I see that you said it's a restoration so what's the plan ? I also have to say that it doesn't look like it has ever been used but it may have been cleaned very well. Either way it should make for and interesting '' build'' and it certainly is nice to be so close to HQ if you have any questions.
It is not square and welds were not good. It would probably be easier to build a new one, but this one was the right price, and I hated seeing it just sit. It was not ever used, it was attempted to be put together by a welding class that didn’t do so well.
Well it looks like all of the pieces and parts are there and it's definitely hard to turn down a good deal so it sounds like you made the right decision.
So long as the cook chamber is "leak proof" and the charcoal chute and firebox are reasonably sound, the rest is merely cosmetic.
Learning generally boils down to "Repetition or the avoidance of pain", some people learn by doing, some by watching and some just have to pee on the electric fence.
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Henry Ford
There is a ledge in the coal shoot the we are working on and reinforcing the welds to make sure they are air tight. Then start putting it back together.
Got the chimney out. Have to cut it off to fix a ledge by the fire box and then can start leveling everything. A couple more weekends and it should be done.
Looking good... nothing like the fabrication dance.... one step forward, two steps back, two steps forward, one step back... yehaa.
Learning generally boils down to "Repetition or the avoidance of pain", some people learn by doing, some by watching and some just have to pee on the electric fence.
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Henry Ford
I like the challenge to see how much better I can make it as a finished product. I plan on putting a cutout in the side to mount a temp controller to. It would have been easier to start from scratch but I’m learning a lot doing it this way, and the mentors I have are top notch.
So, just to make sure everyone understands the magnitude of the devastation.
This cooker was originally sold to a guy that had a friend that was a welding teacher. As a teacher, he broke the first rule of school!! He didnt follow the directions that frank gave him. From there I think it was a free for all for the kids.
Gotta give someone credit tho, they filled a 3/4 inch gap and it looked decent. But when D started cutting it off ....... Well he was almost cut thru the weld and SHIT..... the whole bead just fell off. I mean the whole weld bead fell off, with his cut right down the middle.
It looks terrible right now, but D has it under complete and total control. Like he said just a little more work and the CC can be squared up and start moving forward.
And considering where he is doing the work !!! He has some pretty good resources.
Thanks for the kind words Tom. The help and ideas you and frank have given me are priceless, along with the fact of where I’m able to dissect it (Smoker Builder HQ) It’s going to be a great cooker when it’s all done.