Gravity Feed Build - Care Of My Father

[Freejack]

First post, I had joined some time ago and had been lurking to gather information on building a smoker, finally got the process underway, so I thought I start a thread on the build, which also requires a big shout out to my dad who is putting his fabrication skills to good use on my standard gravity feed smoker!

I had intended to just build a mini, but in talking with Dad, for the time it takes to do the fab work, why not do the next size up? The steel was sourced and had been cut since last fall, but was just sitting in his shop due to other priorities on the farm.
Untitled by Jacob Schnarre, on Flickr

Now that planting is done, he's able to get back on it.

Frame tack welded:
Untitled by Jacob Schnarre, on Flickr

Part of the fire box assembled:
Untitled by Jacob Schnarre, on Flickr

Untitled by Jacob Schnarre, on Flickr

Can't wait to see it all come together. In return for building the smoker, I am getting him a nice Webber gas grill for father's day.

Jake

[pr0wlunwoof]

Is that the grate area where the lit charcoal sits?

[Freejack]

Believe so. The farm is an hour and half away so I haven't got to see it in person since he started welding.

Jake

[pr0wlunwoof]

Did you buy the plans?

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[Freejack]

Yes, these: https://www.smokerplans.net/index.php?m ... cts_id=128

Jake

[pr0wlunwoof]

Might wanna check with him. You really want the grate to be removable. That way it's as easy as pulling the grate to get the unused charcoal and ash out of the shute.

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[Big T]

and if it isn't air tight and you have a run away fire the only way to shut it down is pull the grate and dump the charcoal.

[Rodcrafter]

Yes very important. If you add a handle to it also helps.


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[Heatermeter builder]

I wish the plans had it as removable, I too would have made it removable if it had been that way.

For those of us that followed the GF plans, is there a simple way to modify them to make the rebar removable. I sure would like to know also

[ajfoxy]

Also, trap for the unwary, don't forget to leave out the top back tube on the frame for the time being. It allows for easier entry for the chute/firebox/transfer tube assembly. This is something that catches most people building a GF.

[pr0wlunwoof]

My plans had it removable.. I might have updated plans. if you cut out the rebar you can make a grate that slides in. You just measure the opening of the firebox and put in rails for it to slide on.

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[JKalchik]

There are a couple of other threads that also talk about a removable grate. @ajfoxy has a good point about a removable grate: if you have a runaway fire, you can pull the grate and dump the fire.

One of the other things I'm doing on mine is a removable ash tray/box.

<scratches head> There are definitely some construction differences between the standard model and the double pan I'm building.

[Freejack]

Might wanna check with him. You really want the grate to be removable. That way it's as easy as pulling the grate to get the unused charcoal and ash out of the shute.

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The plans just show it as rebar welded into place. I will talk with him about the grate to see if that can be modified as such.

Jake

[Frank_Cox]

Yep, the standard model is the oldest set. It shows recessed doors and such.
On this set and the double pan the grate was not shown as removable.... only cuz we hadn’t thought of that yet.
The mini we made quite a few changes to the design before they were published.
Unfortunately it takes a lot of time to get these things updated.
If anyone has any questions about possible changes they are welcome to call us at 573-612-1315 or email us admin at smokerplans.net.
We can help with that at anytime.

We have a lot of things in the works but when we get a chance we are doing updates.
Thanks fellers for your continued support

[pr0wlunwoof]

Here are some pics of my build. Kinda give your dad an idea of what we are talking about.

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[Freejack]

Hadn't posted in a while, as there hadn't been a lot of progress, wheat harvest and summer irrigation work got in the way. Here are a couple pics of the progress from today. The fella welding on the frame is Barrett, he works for Dad, so I now owe him a case of Stag.

Untitled by Jacob Schnarre, on Flickr

Untitled by Jacob Schnarre, on Flickr


Jake

[ajfoxy]

If he welds the whole thing up for a case of Stag, you are doing good.
Heck, even if he only welds up the cook chamber so it's tight and leakproof then it's worth at least a case.

[grimreeper]

Well how is it going. Is it completed. Maybe to much stag

[The Czar]

Cheapskate!!!!!


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[Freejack]

Sorry, meant to post some progress pics. Here are a few from the past couple weeks:

Untitled by Jacob Schnarre, on Flickr

Untitled by Jacob Schnarre, on Flickr

Jake

[Big T]

[Freejack]

And here is the (almost) finished product!

Untitled by Jacob Schnarre, on Flickr

Untitled by Jacob Schnarre, on Flickr

It still needs door seals and racks. Dad chose to screw the exterior skins down to avoid warping during welding and then the seams are sealed with silicone. Gives it a sort of industrial look I guess. I have the door seals on order which should be here this week. Was hoping to find some off-the shelf stainless grill grates, but not locating anything close enough in size to make it work, so we may just end up fabing some out of mild steel.

We'll be up at the farm this weekend, so I'll get to see it in its finished state. Hopefully we can season it and maybe try our hand at some ribs on Saturday....

Jake

[Big T]

[Chromeski]

Looks great. Stainless grates totally not needed. No good reason not to cook up some ribs since it's warmed up anyways.

[Pete Mazz]