Rails installed. Bottom rails delt with a bulge in the center. Heat and a beating and both ends of those rails are now welded. 4 (2/side) rails have notches for bars to hang protein. 8 rails (4/side) for racks to use as a warming oven.
Roof components are tacked and will get welded later tonight. She is approx. 85 inches to the roof with an 8" chimney.
Tomorrow will be latches, gaskets, pull bar, and inside cleaning and a burn-in.
You are almost there. Get that beast burned in and seasoned and cook. These projects take a long time to complete when you are doing them in your spare time. Looks like you have done a great job! Be proud of it!
I'm single, so spare time is all my time. Rough night welding, maybe got 1/2 of the roof. Stinkin' 10lb spool on the LE messed up for the (insert high #) time. The middle of the spool was wound, let's just say, "not right." It eventually ran out and I really need to run a brush before I can run more beads. I got an unforeseen gap one side that will take a couple passes. I really just need it ready by April 13th, but would like it done much earlier.
Had I known the roof was gonna be this much trouble I probably would have just built this smoker 20' tall and got some boards and a tarp to cover it in the rain. Geeez. I still need to grind but I'll wait until after I run some smoke next weekend, you know, check for leaks on all these pretty welds.
Got all I could get with the hand grinder brushes on the inside. Hand brushes, dremmel, and denatured alcohol the rest of the way. I'll get that done one night this week.
I have a larger grommet on the way. Gonna seal that baby with RTV.
I can fabricate everything that needs fabricating during the week. Next weekend I'll probably wear out both grinders and myself grinding welded seams.
What the meat near the center will see when it looks up. I have a lock nut to weld near the chimney for my probe wires. That way they can be centered and not hugging the back wall.
Last update until Friday. After the roof and HOURS welding using a ladder, I have a stress free week of creature comforts for the smoker. Translated- welding without a stinkin' ladder!!
Lock nut for probes, inside total clean up, door gaskets, door latches, finish up deflector plate and add 2" to it's height, pull bar, lock pin for burner, and backside plate for 4 probe therm base. I can easily prep everyday before work and weld later that night. Grommet should be in Thursday.
Once I get her burned in the following items will help in the celebration. I got 2 packs of letters.
Sweet, man, I'm glad you're getting close! This has been an epic project and I'm really glad you kept updating, you've been much better about that than I have!
I'll go work on mine some... been a busy couple of weeks for me.
Ridiculously unexpected day off of work, and I'm on vacation next week. Few things coming along.
Grommet. Stuff cures quicker with elevated humidity- check, and at least 77 degree temps- uncheck. High of 51 today and nothing over 70 until Monday, so I heated the metal and applied when it was in the upper 70's.
Pull Bar. 5/8" steel rod. I still need to add a couple pieces of angle iron to lock it down.
Wood chunk holders. The little pot will have plenty wood chips. Direct flames will hit the chunks.
Gaskets with RTV have all been applied. All that's left is what's going on the smoker door (no RTV). I'll apply those Sunday and set my latches. Seasoning burn-in will be Monday so the RTV can get fully set, for the most part.
May not need a burner lock. When fully inserted you have to push down at the hose connection to release it. Inadvertent Lock is what it is.
Bottom of the smoker door (my right) had a sizeable gap so I put 1/4" gasket to seal that up. Little more cleaning up and she is all set.
Thermoworks said 120-F is the max temp for the cases of these units. I'll monitor and if the slitted plate still wants to be too warm I'll use a silicone mat and put a shelf to stop the units from sliding off.
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