figured I'd give y'all an update on this beast.

I replaced the firebox axle and 4" plastic wheels with 10" no-flat rubber wheels and cut off the casters under the cooking chamber, added angle iron to hold an axle, and put 8" no-flat wheels on. Then I had a buddy weld a crack in the baffle shut and put a 1/4 inch plate on the floor of the firebox (no offense to anyone who disagreed - the metal was looking really bad and I figured that if it fails I'll have to cut the bottom off and replace it later anyway, and putting the plate in was easier for now).

I've done chicken, ribs, pork butt, and brisket in it so far and love it. I'm having some temperature control issues but think that's really just me learning how it cooks as opposed to anything "wrong" with the smoker.

Here are a few pictures.

Stingerhook · 07-16-2019, 05:45 PM

Looks great Josh.

BBQ Freak · 07-16-2019, 06:20 PM

looking great and nice restore , I think you did the right thing .

Swine Spectator · 07-16-2019, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockinar

You could just get someone or Klose to fab and ash pan for the bottom. I dont think you need to weld anything to it.

Klose sells ashpans in steel and stainless.

lastmajordude · 07-17-2019, 07:46 AM

Looks Awesome!!!!!!! congrats!!!!!!!!

OferL · 07-17-2019, 08:38 AM

Very nice!

gtr · 07-17-2019, 09:43 AM

Great to see a Klose going to a home where it's getting the love and attention it deserves!

06-14-2019, 02:56 PM	#2
Springram is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-14-12 Location: Spring, Texas	I think David Klose would be a great guy to ask. I think he knows a little bit about that stuff. __________________ Certified Carcinogenic Meat Eater (CCME) LSG 24"X24"X36" vertical offset smoker LG and MiniMax BGE Weber 22.5 Master Touch Hunsaker drum Weber Smokey Joe Blackstone griddle PK Grill (original)

06-14-2019, 03:07 PM	#3
Big George's BBQ somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-07-08 Location: Framingham, MA Name/Nickname : George	^^^^^ agree give him a call __________________ Large BIG Green EGG- Hatched 8/17/09 Backwoods Extented Party- sold Weber Genesis Gasser Mid Atlantic BBQ Association KCBS Back Porch BBQ Competition BBQ Team Proud Member of the Zero Club When all else fails ask yourself WWGALD

06-14-2019, 03:11 PM	#5
BuffettFan is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-10-18 Location: East Peoria Illinois Name/Nickname : Terry	How thin is the metal in the bottom of the fire box? If it's just surface rust, I wouldn't be too concerned yet. If it is noticeably getting thin, then I would think about a repair. If you add the 1/4" plate to the existing, you are definitely creating a space for moisture and then more rust. As long as you are willing to do some fab work, and it sounds like you are, I would cut out the existing bottom plate and weld in the new material. Looking forward to some pictures. EDIT: Looks like Zac beat me to the post! __________________ We are the people our parents warned us about.

06-14-2019, 04:24 PM	#6
Deputy J Found some matches. Join Date: 05-25-19 Location: Austin Name/Nickname : Deputy	Thanks for your comments everyone! I went ahead and called Klose and talked with Carol. According to her, I don't really have too much to worry about with putting a new plate on top and it should probably help prevent too much more rust out. She seems to think that the space between the two plates will be so small that it shouldn't provide much area for moisture to get into and rust out, assuming that I have a full weld done. That answer seems a little easy. Assuming that it's clean and dry going in, and that it's sealed up with full welds, is there something else that could cause the rust/oxidation that would eat up my pit? I'm thinking of what Zak and BuffettFan said. Thanks! Last edited by Deputy J; 06-14-2019 at 04:40 PM..

06-14-2019, 07:25 PM	#8
4ever3 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-29-12 Location: Tulsa	I see no big deal with welding a new bottom in... If it were mine I’d prolly drill a half inch hole in the existing bottom before I welded a new one in, but that’s just me... __________________ Jeremy Old Oklahoma Joe (Opal) GMG TREK (Greta Thunberg) Weber Summit Charcoal (Waylon) MAK 2 Star (Maybel) 2x “Unfortunately nothing wrong with that” Bob C Que… I must be living right (somehow…)

06-14-2019, 03:07 PM	#4
Zak Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-23-10 Location: Monson, MA	I'd recommend against welding a plate over the existing plate because it will trap moisture and cause both pieces to fail. I'd just keep using it till the existing floor starts to show holes then cut out the entire floor and replace with new. You can probably buy some time by putting firebrick down.

06-14-2019, 05:45 PM	#7
Rockinar is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-19-13 Location: Houston, TX	You could just get someone or Klose to fab and ash pan for the bottom. I dont think you need to weld anything to it.

07-16-2019, 05:45 PM	#10
Stingerhook somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-13-12 Location: SE Florida Name/Nickname : Marty	Looks great Josh. __________________ Marty UDS now gone, WSM 18", WSM 22" and pellet pooper in the garage for 18 months now.

07-16-2019, 06:20 PM	#11
BBQ Freak Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-11-13 Location: Rayville , Missouri Name/Nickname : BBQ Mojo	looking great and nice restore , I think you did the right thing . __________________ [Font="Impact"]Weber Kettle[/Font] [Font="impact"]Luke's Firepits / Grill[/Font] [Font="impact"]Lone Star Grillz Mini Insulated Cabinet Smoker[/Font]

07-17-2019, 07:46 AM	#13
lastmajordude is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 03-11-12 Location: The "Poah" side of Madison Co. Mississippi Name/Nickname : Dude	Looks Awesome!!!!!!! congrats!!!!!!!! __________________ Jambo stick burner (dedicated to my dad...Big John) / Weber kettle / Blue Rhino 36” griddle / Battle Grey Hunsaker drum. "When food is cooked in a kitchen people think how good it smells, when cooked outside it is intoxicating to their soul"..... The Dude

07-17-2019, 08:38 AM	#14
OferL is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-30-16 Location: Israel	Very nice!

07-17-2019, 09:43 AM	#15
gtr somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-16-10 Location: Culver City, CA	Great to see a Klose going to a home where it's getting the love and attention it deserves! __________________ 50" Klose BYC, Spitjack XB85, 22.5 WSM, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, WRK, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Kanka Grill, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. "Relax, it's only BBQ." - Bigmista, 2013 "Don't worry about playing a lot of notes. Just find one pretty one." - Miles Davis Avatar by my son! WTFWGALD?