80 Gallon Compressor Build

[Dirtytires]

I never use my drain....and my pit is a bit bigger and has been loaded. Just don’t see a need at this size range for one.

[akjeff]

That's a neat design for the BP gap. You could make a larger piece, bolt it on and see how it changes the tune of the pit.

Thanks Big T. That's exactly what I have in mind.

Jeff

[akjeff]

I never use my drain....and my pit is a bit bigger and has been loaded. Just don’t see a need at this size range for one.

Good to hear. Seems like a lot of work, and very little utility.

Jeff

[akjeff]

Didn't make much headway today. Basically just welded in the grate ledges. Next task is the chimney. Trying to decide if I'll put it at the top in the usual location, or move it down closer to the center of the end, pretty much in the middle of the main and upper grate( ala Franklin BBQ and others). Test burn day is getting closer! Either I was having an off day today, or my welder is acting up. In either case, I put the tools down, and tomorrow is another day.

Jeff

[Rodcrafter]

Just for the sake of information, Franklin doesn’t use RF pits.


Making memories!

[Dirtytires]

From my experience, I definitely like the top mounted exaust. It burns cleaner and leaves less soot on the meat.

[Big T]

I remember a few years ago there was a build where the guy mounted the stack up high and used a piece of rolled up aluminum to slide inside the stack. He would lower it to different levels and do a test cook to see what the results were before he committed to welding in an extension. I believe that he finally found a sweet spot that worked well for his cooker but I can't swear to that. I do remember him saying that he should've made some marks on the sleeve that he made because one of his friends moved the sleeve and he had to start his test over. This may be an option for you if you feel like putting in the time to tune your pit. I have always mounted the stack up high so I don't have any idea if there's a better position. It's starting to look like a pit now so you'll be smoking in no time!

[akjeff]

Wound up doing a top mounted exhaust(sort of). Put it right on the corner where the end bell breaks over. Also left 1-1/2"-2" sticking inside the CC. As you pointed out, I can always kludge up an extension If I want to play with the tuning.

Jeff

[akjeff]

Was looking at the scrap piece from cutting out the throat of the fire box, and decided to weld it in as a small shadow plate. Mounted it as though it hinged into the smoker, and is about 1-1/4" below the baffle plate. May have been a waste of time, but it was there, the welder was set up, and I just plain felt like doing it!

Jeff

[akjeff]

Put a handle on the firebox door, and then called it a day. I have a thing for motorcycles, and wanted to add at least one part from a bike to this pit. When I saw this brake pedal off a '91 Sportster, I decided it would be the FB door latch. Made a 1/2" stud, and bushed the brake with some bronze bearings. Bolted it to the stud, and welded on a slotted plate. Need to add a wave washer to take out the slop. May also put a spring on it to hold it closed. The pivot pin for the brake master cylinder will be perfect for that.

Jeff

[Big T]

[akjeff]

Thanks Big T! Chomping at the bit to do a test burn. Waiting on a local shop to slip roll the 3/16"x2" flat bar to flange the ends of the CC door. They're swamped, and running behind. Seriously considering going with 1/8" flat bar, and just hand bend it. The 3/16" just wouldn't bend without hinging on me. 1/8" is probably plenty for a door flange. Another potential screwup was ordering my thermometers with 4" probes. Now that I have them, I wish that I'd gone with 2-1/2".

Jeff

[mp4]

I definitely like the brake pedal door latch...very nice!

[Rodcrafter]

You will be glad you have the shadow plate in my opinion.

[akjeff]

You will be glad you have the shadow plate in my opinion.

Thanks, I'm hoping the shadow plate will be 5 minutes well spent!. Not much to report today. Tacked the CC door flanges on, and that's about it. Hinges won't be here until Friday, so will not be making test smoke until this weekend.

Jeff

[akjeff]

Another slow day. Had salmon to put in the freezer(and on the grill for dinner!), and other things to attend to. Got the CC door hinges and handle welded on, and that's about it. Just need to make a charcoal/log basket, and then planning on a test burn on Sunday! I can't wait to see some smoke come out of the stack!

Jeff

[Big T]

You've been putting in work! I know that you can't wait to fire it up.

[akjeff]

Thanks Big T. Almost there. Burnout/test burn tomorrow! I had the compressor tank sandblasted inside and out before the build. Do you think it's necessary to build a fire in the tank as well, or will a good hot fire in the firebox for a few hours be sufficient? Plan to start a good load of lump charcoal, before adding wood, and get it good and hot.

Jeff

[mp4]

A good fire in the firebox is all that's necessary. General advice given in the past from others is to warm it up to 300° and coat the inside of the cook chamber with some cooking oil. At that point you can drop the temp to normal cooking temps and keep it there for a few hours to season in...maybe even use that time to cook something fatty.

[ajfoxy]

[akjeff]

It's alive!

Jeff

[Big T]

Heck yeah!

[akjeff]

So far seems to be running great! Running it with about a 4" deep bed of lump charcoal in the box, and a couple of alder splits. It hit 250F at 25 minutes, and 350F at just shy of 40 minutes, and climbing. Burning clean. At 350, there's barely a hint of smoke, mainly just heat waves. With the firebox door closed, and both vents wide open, I'm just going to let it crank, and see what it will get up to. Edit, looks like around 375F is where it's maxing out. Also, its running about 15-20 degrees hotter at the far end of the baffle plate. Next burn I'll play with the dampers, and start learning temp control. Will be adding toggle clamps to both lower corners of the CC door. They're leaking, and just need a little persuasion to seal.

Thanks for all of the helpful advice guys!

Jeff

[Dirtytires]

Careful getting it too hot...things tend to warp in that range.

I might recommend another test burn before adding food. Start with half the charcoal and practice at keeping the temps in the 225-250 range for a few hours. It’s much harder to get it low than hot...but that is where really good bbq comes from.

[akjeff]

Definitely will be more test runs before food. I've got some cosmetic stuff to do, now that I know it works. Going to cut out the bungs and drain hole, weld in filler plates, and dress them in. Also need to fab up the stack damper/cover, then paint. Some additional bracing on the frame, and some shelving. Then come more dry runs, and getting to know the smoker.

Jeff