Baker's mini GF build

Baker76 · Post by **Baker76** » January 5th, 2016, 7:50 pm

I bought the plans for the mini gravity feed back in August and finally got the chance to start on the build over the holidays. My goal was to be smoking some goodies on it new years eve, but I had to use my old combo smoker for that. Here are some pictures of the progress my two boys and I made on it over the week.

cutting out the plates and sheet metal.

oldest son deburring the cook chamber panels.

fire box welded in

Youngest son welding the charcoal grate.

He also welded the cooking grates.

older son welding on the legs.

This is where we ended up at the end of the week.

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Baker76 · Post by **Baker76** » January 5th, 2016, 7:53 pm

Sorry , for some reason the pictures are put of order and the captions don't match the pictures.

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Baker76 · Post by **Baker76** » January 5th, 2016, 7:55 pm

The insulation just arrived today. Hopefully I can get the rest done this weekend.

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Weldun · Post by **Weldun** » January 5th, 2016, 8:23 pm

Looking good! Hopefully I won't be too far behind you I'm still in the material collecting process, the neatest part of all is the time spent with your boys.

Baker76 · Post by **Baker76** » January 5th, 2016, 8:27 pm

Thanks.

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Puff · Post by **Puff** » January 5th, 2016, 10:14 pm

Great work....nice to see these minis going strong. Looks like you've got everyone involved

Post by **Big T** » January 5th, 2016, 10:17 pm

It looks like you have all the tools to get it done and a couple of great workers to help out!
:LG:

Puff · Post by **Puff** » January 5th, 2016, 10:20 pm

Big T, any time you feel like coming over, I can gladly use the help.

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 5th, 2016, 10:21 pm

Very cool to have the boys helping, nice work too.

Making memories.

mp4 · Post by **mp4** » January 5th, 2016, 11:18 pm

Ditto on including the boys...great to see them working with supervision.

Post by **Big T** » January 5th, 2016, 11:42 pm

Puff, the only thing stopping me is the 18 hour drive!!

Baker76 · Post by **Baker76** » January 6th, 2016, 5:55 am

Thanks guys, it is fun getting the kids involved, its surprising how fast they can learn new things. A couple of practice runs with the welder and they were laying down some nice beads. They really had fun helping too.

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Baker76 · Post by **Baker76** » January 6th, 2016, 7:42 pm

Made a little progress after work tonight. I got some of the insulation in and got the bottom outer skin welded on. I guess i was too excited to wait till the weekend.

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Weldun · Post by **Weldun** » January 6th, 2016, 8:41 pm

Baker76 your post did it! I've been sitting on the sidelines watching build after build and can't take it no more, thanks to your build and the other builds, I bought my plans tonight and they are worth every cent. Great job and thanks for the inspiration.

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 6th, 2016, 8:53 pm

Nice work!

Making memories.

Baker76 · Post by **Baker76** » January 6th, 2016, 9:52 pm

Weldun, the plans are definitely worth it. Follow them and everything will fit like a glove. Thanks to the guys that put in all hard work to make these plans.

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Baker76 · Post by **Baker76** » January 7th, 2016, 7:33 pm

I was wondering how to mount the thermometer to the door? I bought the large slam latch kit for a gr feed cabnet from BBQ Smoker supplies and the thermometer that came in the kit is a little too short to use the wing nut on the back side. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Richb · Post by **Richb** » January 7th, 2016, 8:03 pm

Hello Baker76,

I had the same problem. I used a dimple die hole punch to cut out a hole and form a recessed edge. Then I welded the punched out piece back into the opening. It gave me a recessed area to put the thermometer in and shortened the thickness of the the door enough to put the wing nut on. One note though I also welded a piece of pipe between the inner and outer walls to keep the thermometer from pulling the 2 walls in to far. Worked out nice for me. Here's some pictures of it.

Puff · Post by **Puff** » January 7th, 2016, 8:19 pm

Do you feel there could be a top heavy condition developing as the upper area build in weight?

Baker76 · Post by **Baker76** » January 7th, 2016, 9:02 pm

Richb, I like what you did with yours, looks like it gets the thermometer out of harms way a little also. I don't know where I would find a dimple punch though.
Puff, it is a bit top heavy but I don't plan on moving it much. It's a lot harder to tip over if pushing on the firebox side, that side is HEAVY. I wouldn't want to take it off the concrete.

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Richb · Post by **Richb** » January 8th, 2016, 8:38 am

I bought a set of Mittler Brothers dimple Dies. They have several different kinds.

scottyk · Post by **scottyk** » January 8th, 2016, 2:13 pm

I just took a short chunk of 3.5" tube I had laying around and cut a little angle on it. There is a 1/2"npt weld on bung to screw the gauge into.

scottyk · Post by **scottyk** » January 8th, 2016, 2:17 pm

Oh crap Im sorry I just now actually read your post! Yeah this wont help your problem, I used a long stem 4" thermometer to reach in there.

but you could use 3.5" tubing from the exterior wall to the interior wall, drill 3.5" hole in exterior skin and weld the bung on the interior skin. Issue being you would lose a little bit of insulation that way.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » January 8th, 2016, 10:26 pm

Dang man...nobody saw that awesome shop in the background??

Baker76 · Post by **Baker76** » January 9th, 2016, 12:59 pm

What has everyone been doing with this flange on the back of the latch so it sits down flat? Grind it off or put a hole in the door to clear it?

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Baker's mini GF build

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