Mini + 6”

[Mgraves]

Day 1
Mini gravity feed + 6”. Much time was spent stuffing sq tube with insulation. The frame is up side down in the pics. That cross member on top is in the wrong place and had to be moved. the same mistake was made when I built a dp gravity feed. at least I was consistent in miss reading plans. life lesson!

All plate steel for smoker was cut on plasma table. Modified cut file in CAD, to better fit my build style.

Last welded up burn chamber and chute.
It was a good day!



[Dirtytires]

Looks like a good start....

[Mgraves]

Day 2



Working on cook camber.

[Big T]

Haha, I thought wow he's already cooking on day 2. It looks like you're making great progress.

[Dirtytires]

Yea, big T, wish I could have started cooking before my build was finished....lol

[Mgraves]

Day 3

Putting in rack styles. Welding up inside! Sliding in gravity feed unit. Adding insulation.

It was a good day!

[Big T]

Moving right along!

[Mgraves]

Day 4

Stuffing with insulation, building control box, adding drain and putting skin on the smoker.


Question:

Thoughts on running cook chamber temperature prob and meat probs :
1 run probs between the door and gasket
or
2 putting a separate tube running from the cook chamber to the control box. To conceal the wires.

[Dirtytires]

Lotta work....

[richy20]

Looking really good. Moving very fast. Keep it up.

[Big T]

If I ever get a chance to build mine I'm going to add a tube to run my probes through. I just think it's a cleaner look while cooking and you don't have to worry about damaging any of the probe wires.

[JKalchik]

If I ever get a chance to build mine I'm going to add a tube to run my probes through. I just think it's a cleaner look while cooking and you don't have to worry about damaging any of the probe wires.

I did. I bored a hole through the interior cook chamber skin, and through the side of the pocket that I welded up for my HeaterMeter. The holes are closed off with high temp silicon rubber plugs (Weber branded, for use with their grills,) and with a piece of 2" square tubing between.

[Mgraves]

If I ever get a chance to build mine I'm going to add a tube to run my probes through. I just think it's a cleaner look while cooking and you don't have to worry about damaging any of the probe wires.

I did. I bored a hole through the interior cook chamber skin, and through the side of the pocket that I welded up for my HeaterMeter. The holes are closed off with high temp silicon rubber plugs (Weber branded, for use with their grills,) and with a piece of 2" square tubing between.

Thanks for the input! I do like the clean look.

[Mgraves]

Day 5 of the build.

Legs! Shoes! Top!

Top is 5’ off the ground! Lowest rack is 3’ off the ground!

[Big T]

It's always nice when you get them mobile.

[Mgraves]

Day 6 of build

Building doors and door curbs.

[dacolson]

Coming along. Nice looking welds.


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[Mgraves]

Day 7 and 8

Welding grinding repeat! Working doors and hanging them!

[dacolson]

Are you planning on running a pit fan/controller?


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[JKalchik]

Are you planning on running a pit fan/controller?


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With that pocket built in above the firebox, I'd stake a beer that he is.

[Mgraves]

Are you planning on running a pit fan/controller?


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Running a FireBoard 2, fan set up.

[Big T]

You built this joker like you were running an assembly line!

[Mgraves]

Day 9 and 10

Lots of welding and grinding on the edge welds. Giving it a clean look.

Slam latch, side shelf.

Thoughts on finish? Clear coat? something other than paint??

[dacolson]

Man you are knocking this out quickly! Looks great.
There are a handful of smokers on here w high temp clear coat. If I remember, it doesn’t hold up too well. I did one for a buddy but he’s had it in storage while waits for his house to be finished. I think the more common bare-metal treatment is boiled linseed oil. Preheat your metal and apply once a year. Holds up well and gives a nice patina.
On the paint side, there have been some really sweet looking rigs painted recently. Really creative.


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[Big T]

You'd probably have pretty good luck with clear coat being as it's insulated and only gets really hot in a few places. I'm not sure how well the linseed oil would work because it's insulated and I believe that the metal needs to be warm when you apply it. I think someone used a torch to heat the smoker before applying the oil so that's probably an option. One of the good things about insulated cookers is that you can put an awesome paint job on them and it will not burn off of the majority of the cooker.