Thanks, the one I'm most worried about is the hole in the side wall for the transfer tube. I think I'll make the firebox assembly before I cut the hole to make sure it's perfect.
I'm probably overthinking this, which doesn't help, lol.
Hi,
the same here... therefore I've started to create a 3D CAD model before I buy or cut anything. I've everything to rounded to the closest available metric units and (up to now) the model seems "build-able" with metric as well.
(I was also thinking that the FB will be 12mm and the chute with 6 mm.)
Yeah I will be doing 12 & 6 as well & I've decided the safest way will be to build the fire box & chute first & then the rest of the smoker around it & write down the actual measurements as I go. Looks like I'll have to wait some more, till I have the money to get the plate for the FB cut, to be able to start playing with steel in the shed.
Just adding my 2 cents, but we have metric tape measures here.....couldn't you just use a imperial tape measure and build as the plans indicate? My guess is that your steel is actually sold in metric as well so this would also require a conversion.
Yikes. I'm good a t math but that sounds like a nightmare.
Congrats by the way....can't wait to hear how it goes.
I was going to try to do that but it's the steel sizes that cause the main problem, 1/2inch = 12.5mm & 1.5inch = 38.1mm, closest we have to those sizes are 12mm & 40mm in box & angle. The 2mm difference in the box for the frame is the main problem in the conversions, the dimension front to back in the frame is 23in internal & 26in external but the conversion is 584.2mm internal & 660.4mm external, but 660 - 80mm is not 584, already 4mm difference on that one alone(5/32inch).
It's the overall volume that is critical. An extra bit here and less there is ok. Unless you plan to cut every piece before you start you can measure and fit as you go.
I do like to cut a bunch of stuff, clean it all up & then tack the lot so I know it all fits right, then weld as much as I can in one session(usually the lot) but I guess that's all part & parcel of having OCD, lol.
Good Luck Squiggle!
I would advise to tack a lil as you go to try and cut down on waste and mistakes, however you may be an expert and don't know it...like DC!
There is no way I could come close to the caliber of DC's expertise, but then again, if I don't know it then how can I tell?? Hmmmm, I think I have just put my brain into an infinite paradox, doh!
Totally dude, I always new it would take some work but I thought it would just be converting all the measurements not adjusting the stock size & altering dimensions to suit as well.