Ok, here I go! My new project.

Hambone · Post by **Hambone** » January 9th, 2014, 6:35 pm

Hell all. I have been around here in the past but haven't contributed in a while. Just lurking about. Last year I built a smoker and it sold shortly after completion. So I was back to cooking on my Lowes special and doing the best I could. All the while I was thinking that maybe if I got the nerve and the skills I would make a real smoker. I looked at all the options (oil tank, propane tank and rolling steel) but all were either too expensive or just too far out of my skill set. In the mean time, I experimented with some trinkets and knick-knacks--I made a few little charcoal grills out of the small grill propane tanks that are used for gas grills. My friends love them. They don't know any better, bless their hearts.

Well fast forward to the present: I was calling again to see if a local steel yard could roll steel for me and what would it cost... They then mentioned that they have a "beat up" section of pipe that might serve my purposes. I never even thought about that. 26 inch diameter 1/4 inch thick. I stopped by and thought, "yeah that looks great!" I order a 4 foot section (no more messing around-this time!). The cost, a little over 100 bucks. I could hardly contain the excitement. Then I picked it up.. 350 pounds! I get it home and it's huge. Now, I know this sounds dumb, but it looked a lot smaller in the steel yard. What am I going to do with this thing?!?

I figure, I will do the very best I can with the limited skills and tools that I possess. Can't help thinking that if I screw this up or get in too far over my head, I can always scrap it. In the mean time, I will post pics of my progress and invite any and all criticism and advice. And please, plenty of advice!

Mike

Post by **Big T** » January 9th, 2014, 7:49 pm

It should make a great smoker, I just built one out of a 25'' pipe that is 48'' long.

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » January 9th, 2014, 8:03 pm

Welcome back!! It is amazing how much those "small" pipes can weigh. Sounds like it will be perfect for a nice RF. Can't wait to see the pics.

Hambone · Post by **Hambone** » January 9th, 2014, 8:47 pm

Big T wrote:It should make a great smoker, I just built one out of a 25'' pipe that is 48'' long.

Would you happen to have a pic of it that you wouldn't mind sharing?

Post by **Big T** » January 9th, 2014, 10:46 pm

I don't know how to post a link but it's in the RF builds, look for The Ugly Stick there a quite a few pictures.

Hambone · Post by **Hambone** » January 10th, 2014, 6:58 am

Thanks, BigT. I took a look at that thread and your smoker came out really nice. I'm going to try not to think about it and just get going. I really hope it comes out ok.

vizion · Post by **vizion** » January 10th, 2014, 12:21 pm

Hambone, Like you said if you get in to far over you head or mess things up you can chalk it up to a learning experience and scrap it.. I always said that if I learn something from my screw ups I am good... I don't always learn cause if I did I would be the smartest man on the face of the earth... I mess up a lot just ask the ol lady....

bluecatfish · Post by **bluecatfish** » January 10th, 2014, 12:33 pm

With all the good advice you will get from the guys here you won't have any problems that can't be solved! Just don't be afraid to ask. A lot of good tools help and make it easier, but with just an old stick welder, cutting torch, grinder with cutting wheels, drill and hand tools amazing things can be done with a little patience and practice. Looking forward to the pictures and seeing thin blue smoke coming out of the stack and the good grub!

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 11th, 2014, 11:35 am

You will do fine, and remember it is steel if you don't like something you did cut it off and weld something else then the only one who knows is you. You can't mess this up, you will just change it if you don't like it. That is a great size too!

Hambone · Post by **Hambone** » January 11th, 2014, 12:19 pm

Here is the ugliest piece of pipe ever.

bluecatfish · Post by **bluecatfish** » January 11th, 2014, 12:54 pm

But it will soon be a thing of beauty!

Post by **Big T** » January 11th, 2014, 2:17 pm

It looks way better than the one that I started with and just look what it turned into. It's like everybody said it's steel , you can cut it , grind it ,weld it, heat it and beat it and when you're done nobody will know but you.

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » January 11th, 2014, 4:42 pm

trekinaway · Post by **trekinaway** » January 11th, 2014, 11:20 pm

Jump right in and remember to enjoy yourself! What's the point if it's not fun.

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 12th, 2014, 8:34 am

Hamebone,

The piece of pipe in the picture to the right was an ugly piece too. It was 26" X 12' long, but it is a sweet cooker now, that many of my friends would love to have.

jm2cw

Hambone · Post by **Hambone** » January 12th, 2014, 12:35 pm

You guys are getting me all excited. I gotta get some steel tomorrow. Start making this thing.

Puff · Post by **Puff** » January 12th, 2014, 9:51 pm

I would love to find a piece of pipe like this for my next one. I have two 120 gal. compressor tanks so I'm covered but you gotta think ahead.

I got in over my head when I started but like it's been said. There's enough talent and help for the asking. I am now finishing a smoker that can feed a 3 day festival of people and ride home again, but we'll just use it here at the house. I have a dog, she likes BBQ too!

Big T, your piece was 3/8, what did that weigh?

Hambone · Post by **Hambone** » January 26th, 2014, 9:45 am

I got a little sidetracked on my new smoker. A good friend has asked me to build a smoker. I was delighted to have more to do. I just picked up the steel and found a 20inch sched 10. Got a 36 inch piece. We have had stupid cold weather here in northern ny and work is going slow. It took a day to unload the 1/4 inch plate ( heavy stuff) and cut it up. It would have help a lot if I had the ground clamp hooked up on the plasma. What a dope! I'll post some build picks as I think it will be amusing.

Post by **Rodcrafter** » January 26th, 2014, 10:13 am

Hambone · Post by **Hambone** » January 26th, 2014, 7:24 pm

The heavy as hell steel.

Fire box cut out.

Fire box put together-- somewhat.

Now beer time.

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » January 26th, 2014, 7:30 pm

It looks like you earned the last pic! :LG:

Post by **Big T** » January 26th, 2014, 8:17 pm

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » January 26th, 2014, 8:32 pm

Not sure if the smoke will work, but the beer will

dwwantasmoker · Post by **dwwantasmoker** » January 26th, 2014, 9:08 pm

Mmmmmmmmmm BEEEEEEEER!

Oh ya the fire box look great to!

Hambone · Post by **Hambone** » February 16th, 2014, 7:27 pm

Now that the winter has thoroughly kick the snot out of me, I can do some stuff on my friends smoker. It's still bitter cold but I can deal with it.

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