Smokin Aussie

[MattS]

An Aussie buddy of mine stepped up to the big rig today. He borrowed my smoker for an event his wife volunteered him for. The is the first time my rig has left home without me. Little sad and proud at the same time. Hope he taking good care of it.

This is when he first got it fired up this morning. Don't worry, no meat on yet.



Loaded with four full shoulders



I think he is going to be looking for an upgrade soon

[Tom_Heath]

Not one single thing wrong with upgrades!!!!

Sorry to hear ya had to turn her loose, LOL if ya need to talk about it give me a call and I'll try and help....

Hey matt, how picky is the rig about having it level so that it drafts well?

[MattS]

haha, I just noticed how he has the front high like that. I bet the plate needs a good scrapin now. I always keep it down a tab bit just so the grease drains out easier. I have never paid attention to the draft and always use a level so its front low. I do know that this rig is cold on the firebox side of the smoker. Not a lot different, but noticeable on the cook.

[PoPs54]

Hey MattS. I noticed your smoker has the overlapping door design. How do you like it? Would you do it again? And, did you have problems with the doors and tank lining up after a large cut like that? What are the dimensions of your door opening? I am thinking about that design for my smoker with an opening 65" wide on a 30" diameter tank.

[MattS]

I love that layout. It gives me a full one piece grate and can put anything on with a small access for smaller loads. I will always do this on next builds. They were easy to do and but there was some problems with the thin wall steel flattening out once I cut the opening. I cut the whole opening out at once and then just cut it in half. As far as width, I went as big as I could. Just left enough flat on the ends so I could weld in some slides and enough for overlap.

[PoPs54]

Thanks for the reply MattS. That may just be the design I use for my upcoming build. Do you have your build documented on this or any other forum? I would love to take a look at it.

[Tom_Heath]

Not to HyJack the thread but,

If a strap was welded to the center of the door prior to cutting, I think it may help with the warping and flattening. All three straps would need to be welded, of course just one side of each, that way after the door is out as one giant piece you could cut right down the center of the strap for the center. It would take a steady hand but I think it would work fantastic.

Gonna have to try it.

[MattS]

I agree Tom and I planned on that in the future. Cut the sides of the doors and a couple inches of the top and bottom. Then weld on the trim straps and continue to cut out the doors when complete and then put on top and bottom straps.

PoP, I do have a buildalong on another site. I will have to find it.

[PoPs54]

Ok, now you are saying to cut the sides (verticals) of the doors first. That is the outside edges and the one down the center that will separate the 2 doors? Then would you weld on the center strap to one door and that becomes the overlap that seals between the 2 doors? and of course the 2 outside straps also. Remembering to cut a couple of inches on the horizontal cuts so the strap doesn't cover up where the cut needs to be. You guys tell me if I have summarized your instructions correctly. And by the way MattS, I would like to see your build on that other site if it is not too much trouble to find. Thanks to both of you for your assistance. It is getting real close to time for that first cut.

[Frank_Cox]

you should post your build on this site Matt! it was a great build

[MattS]

PoPs, that is what I would do. Just like your racap. I will go find that build and transfer it here.

[Tom_Heath]

Right on.

Three cuts vertical.

Cut a few inchs horizontal at each of the three vertical cuts. Your 100% right on the money

One thing that will help would be to bend the flat strap before you weld it to the door.
By being bent first, it will help hold the shape of the door rather then try to spring it open more.
Even if its bent to a smaller dia then your tank it will help alot.