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A bit more progress, although it doesn't look like much. I cleaned up the parts I cut yesterday, tacked the charcoal chute together, and welded up the entire firebox, ash box and charcoal chute. Not my best job welding, but it's been a while. Good practice. I think I can start screwing with the shee...

A little progress today. I finished tacking the front-to-back tubes and getting everything squared up. I test fit the fire box, and cut out all of the parts for the charcoal chute. Should be a simple affair to assemble the charcoal chute to the firebox assembly tomorrow. Once that's done and everyth...

Did you extend it vertically? How much? No. I went back and forth, and finally superstition and rationalization won out over my desire to make it taller. I didn't want to risk it being quirky after putting all this time into it (yes, even though Frank said it would be OK). And I realized that that ...

I got an hour in the shop this afternoon, cut the eight front-to-back tubes and packed the five of them that are adjacent to the cook chamber with mineral wool. Started tacking up the assembly. Also welded and ground the face joints on the front and back. Slowly but surely. Tomorrow I'll finish up f...

The motor on my Walker-Turner that I've had for probably 30 years died. I'm trying to decide between replacing the motor or buying a new unit...but the nicer import drill presses get expensive in a hurry. For metalworking you want something that can slow down a lot for drilling big holes / hole saws...

Hey Tim, that's starting to look like a smoker! Lots of seams to weld up, a lot especially if you're doing two passes. You should be able to weld that in one pass, but I'm guessing I'll have trouble welding these long seams too.

I think the twist I had was just some slight misalignment as I was tacking up the tubes. But it's dealt with now. I'll do the front-to-back tubes next weekend, and maybe start fitting the sheetmetal inside. I want as much structure in place before I weld up all of the tubing joints to try to hold th...

I started on the tubing frame today, got the front and back tacked together. I got a weird twist in on on the assemblies, had to cut the tacks and tweak it. Both are flat now. I did stuff the tubes with insulation. I'm using Roxul. It takes a bit of effort to get the insulation into the tubes. Not a...

Puff wrote: What did you use to cut that beautiful circle

Hole saw in a drill press. Just have to go slowly and use cutting fluid to keep it cool.

I got a couple of hours in the shop today after my errands. First off, I cut the tack welds on the firebox and re-oriented the parts correctly. Glad I hadn't welded that solid at the time! I welded the rails for the charcoal grate to the inside of the ash box https://mcglynnonmaking.files.wordpress....

I don't have any experience with a RF, but I agree with what Rodcrafter said. I know my pit is hotter in the back, and I usually put a couple of loaf pans with water on that part of the grill. I do this both to block the radiant heat and to put some moisture into the air. But it's not critical to do...

Puff, I certainly wouldn't do it arbitrarily. That's why I asked Frank. Even then I feel uncomfortable deviating from the plans, I'm just a little anal that way I guess. If the plans say 32" it's going to be hard for me to cut a different length when it comes down to is. And yeah, it's probably enou...

I talk to Frank on the phone yesterday, he thought I should be OK stretching my CC by 6" vertically without having to change the firebox or smoke port. I may give up some high temperature ability, but I don't planning on high heat cooking on this anyway. I hope to finalize the firebox and ash box th...

Ok you guys got me lost on the insulating of the fire box area. I know about insulating the walls between the interior and exterior metal and putting insulation in the square tubing. I figured the wall between the firebox area and the cook chamber is insulated just like you do on the exterior walls...

I suspect that's true, although leaks from the CC would be annoying, and FB leaks might make it hard to regulate the temperature.

I'm thinking of sealing around the outside of the inner sheetmetal with high temp RTV before the insulation goes in. Just in case there are any little holes. Probably not necessary though. A brushed finish stainless outer skin might look pretty sick, put on with some washer head stainless self tappi...

Yeah, up-sizing the cook chamber, smoke port and firebox proportionately to each other seems like it would be safe. Unfortunately I've already started building some of those parts, I sent Frank a PM, but haven't heard back yet. I'll have to call him on the phone before the weekend...I'm hoping to st...

I'm curious about a couple of things, appreciate any input: 1. How are others planning to attach the outer skin? I've been thinking that I'd weld it, but it's a lot of linear seam (even with a couple of bends) to weld and dress neatly before painting. 2. Changes to the size of the cook chamber. I'd ...

I ordered the Roxul RHT 80 for mine, but I still have the same question. I'm planning on filling the tubes, and probably insulating the firebox as well if I have enough materials.

SmokinDTown wrote:Cal Smoke, nice looking ribs! Great looking ribs! Are you willing to divulge your molasses/mustard slather?

Easy-peasy: 1/4 cup yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon each of Worcestershire and Blackstrap Molasses. Makes just enough for two racks of beef ribs.

Thanks Puff. That table was my first attempt, and I was trying to re-create the an antique Greene & Greene table that I'd seen pictures of. Funny thing, I was in Chicago this summer with my son and we went to the Chicago Art Institute and they had the original table I was copying on display. My vers...

Damn, these were tasty. About 8.5 hours on the smoker, the last two and a half hours in foil. I served them with 12 Bones Corn Pudding and fresh green beans. Need to have brown rice and steamed veggies for penance I think... I really recommend that rub -- I made half of the quantity shown, and it wa...

I'm leaning toward welding it -- but definitely bending as much as possible.

Meanwhile, I'm cooking beef short ribs on the Traeger for dinner. The last time I did english cut chuck short ribs. Those are chuck short ribs cut into individual bones, then cut in half lengthwise. This time I picked up some Certified Angus Choice Beef Plate ribs -- these are from next to the Rib E...

Pete Mazz wrote:Sh*t happens!

Yeah, it's no biggie. It's a 10 minute fix, just ran out of time yesterday. Mostly just wanted to save others from making the same mistake.