I'm halfway on the leg attachment, finally laid my bottom shelf on the cart, and this clamp saved me. Didn't think it was necessary for the leg installation, but it twas.
Yesterday was a loss welding day due to work. Hopefully I'll be free next Sat.
FINALLY found a helmet that offers ease of clear grinding lens without costing 3 arms and 6 legs.
Accu-Strike. The welding shield flips up out the way via chin activation. Nifty design fo sho.
Full run tomorrow or Sunday. The fit is quickly and easily adjustable. Happy Day!!!
I knew this thing would take some time. Too scared to guess how much it needed and too ticked to guess how long it took. Still a little touching up to do with a stop and a touch more grinding. I'll maybe have a pin hole or two on the outside to prevent it from backing out once it gets going.
For those who might not have a technological understanding of the manufacturing process. This thread, as well a being fun to follow, shows why quality made to order cookers cost what they do. The amount of labor is amazing. And cost of materials now a days is very high.
Sure, LSG, Lang, Shirley and other fab shops have templates, fitting jigs, and equipment the handle heavy fabrication that Jerod does not have. But still it requires skilled people to layout, cut, bend, assemble, weld, clean, paint, package, and probably a few other steps I did not think of.
As opposed to stamping/ rolling, bending out lighter gauge materials and then spot welding them together in entry level cookers on an assembly line type production shop.
I spent 40 years working with sheet metal mostly with a little plate work also. So I appreciate the dirty hands, sweat and sore muscles required. Hats off to Jerold and others who undertake projects like this. Be it for love or profit.
This where she will sit until she is almost completed. Caster plates are next, I need to touch up the bottoms for flush fits. Wood chunk pan (heat treated from Lodge) is ready for some action. Deflector plate ontop that next, then the corner uprights.
I assume you are giving it adequate ventilation so it does not accidentally turn into a pipe bomb if it blows out, but not so much as to have it exposed to the wind and blow out often? Also, have you thought about grease management to prevent flairups?
The deflector will be above the wood chunk pan 6-7" and I'll have 4 air vents. All the grease will be diverted left and right into some 16" pans with H2O. If I hang brisket and fill it up I may have two briskets slightly off the deflector and they'll just drip onto some flat pans. The stop for the burn pot is just angle iron with air flow under it. I shouldn't have any direct wind hitting the flame, but still have plenty air with the vents and the air the burner pulls in at the hose connection.
Great day for fabrication. Temp in the 50's with a Blue Clear Sky after darn near 5 days of rain and 30's and 40's.
Love these little levels.
Finally burnt some wire with the new to me Lincoln 140. Holy jeepers this dude eats. Oak Smoke turns out that pipe was perfectly round on the other end. 3/16" on 3/16".
Woohoo!! The first upright is welded. And she is TALL. Good thing I'm double wallen and insulating.
Jerod Broussard That is looking good. If this is your first real fab job you are going to be outstanding. I can see it now, Broussard custom pits. Taking raw material and creating something with it is very satisfying.
Finally got the Chop Saw on the welding cart. I also have the 140 set for 1/8" steel. Had the wire speed a tad low to start. Easily corrected. Need more metal to install the drawer.
We have been stalled by weather and time. Still working on our gantry, over a month later now. Hope to be done with it this week, it is getting damned closed. Then we can work on our trailer.
THEN we can work on our smoker!
It's a long process, I am looking back and it looks like I got the tank to get started on this project over 3 MONTHS ago. <sigh>
Well, here's hoping we can get it in service before BBQ season.
Still a little touching up to do with a stop and a touch more grinding. I'll maybe have a pin hole or two on the outside to prevent it from backing out once it gets going. 
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