Vertical smoker door warped

[wakeboarder141]

I am building a vertical steel smoker. My top cook chamber door warped on the top latch side when I accidently let it get too hot without a water pan or anything in it. I can pull it closed with the latch, but it is so tight that it is pulling the latch off the smoker. The door is square tubing with dual walled 10 guage steel and insulated. Are there any easy ways to reverse the warping on that top corner? Thanks.

[Gizmo]

Look at the "Edgar is underway" thread. Since there is such a big temp difference between the inner and outer walls of an insulated door - they love to warp. I think it was the 3rd door I built that was 1/4 inch sheetmetal on his FB with latches at 2 and 4 o'clock - object was to get support to the door at all 4 corners. It never warped again after that. Good luck!

[wakeboarder141]

Forgot to mention this is a propane smoker with a felt gasket. I doubt it gets as hot as the FB door on your smoker. I used it a few times with no problems until I left it burning empty for too long.

[Pete Mazz]

Maybe try 2 pipe clamps, top and bottom, with a chunk of 2x4 in the middle so you can pull it back in?

[Gizmo]

Pete might be right (I know ….. annoying isn't it?)

Maybe the correct pressure on it throughout an entire heat/cool cycle will pull it back where it belongs. You'll prolly have to keep tightening it as it gets hot then let it cool in that position…..

[wakeboarder141]

Thanks for the tips. I will give those a shot. I don't know if it would work in this situation, but what about heating it with a torch and then holding a wet rag on it to shrink the metal rapidly? I have done that with warped tubing before.

[wakeboarder141]

I got the door flat again using a 60 ton press at work Now, the problem is that every time the smoker gets hot, the latch side of the door starts warping out and gets much harder to close. Does it sound like I just need to use much thicker steel for the skin of the door to prevent this? I am tired of having to fix latches as it pulls them out.

[Rodcrafter]

How hot are you running the cooker? Most vertical cookers have a fairly low temperature because the fire is small since it is under the CC.


Making memories.

[wakeboarder141]

I am normally smoking around 225. Pretty much as soon as it gets up to temp, the door becomes hard to close.

[Rodcrafter]

What sorta hinges did you use? I mentioned that because bullet hinges don't have any forgiveness if they're not absolutely lined up. I like flat plate hinges made of 3 pieces each with a bolt for a pin. I've never had a warping issue but then I use heavy steel on everything.


Making memories.

[wakeboarder141]

They are bullet hinges. I am not sure how the hinges would have anything to do with the warping? The door functions perfectly when cool, but when it gets hot only about the first half of the door on the hinge side makes contact with the frame. The door is curled farther away from the frame the closer you get to the latches.

[Big T]

Can you post some pictures ?

[wakeboarder141]

Sure. It just cooled off from cooking today, but the next time I use it I will post some pics. You just want to see how it is warping, right?

[Rodcrafter]

Show the whole thing


Making memories.

[wakeboarder141]

I can show you a couple of my work in progress pics now.

[Pete Mazz]

What kind of gasket did you use? If it's the flat style, you may want to switch to the rope gasket. You may then have to adjust your hinges tho.

[Rodcrafter]

What is the frame like in the door? You maybe able to stop the warping with an X brace on the outside of the door. That would be the easiest fix. When I spoke of the hinges I was just saying the other type don't behave the same as bullets do. Like if you didn't give enough gap with the bullet installation it is rubbing the frame from the beginning then any heat at all causes it to rub harder.

jm2cw

[wakeboarder141]

The frame is 1" square tubing. I don't remember the wall thickness, but it is fairly thin. The tubing is stuffed with insulation, and there is a sheet of insulation between the two sheets of steel. It is a flat felt gasket.

[Puff]

My gravity feed tubing is 2" and 14 gauge. It is sturdy and built similarly with regards to the insulation. Mine is 2" rigid Roxul. But I have had it over 390 with no warping issues

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

How thick is the plate steel you used for the door? I would the X thing like RC recommended.

[wakeboarder141]

I believe the steel is 10 guage. What would you suggest for material on the x brace? I am not sure how I would do it and make that look decent.

[forty_creek]

You can use angle iron for the X on the inside of your door.


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[wakeboarder141]

Inside might work if there is enough clearance between the door and my grates. How would you suggest doing the middle of the X? Cut one piece of angle iron in half and then weld it back together, or should I notch it out somehow?

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

I would use 1" strap that is 1/4 or 3/8 thick and lay it on edge. Here is a pic of a FB door with a X. I would do your door the same way.

[wakeboarder141]

Thanks for the picture. Would there be any benefit to doing a "box" with the same material around the outside of the X?