Eli's comin'

[Gizmo]

Hopefully Eli will be as easy to get along with as his folks Edna and Edgar....

He's a cabinet style large enough to do comps with options for old school or guru assist, and cold smoke in one cabinet....
From a physics standpoint he's just a glorified, side-loading UDS with insulated walls. .... and a couple other ideas I had....

Posted my notes from my brainstorming the past year on graph paper....



bought some 14 ga. pre-formed channel.... and after today's work I'm not so sure 16 ga. wouldn't have been enough... oh well - a little too tough never hurt.



Just brought in a little to start cutting....



Make a wooden jig and start the miter cuts to get the channel to fit...



Set all 5 of the frames together (because I know how much you guys like seeing lots of clamps) to make sure they all fit each other before sheeting starts... The frame is on it's back in this picture.



And that was the first day's work.
Mark your calendar.
A good friend of mine took a tumble yesterday and ended up in traction for 10 weeks. I want Eli done in time to cook for his celebration party when he gets out of traction on June 8th. Nothing like working against a deadline..

[Rodcrafter]

I'm excited having seen some of your other projects, I'm sure this one is going to be awesome. It looks like it is going to be pretty tall, it should give lots of options. More, more, more, but then again that was alot for the first day.

[Gizmo]

Thanks for the kind words RC - that's how far I got before the phone call ...

[The Czar]

I just love the conception process!!!! It's my favorite part....

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[Smokeone]

You know i have this image in my head of Rick uploading pictures of Edna and Edgar to the internet, trying to get a picture of what Eli will look like. I bet it will be the cutest kid around. If not, a little nice tea will fix that.

This is going to be a great build to follow. An all in one type unit, sweet! I have no doubt with your attention to detail that this will be one fine unit. I mean with a jig and all those clamps how could it not be perfect.

[Gizmo]

Thanks S1.

Interesting thing about jigs - if one frame is wrong - they're ALL wrong ...

I can tell you I was very relieved when I clamped them all together and they fit! WHEW!

@DC = TWSS

[Gizmo]

Took all afternoon to cut all the grate rails, standoffs, and stops .... BORING!
The most exciting part was changing band saw blades - got 9 years out of that last blade .... didn't owe me a thing.

[Smokeone]

Might have been boring, but at least you were smoker building.

[TuscaloosaQ]

Looking fantastic Rick!!!!!!! cant wait to see it come together

[Grabber70Mach]

Looking great Rick, but then we've come to expect nothing less out of you.

[Gizmo]

Thanks TQ and G70 !

[Tom_Heath]

Rick..... This is an awesome build, I love it.

Great Job as always.

[Gizmo]

Thanks Tom!

[smokethis]

I have been waiting for this build sense u first mentioned it

Can't wait to c how it turns out
In other words ill be watching u rick but not in a weird stocker way

[Frank_Cox]

awesome!
KenV and I were talking of something similar on the phone yesterday and I also had some ideas for a new pit design similar.

[Gizmo]

Thanks Frank.
Let me prove this one won't work first then you and KenV will know what NOT to do ...

[Tom_Heath]

LOL

[maccas66]

I must say I`m into conception myself!, and as usual Rick great progress mate!, I`m also glad you said it was a cabinet smoker not a closet one!.............

[Gizmo]

Hey Mac! - long time no type!

Thanks for the compliments - I was in one of those moods last night where I just stared at it for a while.

Then turned off the lights and went in the house .... learned a long time ago to respect those moods - work through one and you'll spend the next night undoing it all.

[maccas66]

I think they are wise words Rick!, spent many an hour just staring at a project and no result.....could of been drinking beer!!

[Gizmo]

Managed to get several things done this weekend between helping cook 14 butts for Pesh's daughter's graduation party for 250 that's coming right up..... 4 guys - 4 pits and they turned out great!
The pics are little out of order but you get the idea.

Installed the inner skin to the back panel...


Installed both skins and insulation to the inner panel (right) and the feed tubes for the guru and probes....


Installed and painted the bottom with air intake and wheels... moves around the shop a lot easier now.



Installed spreader bars in the roof to support a sausage hook...



Now it should hold some serious weight...



Made and installed the stack coupler...



Tack welding the sidewall skins...



Insulating the roof...



Made a flu damper stack section (plug-in)




Made a weather cap (also plug-in)



He's up on his wheels...

[Frank_Cox]

you know your a SmokerBuilder if.... you have cooking tools hanging in your welding shop.... hahaha
Very nice build Rick! coming right along!

[Gizmo]

Thanks Frank!

Yeah my wife drew the line at the drill press on the kitchen counter and the transmission in the tub.... NO sense of humor those 2 times...

[The Czar]

I like it

[DUAYNE B]

Your moving right along Rick, I,m liking that a lot