Any hobby welders out there ?

[Lynn Dollar]

I've got a problem with my Assasin 17 gravity feed. The very bottom cooking grate gets too hot .

I wish when I purchased the smoker, I would've had Assassin add a couple more sets of rack runners to give me more options. So now, I'm wanting to add rack runners. I'm thinking for what a welder would charge for this job, I could buy a cheap welding machine from Harbor Freight. Could learn something about welding and get this mod done ? But I'm not sure that's a path I want to go.

Or if there's other ways of tackling this problem without welding in rack runners. I'm open to any suggestions.

Here's how the smoker is structured. The yellow line at the bottom is where the heat/smoke enters the cook chamber.

It rises to hit a " grease collector " , that I've got highlighted in red. Its a plate with a hole in the middle that allows grease to drip out the bottom. It gets very very hot.

And I have a foil wrapped water pan sitting on the bottom cooking grate, the one that's unusable now.

And I've got the positions I'd like new rack runners marked in blue. There's 6" between each cooking grate. I'm thinking raising that lower grate 3" might get it away from the radiant heat of the grease collector. I'm cooking on the middle grate now with no problems.

This smoker weighs about 400#. It would be quite a job moving it out of my backyard to a welders shop.

[Jerod Broussard]

I would check for welders on Facebook.

How thick are the walls you welding the runners to? If they are very thin (16 gauge or so) that ain't fun to weld.

[Jerod Broussard]

jfmorris Lynn Dollar The real crap is welding thick to thin. You have to set the machine for the thick but get the puddle onto the thin. And yes, super easy to blow through.

[Lynn Dollar]

Steel thickness is on the Assassin web site ........ 14 ga steel inside, 16 ga steel exterior.

DYI is not for me.

[Jerod Broussard]

Lynn Dollar that is why my walls and rails are 11 gauge aka 1/8"

[HawkerXP]

Get some angle stock and pop rivet it to the walls.

[Uncle Bob]

Perhaps a better choice along a similar line would be Riv-nuts (aka Rivet nuts) and bolt the runners in, it would be sturdier.

[yakima]

Or a new rack with legs the right length, just slip it in. Think upside down U.

[johnec00]

Sheet metal screws.

If you choose to try pop rivets, make sure you get the steel ones, aluminum might not withstand the heat.

[Oak Smoke]

Learning to weld is more than a weekend project. Is that cabinet galvanized on the inside? If so the welding fumes are very toxic. It will also be thin metal more than likely which also calls for good welding skills because of the likely hood of burning through. I’d go with pop rivets or some self tapping screws. Does your local high school have a vocational ag department ? I’ll bet those seniors who’ve learned to weld would fix you up for free or at most a small donation. Good luck!

[Lynn Dollar]

That is an excellent idea ! There's a vo-tech school close. That would be a great place to check.

I've already used the local Next Door app and got nothing, which is not surprising as that app is really worthless but for finding lost pets.

I also need to talk to Jeff at Assassin. This smoker is heavy, why moving it is a problem. I'm guessing walls are thick, especially on the side with the firebox. Some GF's, are hotter on that side.

[Lynn Dollar]

Pic of outside, I had them put the charcoal hopper and firebox on the right side. I'm guessing that's gotta have some 1/2" steel on that side. I get no difference in heat side to side.

And bottom of the biscuit test from the bottom cooking grate.

[WI Bubba]

I can, at best, make two pieces of metal stick together and I would not attempt this on my own. I'd also be wary of the person who says he can do it for $50. There are a lot of people who will come to you and weld this up in a jiffy but you will have to pay for their experience as much as you are paying them for their time.