Second build - 40" Propane tank offset

[dacolson]

Great looking cook racks


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[Big T]

[SheffSmoker]

Cheers both, didn't take very long to make believe it or not.

Found this bit of sliver birch on a family walk the other day. Stripped it, dried it out and sanded it down. It's going to be the CC door handle. I like the rustic look so not bothered about it being straight. Waste not want not.

I've since Danish oiled it since I took this photo. Looks even better now.

[SheffSmoker]

CC door seal fitted, and hinges welded on. I made these a few weeks ago, and originally they were the the other way round, a more obtuse angle.
When tacked on I found the door hit the rear hinge portion before it was past vertical, I'd originally meant them as being the door supports too so got that sum a bit wrong. Flipped them round and all clear.

The one downside if any of the hinges being flipped means the opening swings way high and back. I don't mind it at all but looks a bit funky. Had to make a quick door stop out of some 6mm rod, it kinda looks like a music stand.

Opens and closes nice though. After welding the rear hinge on you can just see the top of the CC has bowed in a tiny bit, will see if it leaks on first burn, and if it does just tweak it back with the old gorilla arms.

Ordered some dome nuts to close the open threads off and act as a locknut to stop the hinge coming loose.

Looking at the stack of 6mm rod I have left and running low on other stock. I made a temp probe stand out of it, mounted under the brass cable gland I've added for the wires.

The oil on the handles is still drying, so it's door handle mounting time tomorrow - and a test burn all being well.

[Big T]

Heck yeah! You'll be cooking before you know it!

[dacolson]

Nice probe stand. Love that small round stock. Looking great


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[SheffSmoker]

Got the handle on today. Love the rustic look.

Got the drain valve on too, as well as pre-painting it.

Ran out of daylight to do the FB vents, but couldn't resist a clean out and test burn. Chimney full of briquettes and some splits of ash.

It draughts really well, and is holding a nice even temp, looking good so far!

[Cole Leffert]

Looking good! I love the wood handle!!

[SheffSmoker]

Thanks Cole!

[hogaboomer]

Awesome! That first burn is always fun.

[dacolson]

Ditto on the handle. Glad you didn’t hold out for a straight piece. Excellent character. And if course ... FIRE! Let’s be honest, this all an excuse to play with fire.
Looks awesome


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[SheffSmoker]

Isn't it just!

First coat of VHT went on today, not helped by it starting to rain so up went the gazebo.

Another coat tomorrow, and the part under the CC door once I've taken it back off so I can do the hinges fully too.

Not done the FB vent yet, but I was able to control it so well on the test burn by adjusting the door opening just a tad I'm tempted to leave it. I've messed around with some flat bar on the round side of the FB and I'm not sold on it working well, unless I fab up a square side section with the vent in. May revisit it at a later date but man, I'm desperate for some brisket!

[Cole Leffert]

[Big T]

It's crazy how much they change with just a coat of paint. It looks great!

[Dirtytires]

Brisket....yes, you should paint faster!

[SheffSmoker]

Brisket....yes, you should paint faster!

Ha ha! I'm trying but it's been chucking down with rain all day. Dry tomorrow fingers crossed so I can get it finished, then seasoning burn, and the weekend it's meat time!

[SheffSmoker]

Dry today so got the last coat of VHT on, seasoned the inside with veg oil and currently doing a super hot burn to bake the paint and seal the inside.

Poor photo as it was going dark again.

Ridiculously easy to maintain a temp compared to the el cheapo, can hold it at 225F and even had it up to 400F with a full basket of beech.

Cook time tomorrow, Wife has picked up a pork butt, aubergine (eggplant in your country!) and some garlic. Smoked aubergine is gorgeous, it's what baba ganoush is made from if you've ever tried it.

[Cole Leffert]

Looks amazing! Good call on wood handle! It really makes the smoker!

[tinspark]

Beautiful job!!
Be sure to post pics of the inaugural cook.
I am interested in the aubergine (that's a new one) aka eggplant
sounds good. never thought about smoking those!!

[Dirtytires]

I’ll be there in time for dinner......!

[SheffSmoker]

Thanks again all

Going well so far, apart from this is the first time I've used cherry, and it seems to burn very different to the oak and beech I've used before, a bit cooler and seems to take an age to catch. It's nice and dry, and pre-warmed on the FB top so not green. All part of the learning curve!

Oh, and the wind deciding to whip up so I've had to move it round the corner. Glad I put that handle on!

[dacolson]

[dacolson]

By the way, I’ve got a great piece of cedar I’ve been saving for a walking stick. I like your handle so well I think I have to adopt your idea.

[SheffSmoker]

Cheers Dave, it's crackers how a wonky looking old bit of wood has actually transformed the look of it, just with a bit of love put into it.

Sorry I didn't get any finished cook photos, it had got really late by the time it was done and I was "hangry" The ambient temp had dropped to 0C (32F) and I was fighting a rapidly cooling fire. In hindsight it needed some charcoal adding to help keep the coal bed, I tried doing a pure wood only burn this time.

The augergine needs re-visiting though, even though it looked amazing it was still really wet inside, we even tried cheating and zapping it in the oven after but it didn't work out. Too cold in the smoker I reckon, or needs many many more hours than it had. All an experiment.

Pork tasted amazing though. Wife made a Carolina vinegar sauce for dipping it into and it was proper yummy.

The smoked garlic was as usual fantastic.

[Dirtytires]

Congrats!