Christmas present

bstory · Post by **bstory** » October 5th, 2013, 8:45 pm

I am going to build my father-in-law a smoker for Christmas. It is 30x34 with a 24x24 round firebox. With a 30" od how high should the bottom cooking rack be off the ground. I am not sure what would be a good length to make the legs.

Here is what I am starting with.

Post by **Big T** » October 5th, 2013, 9:59 pm

I don't know what the normal height for a cooker is but I just extended the legs on a cooker for a customer. He had it custom built a few years ago and said it always seemed a little low to him, he is 6' tall and his bottom rack was 36" so we made the bottom rack 40" from the floor. I think it might be personal preference because a guy that works for me said it's a little to tall for him and he's 5'9 . On a side note that fire box looks a little on the large side but I'm no professional, have you ran it through the pit calculator ?

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » October 6th, 2013, 7:42 am

Standard kitchen counter height is 36 inches. That's intended as an average for anyone to work at standing up - beyond that you are correct - it's personal preference. It's also effected by how many grates you've got and averaging those out so you can comfortably work ALL of them okay.

That being said - many people like them LOWER than that because they are frequently working with large roaster pans or heavy cuts of meat and lower is a little easier to "manhandle" those … just sayin'

The FB does look too big but if you lay in a false floor across the bottom of the pipe (makes a flat bottom in the FB) you'll effectively shrink the FB volume. Just run you ideas through the pit calc on here first so you'll know where you'll end up - 115% is nice for a FB.

bstory · Post by **bstory** » October 6th, 2013, 8:14 am

I have ran the stuff through the pit calc. It's at 135% I was planning cutting a little off, but the false floor sounds like a great idea because cutting that 1/2" pipe was a pain in the @$$. Thanks for the great ideas. This is my first complete build I appreciate all the help I can get.

bstory · Post by **bstory** » October 6th, 2013, 8:34 am

Oh and of course the fb will be lower, that's just how it was sitting when I pushed them together for their first pic together. What a sweet couple lol. I will post pics during the build.

bstory · Post by **bstory** » October 11th, 2013, 5:52 pm

Man progress is really slow! Hope to actually get something done this week.

bstory · Post by **bstory** » October 11th, 2013, 5:57 pm

I am not a good photographer I guess. The two cutouts do match up for the opening to the firebox.

Rev.Mike · Post by **Rev.Mike** » October 11th, 2013, 6:05 pm

bluecatfish · Post by **bluecatfish** » October 11th, 2013, 6:49 pm

If they match up should be good to go.

Post by **Tom_Heath** » October 11th, 2013, 10:47 pm

I wanna see the pic of that sucker sitting under the tree all wrapped up.

That would be awesome.!!!!! .... Something that I would do.

And OMG I wish someone would build me a cooker for x mas. HINT HINT Frank. You know my address. LOL

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » October 12th, 2013, 6:09 am

Gonna be an impressive tree - that's for sure…..

bstory · Post by **bstory** » October 12th, 2013, 7:16 am

Yea I am still gonna have to figure the tree part out

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » October 12th, 2013, 10:40 am

This is where a Czarport is needed!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Rev.Mike · Post by **Rev.Mike** » October 12th, 2013, 11:43 am

bstory · Post by **bstory** » October 22nd, 2013, 12:25 pm

Well I got stuck with bad luck. All set to get a lot done today, and it's my only day all week to work on it. The power went out after someone hit a line. Well here is a mock up on the stand and a pic of my new addition. A little hobart 140.

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » October 22nd, 2013, 12:57 pm

Looks good. Let us know how the 140 performs.

bstory · Post by **bstory** » October 22nd, 2013, 5:41 pm

Hobart handler made it happen

bstory · Post by **bstory** » October 23rd, 2013, 11:54 am

Got a little more work done.!i have to adjust the stand for it...she has a lot of junk in the trunk!!!!!

Rev.Mike · Post by **Rev.Mike** » October 23rd, 2013, 12:31 pm

starting to take shape now!

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » October 23rd, 2013, 3:34 pm

It'll be smokin soon.

jaybird302 · Post by **jaybird302** » October 23rd, 2013, 5:45 pm

bstory wrote:Well I got stuck with bad luck. All set to get a lot done today, and it's my only day all week to work on it. The power went out after someone hit a line. Well here is a mock up on the stand and a pic of my new addition. A little hobart 140.

How do you like the 140 so far? I have the same stick welder as you and it does pretty good, but I'd love to upgrade to a mig setup. I'm never quite sure if the lower powered units will hold up to the task. My general rule in life is this, "If a little does good, then a lot will do a lot more good!" Drives my wife crazy.... Anyway, not to be a thread-jacker, just wondering.

Jay

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » October 23rd, 2013, 6:36 pm

Jaybird if you are looking to a new mig setup, Miller has some pretty good deals going on right now. I just added a Miller 211 to my collection and LOVE it.

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » October 23rd, 2013, 6:38 pm

I have a 140 and love it. On 1/4 I just bevel, and sometimes go for a second pass, if I have any doubt.
Oh and CRS, U SUCK!

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » October 23rd, 2013, 7:24 pm

I'll take that as a compliment S1

jaybird302 · Post by **jaybird302** » October 23rd, 2013, 9:05 pm

Clover Ridge Smokers wrote:Jaybird if you are looking to a new mig setup, Miller has some pretty good deals going on right now. I just added a Miller 211 to my collection and LOVE it.

Shoot if a Miller 211 was in my budget I wouldn't care about a Hobart 140.... Maybe some day.

SmokerBuilder.com