250 Trailer Smoker

[Jethro]

The gasket rope can be purchased at ACE Hardware, It works perfectly!!! The Hi Temp silicone will sit next to it on the shelf. also, try toggle clamps at the bottom of your door to hold the door closed!!!

[TuscaloosaQ]

Try positive pressure toggle clamps as a permenate fixture at the bottom of doors. They will shut the doos tight

[Rodcrafter]

I use a jack and chain to bend the doors back into position (in any direction). But they do have to be off the CC while doing the fitting. I put small temporary pieces of round stock on the inside of the tank to set the door back into the hole to test for fit using as you did a piece of scrap to hold onto it with. But since you already have the flange in place it would allow you to set it back on the CC to check it out (without the roundstock). I like to fit the doors before the flange goes on, so I don't just bend the flange then have to straighten them out afterwords. That is the best part about working with steel, you can shape it and don't have to settle for the way it is.

My $0.02

[Tom_Heath]

Yup, what they said.

I clean the CC side really well. Lay down a bead of silicone right to the clean steel. I press the rope gasket into that. I have started using 5/8 in gasket.

Yes I go all the way around. It will squeeze down pretty darn tight. Just make sure you let it set up good before you latch the door tight.

The silicone acts as glue to hold the rope to the tank.

Got one sitting here thats going on 8 years and still holding strong.

Wont work on the fire box though.

[jwsimpleville]

Ok, so I have completed the cooker doors and all four hinges.


I still have he issue with the gap in the doors, and just finished making my template for the 2 gussets I wil place on both doors.


As you may be able to see, I ran a little slow in that last hinge and blew threw the round tube. Doesnt look as though it will hurt anything in the long run.


Those doors weigh a ton, I think my next addition is going to be the gussets first then the counter-weights.
Planning a trip to the local scrap yard to get the pipe I will need for the chimney, and the counter weights.
I will update again when I return.

[The Czar]

I bet them things are heavy.....but it's looking good !!!

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[DUAYNE B]

Coming together nicely,,,,

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Looking good.

[Smokeone]

Doors look good. It's getting there.

[jwsimpleville]

Okay so I wanted to reduce if not eliminate the outward bow on the door, and I figured if I can design a gusset just right then I could implement the handle into the same piece. What do ya'll think?

[Smokeone]

I like it. Definitely a different look.

[jwsimpleville]

I'm thinking about using a 1" wooden rod as the handle, just wondering if the wood will get to hot and eventually become brittle from the repeated heating and cooling.
The handles that are on it are just temporary.

[Smokeone]

That's an absolute maybe. Ok, I think it will heat up and cool down, but I would think weather would cause an equal amount of damage. I say go for it.

[Miketheforester]

I just used a gusset design similar to yours, and my doors went from too little curve to too much curve when I welded the gussets on, and my door twisted some due to the heat of welding on the gussets. My tank was only an 1/8" thick, so you may be just fine, just thought I would share my experience. As far as the candles go, they should be able to go though an infinite number of heating and cooling cycles with no issue. Your biggest enemy will be moisture which will cause the wood to expand and contract, ultimately causing it to splinter and crack. Much of this can be avoided by sealing the wood handle properly, I would use some sort of oil base penetrating finish because varnishes and polyurethane will make the handle get hot to the touch.

[jwsimpleville]

Has anyone had any experience with the Plasti Dip Synthetic Rubber Coatings?
Its a rubber coating for various tools and other applications.
Just thought if I coated the wood handle in that, it would get a nice grip and shouldnt get to hott. But maybe someone has done it before and can tell me from experience.

http://www.tapplastics.com/product/repa ... ti_dip/497

[AR_Senior]

It is a nice looking smoker, If you want to use wood handles use tongue oil to seal the wood it will not get to hot and the weather will be your worst enemy.

[Jethro]

I've been using closet poles for handles, done it for years. Hold em 3" off the door and they don't get hot. Paint em with an oil based paint and you will have no problems with weather.

[jwsimpleville]

The gusset design at the top is 1" and at the bottom is 3" so it wont be a full 3 off the door but close enough, I think.

[jwsimpleville]

Got some more work done on the smoker today. I finished putting the gussets on and cut up all the metal for the firebox. Didnt get any new pics yet, battery on the phone died and then dark caught up with me before it charged back up. I will add some new pics tomorrow.

[The Czar]

.....

[jwsimpleville]

Well, as promised here's a few more pics of the progress made to date.



Today I started laying out the trailer, and got a call that someone is wanting to trade my current axle for a shorter axle with tires and wheels already mounted on it.

[The Czar]

Man you are crackalacking!!!

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[TuscaloosaQ]

Cooker looks great really concerned about the trailer frame..that is not it in the pic is it?????? If so aint gone be heavy enough INMHO!!!

[jwsimpleville]

The layout in the pic is the trailer frame to be used, why do you say it won't be strong enough?

[smokinwelder]

I used 2x2 square tubing and had to double it up for my trailer. And thats pushing it.