Mini GF Experience

Smokerbuild · Post by **Smokerbuild** » May 25th, 2019, 12:20 pm

I started several months ago on my first fabrication project, the GF Mini. I had the best time. Thanks to Frank and Tom for all the advice. I’m sitting in the shop with the seasoning completed and the first fire started. Thank you to all of you, I’ve read many of your posts, very helpful. I used Eastwood Ceramic 2k Engine paint for the exterior. The paint is rated to 650 degrees. This was my first paint job. Eastwood provides great Tech Support. I started with .035 mig wire but soon discovered .024 wire used less heat which caused little distortion with the 16 gauge sheet metal.
On this Memorial Weekend, thank you to all the service men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice for my family’s and country’s freedom.

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Diggerg · Post by **Diggerg** » May 25th, 2019, 1:14 pm

towtruck · Post by **towtruck** » May 25th, 2019, 4:44 pm

Looks good!

Weldun · Post by **Weldun** » May 25th, 2019, 7:13 pm

Looks awesome, you should be proud!

Smurf · Post by **Smurf** » May 25th, 2019, 8:09 pm

Post by **Pete Mazz** » May 26th, 2019, 3:49 am

mp4 · Post by **mp4** » May 26th, 2019, 5:43 am

Awesomeness!

Post by **Big T** » May 26th, 2019, 10:22 pm

Sweet build!!

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » May 27th, 2019, 10:29 am

Looking really nice.....what are you cooking today?

Smokerbuild · Post by **Smokerbuild** » May 27th, 2019, 10:56 am

I started last night with 2 briskets. Just put 2 tri tips on and going to spatchcock 2 chickens for good measure. Trying to get familiar with the way the mini works. Lots of wind today and I’m trying to figure out how to work with the wind.

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Texasbowhunter · Post by **Texasbowhunter** » May 27th, 2019, 8:14 pm

Very nice job...
You'll get a lifetime of pleasure out of it...

richy20 · Post by **richy20** » May 28th, 2019, 11:57 am

That looks awesome and clean.

ajfoxy · Post by **ajfoxy** » May 29th, 2019, 1:57 am

Great job. Looks really good.

YouTube · Post by **Frank_Cox** » May 29th, 2019, 7:23 pm

Looks awesome!!! Love that paint it is great stuff!

bjustison · Post by **bjustison** » June 1st, 2019, 12:45 am

I love the color you used on your build. How is the paint holding up? Also how much paint did it take to finish? I'm getting close to painting and want to choose a paint with color options that I can spray using HVLP.

Smokerbuild · Post by **Smokerbuild** » June 1st, 2019, 6:59 am

I have cooked twice since painting. I would describe the finish as similar to the enamel finish on wood. It appears to be very durable. I’m used one quart for the Eastwood 2K high temp engine paint. I used two cans of 2K high temp primer. It was enough primer, barely. It’s better to get a quart of primer. The small area of the cooker firebox that reaches about 360 degree on the outside skin has discolored. Not very noticeable but I built it so I see everything. ;)

MattJ · Post by **MattJ** » June 5th, 2019, 7:03 pm

Nice build. How do those wheels do on grass? What size are they?

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Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » June 5th, 2019, 9:30 pm

Probably more dependent on the ground UNDER the grass.

JKalchik · Post by **JKalchik** » June 6th, 2019, 7:57 am

Well, speaking from my rather overweight double pan GF (same casters, I'm pretty sure)..... hard surfaces only. My lot is pretty sandy & soft, and only a couple of inches off the concrete, and it's on it's way to China. Hard pack gravel or paving base might be all right, but anything that grows grass, forget it.

Chromeski · Post by **Chromeski** » June 7th, 2019, 2:53 am

Looks amazing, I have the same wheels for mine, although I'm still a long ways from completion. I only get a couple hours a month to work on it and I'm slow. You did a great job, hope mine looks half that good when I'm done

Smokerbuild · Post by **Smokerbuild** » June 7th, 2019, 6:17 am

MattJ wrote:Nice build. How do those wheels do on grass? What size are they?

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The wheels are for hard surfaces only. I think the tires are rated at 400 lbs. each. They are hard rubber, no air and you can get them on Amazon. I built this unit for my back porch not the backyard. I have a forklift so I can move it anywhere. I would suggest if you want all terrain, get small boat trailer tires. The larger the tire surface the easier and more stable the smoker is when you are pushing it around on softer surfaces.

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Marvo · Post by **Marvo** » March 3rd, 2021, 11:40 pm

Hey... I like everything about this.

I'm doing some research on the GF.

Was it a money saver to build and paint it on your own vs. buy one on the market? If so, how much did you save?

JKalchik · Post by **JKalchik** » March 4th, 2021, 6:54 am

Heh..... I can't speak specifically to the Mini, I built the Double Pan.

If you're an ace fabricator, you can whomp one of these together in pretty short order. Me.... not so much. I spent more hours than I care to contemplate, and along with probably not getting the steel at the right place, there's an argument to be made for just buying one off the floor. OTOH, I know what's going into it, there's a couple of tweaks to suit me, and it works darned well.

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