Cowboy cookin newby style

[Smokinnewby]

Hey fellas

I decided that today was a good day to start my cowboy cooker combo build. I started by grinding off the remaining paint that was on the bell end of the propane tank used to build my rf smoker. The diameter is 24” and I figured it would make a good fire pit for sitting around or a good bed for coals to cook on.
Yes, I realize that the 3” angle is overkill but I had it just laying around in my steel pile beside “go big or go home” right??
I didn’t really have specific plans for this build I just started fabbing things up.
next I started using 3/16x2.5 flat bar for the top. And will continue to skirt the deck with the same material.

That’s about as for as I got for today but have all tomorrow to work on it so I am calling it a day.
Oh I even got to play with my new Christmas present today as well
The plan is to have a removable swinging cooking grate along with a removable, swinging disco.


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[Big T]

Nice

[Squiggle]

Very cool dude, nice work!

[Smokinnewby]

Thanks fellas!!!


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[Cole]

Looks good, great idea, I think I'll add it to my to do list!

[YTQBBQINC]

Nice Work!

[Smokinnewby]

Well I got in some time today to work on this thing. Made some progress and made some mistakes. Here is some of what I got done today.
I worked to get all my seams grinder down and uniform. I then proceeded to work on the grill top portion and ended up with a train wreck because of a few miss measurements and didn’t even notice it till I was done tacking it up and placed on top of the pit. I will be redoing that.
I will take the next few days to work on my plans and get things ready for my next days off.


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[Big T]

It happens to all of us at some point. Just don't get discouraged and you'll come out with a nice pit.

[Smokinnewby]

Thanks brother, I am pretty stubborn and I don’t get discouraged so easily, I look at it as a challenge to overcome. One thing I and finding out really fast is that I am in need of a plasma cutter or a cutting torch of my own, the chopsaw can only do so much


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[Rodcrafter]

You;re doing a great job as heavy as that rascal looks it reminds me of some of my choices.

[Smokinnewby]

I think I am gonna try to do a cooking grate using 1/4x1” angle and 3/8 cold roll. Not sure what my spacing should be with the cold roll, what are you guys thought or input?


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[Smokinnewby]

I put in some more time on my cowboy cooker. Put on a boot rail and and worked on the cooking grate. I don’t have a metal roller but made do with some large clamps.
Doesn’t have that professional look but I am very pleased with it so far. This is actually my third welding project since I started using a welder.
I was able to get another cooking grate frame fabbed up using 1/4x1x1 angle and 3/8 cold roll. Got half of it done before being forced to call it a night on a count that I ran out of wire.

I think this build is going to turn nice.


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[Big T]

Yep, it's going to be mighty fine when you get finished

[Squiggle]

[temurf]

I really like the cooking grate.

[Smokinnewby]

Thanks fellers, I do appreciate the encouragement.
I do have an unrelated question for you guys and would appreciate your feed back on this one. I was out and about today getting some more cold roll and wire when I noticed a brand of wire I had not seen before “fire power” was the name. The wire seemed to be priced in the twenty dollar range give or take a few bucks. Has anyone used this wire before and what can you tell me about it quality wise? I mean if it’s a decent wire I will be switching over from the wire I am getting at the local airgas shop for around $40 for an 11pound spool


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[Heatermeter builder]

Looks great.

The first thing I thought of, was my wife would love something like this to be used as a wood burning wok.

[Smokinnewby]

I got some more work done on this cowboy cooker. But yet again I ran short about 4 feet on the cold roll. The place where I get my steel was out of 3/8 cold roll. I switched over from the cooking grate to working on the fire pit. I got it all shoes up and ended up fixing part of the “boot ring” that was out of per portion. I also got the back side of the grate braced up and ready to receive the pivot point needed to make it swivel.


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[Big T]

lookin good

[Smokinnewby]

Big T
For the swivel I was going to use 1/2 black pipe with a piece of 5/8 cold roll as the pin. I have it braced on the bottom with a piece of 1/4x2x24 that runs down the middle of the grate like a fin. On the back side where I plan to put the pivot I have welded some 3/8x2.5” flat bar as a re enforcement. Will this be enough to support the load? The grate is 1/4x1x1 angle with 3/8 cold roll


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[ajfoxy]

Looking bloody good so far. Heavy Duty that would make RC proud.
You might have to have a sign on it that says "3 person lift" in case you have to move it.

[Big T]

I'm not sure if the 5/8'' round stock will be enough to support it long term or not. If it's just being used for a pivot to swing the grate out of the way it might work but if you plan on raising the grate above the fire pit, I'd try to find something a little heavier. The 5/8'' would probably be fine if it wasn't offset so much, then again I could be dead wrong and it may work forever.

[Dirtytires]

Just my 2 cents but you asked...

Since you are new to welding, I would be reluctant to change things up just yet. Get some experience and find your own technique. Once you are there, feel free to experiment with different wire and procedures. I found out that I was just confusing myself by changing too much too fast.

With that said, great project. I'm excited to see how it turnes out.

[ajfoxy]

See where you are going wrong and try correct it. If it is the wire then try something different.

[Smokinnewby]

Thanks gents, I sure am grateful for all the advice. I am not giving up, but the cooking grate pivot is kicking my butt. I have made two different attempts at it but still failing in my attempts. The first attempt was placing the pivot off to the side away from the horse shoe. That was a bust because of the weight of the grate (1/4x1x1 angle and 3/8 cold roll) go big or go home right RC?
The second attempt was cutting out a horseshoe and moving the pivot to the center so the weight would be equal from side to side. The issue the second time again is the weight (the front of the grate wants to sag. I guess the third time will be the charm, I hope. The pivot joint I have been trying is 1 inch pipe with a piece of 3/4 pipe as the pin itself. Let me know if you have another suggestion I can try. This is the first time I am kicking myself for making something too strong.


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