1st build (20 x 36) with LOTS of help.

[kylersk]

I got my hands on a 20" diameter x 36" steel tube. It sat around for months just begging to be turned into a smoker. I then found a good deal on 1/4" steel plate to make the firebox, baffle plate and end caps from. I hacked my way trying to cut the 1/4" plate into weldable parts using a plasma cutter. Those parts sat around for a while. Finally, I asked a friend to help weld and assemble my smoker.

Progress made this weekend.

[McBroom]

Awesome job! Keep up the good work.
Don't forget the required Qview.
Can't wait to see the finished product.
Oh yeah you must name it too.

Claud McBroom

[kylersk]

After looking at these pictures I realized - I better get in there and sand off all that paint on the baffle plate before the end caps get welded into place. Luckily, the painted side ended up on the top.

[towtruck]

Nice work!

[Dirtytires]

Yes....paint on the inside is not advisable. I’ve had really good luck with a paint removal wheel on an angle grinder. The big box stores have them with the cut-off wheels. A tad on the expensive side and they wear down rapidly but you can’t beat them for efficiency.

[kylersk]

A couple more pics. I can almost smell the smoke!

[Big T]

[mp4]

AWESOMENESS!

[kylersk]

Brought her home over the weekend and fired it up. Have to sand it some more yet and then paint it. I've read some people just oil the outside of their firebox rather than pain it. Thoughts on that?

We weighed it and it came in at 422#'s.

[Dirtytires]

I tried to oil the outside of an older offset once. What a mess. Darn think dripped oil for the next 3 weeks (and I had only put a thin coat on as well as wiped it down) and I had rust again in a month. It can probably be successfully but I had such a mess that I would vote for paint.

[kylersk]

Threw on some paint. The lid had lots of grinder marks in it so I had to spend a lot of time sanding it. Not perfect, but much better than the 1st coat of paint. The firebox plates had alot if deep groves on them (used steel from some sort of farm equipment). I ground and sanded them down a bit, but the grooves were too deep and I was tired of grinding... so they are going to stay that way - at least for now.

[Dirtytires]

A good flap disk is great for smoothing out grinding marks. On deep groves, I’ve had good success but running a super fast weld over the and then run the flap-disk to smooth them out. Much easier than trying to just sand them out like you do on wood.

Either way, no problem leaving them as it adds character! Congrats on a nice build.

[kylersk]

1st food pRon from New pit... a chuck roast. I have a UDS, weber smokey mountain, pellet grill and green egg. Never have i seen a smoke ring like this!

[Big T]

[Dirtytires]

Nice job....I’m convinced it’s hard to beat the smoke ring on a reverse flo.....

[towtruck]

[kylersk]

Made a lonestar knock off firebasket. Never weleded before. The welds look terrible (not straight in the corners) but its functional.

[Dirtytires]

Welds only have to be strong... lol.

Looks like a pretty solid basket. Does it have an open bottom for the ash to fall out?

[kylersk]

yeah, 3/4 #9 expanded metal.

[Dirtytires]

Cool....nice solid log rack.