First build here we go!!

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » September 30th, 2012, 8:03 pm

Making progress..

Post by **Rodcrafter** » September 30th, 2012, 8:53 pm

Looks like you are on the way. It is right about here where I get so caught up in the process, I forget I'm married and my wife reminds me.

Have fun looks like you are!

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » September 30th, 2012, 10:13 pm

Oh I'm getting reminded by the girl friend alright. I feel like one good day with a new sheet of 1/4" and I'll be able to knock a bunch out. What is the best way to measure my RF gap? Since it will be in the end bell I'm not sure how to find the volume..or maybe Im looking for the surface area? of the opening..

TuscaloosaQ · Post by **TuscaloosaQ** » October 1st, 2012, 5:55 am

I personally stop my baffel plate at the weld seam where the radius starts. All cookers perform different and nobody has the monoply on where it should go, My cookers have been performing very good stopping the baffel plate at the seam I believe some people expectations are way to high if my cooker has a 15degree variance from one end to the other i am totally cool with that. In my opinion if someone cannnot make good Q with a 15degree difference from end to end then they need to go to burger king and get a whopper. You are doing a mighty fine job on this build keep up the good work :LG:

Post by **Rodcrafter** » October 1st, 2012, 6:29 am

That should be just fine!

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » October 1st, 2012, 7:16 am

Thanks TQ! Taking my measurements and edge view template to the machine shop today to have my door made.

Post by **Tom_Heath** » October 1st, 2012, 10:29 pm

Looking great my friend,

Always remember that you can make the baffle plate adjustable. Frank has a cool acme thread adjuster on one of his first builds.

Now, Did I hear someone say Whopper???? Shezzzzz, now I want to run up to burger king and grab one with a side of Hershey desert. OMG I am starting to have slobber leak from my lips just thinking about it.

15 degree temp swing is not bad at all, even sometimes wanted.
Not that its a bad thing to have near perfect temps. Its actually kinda cool to brag about, but then again I am not running a reverse flow any more.

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » October 2nd, 2012, 6:36 am

No matter how the temp variances come out I always say "That's exactly what I wanted it to do"
I got most people thinking I know what I'm doing but don't tell 'em OKAY?

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » October 2nd, 2012, 5:44 pm

Temp swing of 15 is of little concern in my book.

We wouldnt do that Rick! Unless we run out of pie amd tea.

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » October 6th, 2012, 5:09 pm

Be ready for updates tomorrow...going to try and put most of the day into the build so I should get a lot done!

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » October 6th, 2012, 5:31 pm

I'll get after that pie and tea right away ...

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » October 7th, 2012, 10:23 pm

Well I feel like it isn't much but I got a late start...had to put a starter on the girl friends 4 runner, wasn't as fun as it sounds. Anyway here's what I got done today. Firebox built, just have to finish welding it out, door sub frame built to the FB and I got the frame ready to go on the door just have to weld that up next time also. It's getting closer anyway!

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » October 8th, 2012, 7:15 am

Nice....what kind of welder did you say you were using?

TuscaloosaQ · Post by **TuscaloosaQ** » October 8th, 2012, 7:21 am

Looks great!!! I like that sub-frame on the door. I think I have seen it before, you will be happy with it

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » October 8th, 2012, 7:32 am

I've been using a Red-E-Arc E300 I don't think it's in any of the pics. He has a SA250 pipeliner, SAM400, and a Ranger 10000....just got the e300 hooked up last week and man am I glad I don't have to listen to some noisey engine. The whole time I'm working. The pipeliner and the SAM are for sale of anyone is looking!

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » October 8th, 2012, 8:09 am

TuscaloosaQ wrote:Looks great!!! I like that sub-frame on the door. I think I have seen it before, you will be happy with it

I did steal that idea...hope you don't mind! I thought it would give me the cleanest look and most function, as far as making a good seal. I really wanted my intake on the end but I just don't know if I will have the room on the door...should I split it and have one on each side or just do one?

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » October 8th, 2012, 11:40 am

1 is a lot easier to control ... just sayin'

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » October 8th, 2012, 6:21 pm

Since I don't have the room to put an intake below the door, is there a problem with putting the intake in the door? The problem here would be that most of it would be at or above the level of the coal bed, probably not the best setup right? Guys put them on the side all the time I just have it in my head that this isn't the best setup I could do, I feel like the clean air would only be moving diagonally across the fire. I saw on one of franks builds that he had a round intake on the bottom of the FB, can you tell me how this worked out frank?? I'm considering putting one in at center and as close to the door side wall as I can. I may be over thinking this and just need to get some dang air to the fire, but I want it to be right the first time!

TuscaloosaQ · Post by **TuscaloosaQ** » October 8th, 2012, 6:51 pm

Soilhunter, that is why we all are here i am constantly getting ideas from peoples projects..... let me know how it works out I really love it.... Your project is looking awesome very very nice work :LG:

I put all my intakes in my firebox door they work fantastic. I use to put them in the side but a competition cook I built a cooker for sold me on the intake in the firebox door. And if it is (the intake) a little above the basket I promise it will do just fine in my opinion

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » October 8th, 2012, 7:09 pm

I just looked and saw the firebox but not the door ... did I miss something?

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » October 8th, 2012, 7:25 pm

No door yet Rick...I've got the frame cut for it already..just ready to be welded together, hopefully tomorrow night if work goes like it should.

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » October 8th, 2012, 8:14 pm

I like the door intake also. I think it will work fine as long as it is close to coal level.

I won't speak for Frank, but I know the one time I tinkered with the bottom intake, on a cooker, I had a problem with ash building up and blocking it off.

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

Post by **Tom_Heath** » October 8th, 2012, 9:12 pm

Yikes!!!!

Would be so so cool to have the pipeliner!!!!!!

Prob safer to not have it cause the wife would make me sleep with it. No joke about that.

YouTube · Post by **Frank_Cox** » October 9th, 2012, 4:24 pm

Sorry so late to respond SoilHunter....
Bottom air intake is a bad idea if you do it the way I did it on the blue 100 pounder I built. S1 is right, although it looks cool and makes the firebox easy to clean the ash out it catches ash on the damper and blocks off the intake air. also has problems with wind. kinda like the old blow across the open end of a bottle and make the whistle sound happen, it pulls a negative draft on the firebox and smoke will actually come out the intake. instead of going the correct direction. that design would work ok if the damper had a high wind guard around it and the ash problem was handled differently.
After reading Solo's observations in an earlier post he made while running his pit, I have become a believer in the door intake idea. I believe not only air intake placement but also fire placement was discussed. Observations on Charcoal basket placement- Post by SoloQue
I think his post will shed some light on the issue.

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » October 9th, 2012, 10:04 pm

Little update for the night...not the prettiest or fanciest hinges but I think they will do for the first build! I've decided on a round intake for the door I'll use 5.5" pipe, should raise it from the door or make it flush? Screw out or a swivel? Turns out intake height will be just right..I think anyway.

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