Second Build Underway! Patio Model

[Mankussm]

Ditto on the dropped front. Makes a huge difference in ease of loading splits. I have had really good luck with the expanded metal firebox and built my bottom into a ‘'V' shape to keep the logs together for a better burn.

I was considering the "V" shape. I think that is a great idea. My other smoker is going to have that the next go around.

[Dirtytires]

My first version was a flat floor but I soon discovered some problems and rebuilt it.

[Mankussm]

That's a well built fire basket and should last for a very long time! If I could make a suggestion, you might consider lowering the side that faces the fire box door. It makes it easier to add a split of wood without having to pull the basket out, that's if you don't have a lot of overhead room.

Thoughts?

[dacolson]

[towtruck]

That should do it.

[Mankussm]

Tacked in place. Thoughts on this slider?

[towtruck]

Should work although I have never seen it done that way. I would round the edges of the damper a bit where they contact your angled slide just to make them slide easier.

[Mankussm]

Should work although I have never seen it done that way. I would round the edges of the damper a bit where they contact your angled slide just to make them slide easier.

I don’t have any small angle.....

Trying to make something work but don’t want to cut corners. It’s slides easy with the edges rounded.

[dacolson]

It’s just got to work, right? Looks clean too.
Got any small square tubing? You could bandsaw it into small angle if this isn’t your fav ... just a thought.

[Mankussm]

No hang up. Rounded edges on the rails.

Should work [emoji106]

I’ll do the other side tomorrow.

[Big T]

It looks good to me!

[towtruck]

Looks good!

[Dirtytires]

I like a small stop on my slides so I can slam them closed and not have them slide straight thru. Nothing worse than trying to pick up a hot slide and fit it back on....lol. Looks great tho, like the idea.

[dacolson]

Fire time yet?

[Mankussm]

Fire time yet?

I have to put the other slider on, racks, latches, handles, and smoke stack baffle.

[Mankussm]

I have the following latch on my current smoker (both CC and FB)



What are the advantages of the following latch versus the one above?

[Big T]

One pushes(top) and the other pulls. I used the top style on a cooker several years ago and they seemed to bind up when they were hot. I started making my own latches with round bar and I like them a lot better. I've seen the bottom latches used on several GF doors.

[dacolson]

I’ve seen the top one used on cook chambers a bunch. I bet they’d hold up better w lower heat vs the FB.

[Dirtytires]

Home made latches are the way to go. Lot of work now but you will be fighting those flimsy things every time you use them and finally end up cutting them off and building one anyway. Easier to do it now.

[Mankussm]

[hogaboomer]

Those firebox latches have been a nemesis of mine. I think I got it sussed out, though. I used a coupling nut and ran it through the door, it works pretty nice. I was trying to tack nuts on the inside and the outside and get it to not be all wiggly, the coupling nut did the trick.

[Mankussm]

I used stainless steel hardware. They seemed to hold up fairly nice on my other smoker's FB.

[dacolson]

Looks like a bank vault. I love it. I like the label too - Front Door. Just incase you can't figure out where the wood goes. Good on you.

[Mankussm]

Looks like a bank vault. I love it. I like the label too - Front Door. Just incase you can't figure out where the wood goes. Good on you.

HAHA. That is my labeling left over from when I made all my cuts..... It will be hidden under the paint!

[Mankussm]