Stumps Clone Build for 2015

[SmokinDTown]

Puff, the wheels are just enough to handle the weight. Hard to get over the door threshold. Won't work on gravel. That said, I think it will be a great smoker! When Frank comes out with the plans for the small smoker, I'll be all over it along with you! The pan brake for the smaller smoker would be a great idea. All of the welds can be 1G, hopefully. Running 2G, 3G and 4G with this big guy is tough for me. I can't see well when welding, and don't have a forklift available to flip the smoker over so that all my welds are 1G. But I'm ok with all of that. I'm over budget, over-tired, and over-worked with this project, but when I paint it flat black, hot it up and cook some biscuits, it's all gonna be great!

[Pete Mazz]

Making great progress!

[Rodcrafter]

[SmokinDTown]

Puff, it looks like the door seal will be ok. Welding the outer skin on seems to have pulled the frame in the other direction.

[Puff]

Glad to read that. The seal is nice to see when you're smoking something and the only leak is from the 4" one at the top. I learned the hard way that my wheels don't work on gravel either and my gravel is really hard pack ...sort of like R blend millings

[SmokinDTown]

Puff, have you ever loaded up your smoker? Ribs per rack? Number of briskets per rack? Butts?
Thanks!

[Dantes Inferno]

Whoa there really is NO ROOM for error on welding those cooking chamber walls in, holy gaps! Am I safe to say you all have experienced this? not an easy weld.

[SmokinDTown]

Dante, I found that I could flip the CC around at this point, and at least have a flat run at the weld. But remember, everything starts to warp and move if you try to weld without a lot of tack welds first. And if you stay too long, you get burn through. I ended up welding tabs everywhere so that the sheetmetal could stay put, and still I had problems!

[Dantes Inferno]

I was going to Tackett all over the place but I didn't even start yet and there's just gaps not huge ones but enough


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[SmokinDTown]

Dante, one thing I found out right away, is I'm not Frank! I had to weld backing plates all over the place, so that I could weld the sheets to the frame. Went through 3 rolls of wire, and 3 tanks of gas, but I'm almost done. Keep your head down, and work through it. As far as the looks of mine go, it's the first one I've built. Flat black exterior and a patina of smoke and fat on the inside, and those bad welds won't be as obvious. I think I can have mine finished if I can find another full day to work on it. Good luck, and stay after it!

[forty_creek]

Strong Work SmokinD


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[Dantes Inferno]

Well you know I had to be different and my cooking chamber it stainless!!!! $50 for one little roll of wire!!


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[SmokinDTown]

Dante, and you have to use a different shielding gas, too, no?

[Dantes Inferno]

Yes


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[Dantes Inferno]

Thanks Frank for the removable charcoal grate suggestion! Works wonderfully !


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[Frank_Cox]

Man, You guys are doing awesome!!! For those who are reading along with this that are or might build this in the future, The removable charcoal grate for the chute is really nice! great way to dump the chute if needed.
as far as all the Gaps go, backer plates really help. however, if you can bend the corners that is the best option!
Keep it up guys! real nice builds for sure!!!
P.S. I am pressing to get the baby plans finished. sorry it's taking so long guys!!!

[forty_creek]

Actually Frank I think it's a great marketing strategy!!! Longer wait more talk about it...the more interest!!!
I know that's not the reason. This site isn't anyone's full time job!
I still like the marketing strategy!


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[Atama]

SmokinDTown -

I hope you don't mind if I ask, but - What latch did you use on this, and where did you find it? Seeing your mounting gave me an idea as to how I am going to mount mine.

[Frank_Cox]

Atama, I don't know if Smokin D Town got his here or not but here is a site that has them....
Click here : COMPLETE PARTS KITS

[SmokinDTown]

Dante, nice job! I think that feature is a big plus. I can see how it would come in handy. Atama, Frank is correct. I bought the "kit" which included the slam latch. I works like a champ!

[SmokinDTown]

I finished (almost) the smoker last night. I few a few (dozen) things that I would do differently next time. Like better follow Frank's plans!


I bought a padlock for the CC. You can see it in the picture. What you can't see is me on the ground, looking up, trying to put the right combination to it so that it would open!

I had some trouble with the fire. The local hardware only had lump and matchlite. I chose the lump, and the lumps were huge. And smelly. Anyway, I resorted to a poorman's guru, giving my old air compressor a hernia in the process.


The thermometer shows my highest temp with this lashup:



So then I figured, why not?



I couldn't get the temp up high enough, but after leaving them in the cooker for quite a while, they all seemed to have cooked about the same:



Monday I'll try some blue bag charcoal, and paint my Smoker Clone. The CUSC.

[Puff]

Well good job and congratulations on the last stage. I use lump routinely mixed here and there with chucks of apple or oak that I have cut into random shapes while waiting for the BABY SIZED plans. On occasion I'll place a bigger chunk in the ash cleanout and it just burns. I've never supplemented the intake air but that is clever. Once burning, I have to shut the ball down about half to keep temps about 240-250.

Any colors in mind? A friend is still painting a mural on my CC door. It will be finished by February 2015 . I knew that was going to happen...

[SmokinDTown]

Ah, Frank is painting your mural! Right after he finishes the baby plans.........

[SmokinDTown]

Puff, this smoker is gonna be flat black on the outside! Only color that will hide my far-less-than-perfect execution of these plans. Mine seems to like running around 250, valve is choked off. What position is the damper on your stack? Mine seems to be about 3/4 closed off.

[Puff]

I Always run the damper wide open...for me the damper is a rain cover if my garage roof should ever leak