Questions about a 120 gallon RF smoker

[bluecatfish]

MP4 I have a 12" shadow plate above my BP and it helps a lot to balance out the tkempatures in the CC. Its 1" above the BP.

[BBQJeff]

Thanks, Squiggle. What the hell is a mm??????

Just kidding......

[BBQJeff]

Of these choices, which is the best way to cut 3/8" steel. My CC is 3/8", and so is my FB, which I just picked up the plate steel today.

1. oxy/acetylene torch
2. 4 1/2" and/or 7" angle grinder

In my workshop, I also have a DoAll V-36 36" metal bandsaw, but I will have to break down the 3/8" plate into smaller pieces before trying that. My two 48" X 48" pieces feel like they weigh about 250 lbs. each.......

Gonna be fun lifting the BP and wresting it into the CC.

[Big T]

I used a torch on my 3/8'' stuff until I got access to a plasma cutter. I know you can use the grinder with a cut off wheel but I'm not sure how long it would last or how long it would take. I did have a decent amount of grinding to clean up the torch cuts. Be careful when you cut the CC door, if you get it too hot it will definitely warp.

[KarateDoc]

If they are straight cuts I use my Milwaukee metal cutting saw. It was an expensive purchase but it cuts excellent and you can hold the pieces afterwards with minimal heat.

[mp4]

MP4 I have a 12" shadow plate above my BP and it helps a lot to balance out the tkempatures in the CC. Its 1" above the BP.

Awesome to know - thanks!

[BBQJeff]

Guys,

I want to make a good, sturdy cart/base for this to roll around the patio on. It's gonna weigh around 1000 lbs., between the 48" CC, the 3/8" firebox and baffle, etc..... 4 sturdy heavy duty casters underneath it.

For the base and bottom shelf, I'm thinking square tube and expanded metal. What size thickness 2" or 1 1/2" square tubing should I be getting for it to be strong enough?

Thanks for the help. First build, and I want to get it right.

[mp4]

If your going with square tube I think 3/16" would be plenty adaquate. If you're at all nervouse about it go 1/4" and sleep good at night.

[Squiggle]

Either should be fine, I would use 3mm(1/8") thick tube for that weight, but 6mm(1/4") will better for piece of mind.

[BBQJeff]

Thanks a bunch. I was leaning towards 3/16" or 1/4", not feeling too good about 1/8".

I appreciate the help. I just upgraded my welding rig to a pristine Millermatic 200 from a hobbiest who was the original owner and put less than 10 hours of time on it. It's in like new condition for a 1988 model, and will easily handle the thicker metal for this build, and then some, for future projects.

Hopefully, with some spare time to find, pictures of progress coming soon.

[Rodcrafter]

That welder is what I have been using for 20+ years


Making memories!

[BBQJeff]

I was wondering if I could get a little help.

I've got my dimensions figured, and I've got them plugged into the calculator.

Here they are for reference:

Jeffs bbq pit.pdf

(236.79 KiB) Downloaded 40 times

I am not understanding how to correctly calculate the firebox opening to the cooking chamber. I want to use a half moon, and it says, according to the calculator, I need 73.92 square inches.

According to the "Feldon's" calculator, it says to use a half moon with a "diameter of 13.39 inches".

Doing the math, for a half circle, that comes up with a radius of 6.7". This would mean I would need to add 1" for a drip lip, making the top of the firebox 7.7" up from the bottom of the CC, inside dimension, for mounting.

Is this correct?

If so, with a baffle plate 1" above that, at 8.7" from the bottom off the CC, is 4.3" from the bottom rack to the top of the baffle plate a good distance?

I'm trying hard to get all my measurements together before I cut anything, as I've got all the metal I need now.

Thanks for your help.

[Big T]

Have you used the Smoker builder calculators that Pete designed, I've heard they were pretty user friendly. Here's a link app.php/page/other-calcs .Some of the other guys will come along that can help you out a little more with this, I use a rectangle or trapezoid so I'm not very familiar with figuring the half moon. You won't need a grease dam at the throat because you'll have one at the end of the BP. The range on the bottom rack to BP is 2''-6'' so 4.3'' will be right in the sweet spot.

[BBQJeff]

I like the idea of a trapezoid! Didn't even consider that, so thanks for the idea. It will be a lot easier to cut on the DoAll bandsaw, too. I'm building this out of 3/8" plate.

[Big T]

[Rodcrafter]

I like 3/8" plate except the part of picking it up. lol

[Squiggle]

[BBQJeff]

Have you used the Smoker builder calculators that Pete designed, I've heard they were pretty user friendly. Here's a link app.php/page/other-calcs .

Yes, I did, and I compared it to the 'other' calculator, and both numbers came out very similar.

I like 3/8" plate except the part of picking it up. lol

Uh, huh! I got a deal on the plate off Clist. Two 4'X4' pieces, 3/8" thick, for less than half what the local steel retailer wanted.

The song "I ain't as good as I once was...." was never truer than after I picked that heavy puppy up.

I'll be using that 3/8" plate to make the FB, BP, and the shadow plate that you guys have me convinced is the way to go.

I think this smoker is going to weight about 1200 lbs. when I'm done with it. I picked up some 1/4" thick 2"X2" square tube for the cart/base. This will be a patio smoker, so it's going to be on 4 wheels, not a trailer style mount. I hope that is not a bad idea. I figure 2 swivel wheels, and 2 rigid. I found 5" urethane coated wheels that are rated at 800 lbs. each, so I should be good to go.

I do have a forklift (New Holland skidloader with forks) to pick and up and move it from the shop to the patio, which is about 500 feet, most of it gravel. Once I get it finished and down to the asphalt drive, I am hoping it'll move around well enough to get situated on the patio, which is concrete.

Lots of work to get to that point, though.

[Rodcrafter]

You got that right. My little backyard smoker looks like a store bought thin smoker but the whole thing is 3/8". It weighs 800+. I had to move to my patio on plywood so it would roll and not sink in the grass.


Making memories!