Wanting to build a RF smoker

kcoleman0306 · Post by **kcoleman0306** » July 6th, 2016, 5:57 pm

Hello everyone New member here. Ok so I've been going thru a lot of posts on here and I wonder if Im overthinking everything, but I am worried that I wont get the FB right and Ill screw up my build. Is it as hard as I am reading to build an RF? I build UDS smokers by the droves and I love UDS's but I really really want a RF smoker. Any thoughts. Thanks to all.

Post by **Big T** » July 6th, 2016, 6:19 pm

There's nothing to it, you just enter your CC dimensions into the pit calculator and go from there. If you have any issues , we'll be glad to help you out.

bluecatfish · Post by **bluecatfish** » July 6th, 2016, 6:42 pm

Big T is right! All kinds of help on here, you just have to ask!

Post by **Rodcrafter** » July 6th, 2016, 8:26 pm

Welcome to the crew!!!!!

Go for it! If you have questions ask.

Making memories.

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » July 7th, 2016, 2:36 am

definitely the masters of answering any questions here!

Post by **Pete Mazz** » July 7th, 2016, 4:03 am

SAFETYHARBORREDNECK · Post by **SAFETYHARBORREDNECK** » July 7th, 2016, 7:18 am

1st off,WELCOME!
Just built my first one.
With NO experience OR tools.Ok,used a small wire feed welder,air powered 3" cutoff wheel and air powered sander/grinder.
Point is,with the help from these fine folks, I now have a smoker to be proud of.
Feel free to ask ANYTHING,big or small.
And good luck with your build!

forty_creek · Post by **forty_creek** » July 7th, 2016, 11:07 am

Welcome! It's not as hard as it sounds...is it work yes. But it's metal if ya screw up cut it off and fix it!
I would suggest plans. If I were starting from scratch I would build the MACK!
This group of guys have helped me build a cooker I only dreamed of.
Plus if you buy plans you get a direct line to the Ivory Towers of Smoker Builder plus the forum!!! When I checked a year and a half ago plans were $80. Custom plans were $120...in hindsight it prolly would have saved me a lot of headaches and some hair. Tried hard not to screw up...I'm the only one that knows the screw ups that weren't repaired.
Good Luck!

Drankin, Smokin and Dreamin

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

kcoleman0306 · Post by **kcoleman0306** » July 7th, 2016, 3:02 pm

Cool going this weekend to look at some old fuel tanks. I will keep you all up dated on how the build is going. Appreciate any and all help.

kcoleman0306 · Post by **kcoleman0306** » July 7th, 2016, 8:15 pm

Hey Guys Got a quck question about welders. How may volts/ amps should your welder be to weld the 1/4" plate for the BP? New to welding my cousin usually does my welding but I want to buy a welder and start doing my own welds.

Smurf · Post by **Smurf** » July 7th, 2016, 8:35 pm

I think if it's 1/4" you should have at the least a 200 amp machine. Gotta watch the duty cycle. 250 amp plus would be better. Get the best that you can afford, who knows what you might be welding in the future.

bluecatfish · Post by **bluecatfish** » July 7th, 2016, 9:43 pm

Depends on metal you are welding and what kind of welder, stick or mig. I use a Lincoln AC225S stick welder that I converted to DC that I don't have any problems with the duty cycle on thicker metal. For thinner metal and shorter welds I use a cheap HF 90 amp flux core wire welder that I also converted to weld DC. If you will just use one machine I think I would go with a stick welder. Jm2cw

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » July 8th, 2016, 9:35 am

It all depends on your unit, I have a unimig190 & I have to put the volts up to almost full & a fairly fast wire speed to handle 6mm or thicker & if I am using my ARC welder then the amps are not set as high & I would be using 3.2mm 7018 rods

dportz87 · Post by **dportz87** » July 9th, 2016, 4:10 am

For stick welding I use 3/32 7018 welding rods, at 75-85 amps. over head welding you want to go a little hotter like about 90-95 amps. 1/8 7018 welding rod 100=110, over head is about 115-120 amps. That's where I like the amps for me, when I use a mig welder I have to listen for the crisp sound of the arc, I don't remember the voltage setting but the amps for .035 70 wire is about 120 amps on a 220 volt machine. 110 volt machine you will have to use your best judgment and listen for the crisp sound. welding takes time and practice. When you get a bead you don't like grind it down and try again.

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