Working on my smoker again!

[Pete Mazz]

After almost 3 years of procrastination I'm back at it. I made a trip to my metal guy and got new 14 g steel interior skins sheared. These are a lot easier to weld than stainless. Did I mention I suck at welding?

Anyhow, I got the interior finished with the rails and drip edges.

Now if I can only keep it going this time....

[mp4]

AWESOME!!!

[Rodcrafter]

You can do it, I bet that SS kicked your butt so bad you didn't want to do it again. But this is looking great.


Making memories.

[Squiggle]

[Pete Mazz]

Thanks guys!

Yea, that SS is a pain. I'm still fearing what will happen when I skin the exterior with it. If it warps as badly as the inside did I'm going to shoot myself.

For those (all) who don't remember...

I'm building a vertical SS gasser.

Hinges

Latches

It'll be set up like a hand truck. Wheels on one side with a handle.

Kick ass thermometer.

High output burner.

This is (hopefully) going to be my pizza oven as well. I have two 3/8" thick SS plates that I'll use that will form the quasi oven.

I'll also use it to cold smoke using a small electric hotplate placed in the bottom.

[Baker76]

Cool!

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

[Pete Mazz]

Got most of the outer skins on yesterday, as well as the door. So far, so good. Tried some stitch welding on the outside corners. Went OK, but will need more grinding wheels....

Even this little smoker is getting heavy! I'll have to fix one corner that took a hit when it dropped from the cart I had it on.

No work for a few days as we're getting a foot or more of snow Saturday and my back already hurts from welding and grinding.

[Rodcrafter]

Keep up the good work. Did you insulate it or, are you letting the air gap do it for you?

[Pete Mazz]

Just an air gap. I actually like that the top of the smoker stays warm. I use it as a warming/serving area.

[Rodcrafter]

Yep, that's cool or should I say warm. lol

[Pete Mazz]

I got the outsides skinned. The wheels are on. The burner is mounted and the igniter is ready to be installed. The wood skillet bolts are in too.

Another round of stitching and grinding and I'll be ready to mount the door and side handle.

[Rodcrafter]

This will be ready in plenty of time for the Gathering. Keep up the good work Pete.


Making memories.

[Pete Mazz]

what's the best way to clean up around the inside welds?

[Ranjer59]

Clean up the inside welds? angle grinder with flexible pad or just cook in it as normal- a few good smokes and you won't notice them much. Looking good sir.

[Rodcrafter]

I use a lot of spatter shield in hard to get to places before I weld there. The dingle berries don't stick then I just need to make a pretty good weld and leave it alone. Most of my welds are on the outside seams so I get a good strong weld.

jm2cw


Making memories.

[Squiggle]

spatter shield is my friend too!

[Pete Mazz]

I'm talking about the dark brown areas around the welds. Look at the drip edge on the back wall of the smoker. Is this something to not be concerned with before seasoning?

[Rodcrafter]

I would just leave it alone the seasoning will be just fine.

[Pete Mazz]

I would just leave it alone the seasoning will be just fine.

I hope you're right. You may be the first one eating food from it!

[Rodcrafter]

Well we will burn it hot for a while then I'll be ready.

[Pete Mazz]

Got the door hung today, along with more welding and grinding. Made a trip to Harbor Freight for more grinding wheels too. After I install the latch tomorrow I'll take some more pics.

[Pete Mazz]

Try this again. Last nights post magically disappeared.

Here's a close up of the burner and the adjustable bolts for the skillet.

Here's the latch mechanism. A 1/2" ss rod with a washer that has been cut on one side which engages an angle bracket. I also installed a drip edge on the back of the door. The gasket material I ordered should be here soon.

And here's the (almost) finished smoker with the side handle and thermo installed.

I still have to install the ss piano hinge for the exhaust vent cover as well as clean it up some.

I'm bringing in a tank of gas today to see what she'll do.

[Squiggle]

awesome work dude, the burner setup is very cool.

[Rodcrafter]

Heck yeah, do you adjust the skillet or is that for until you get it the way you want it? When get started you really get going.

Good work Pete.


Making memories.

[Pete Mazz]

I set it for a 1" gap but since I'm using a high output burner it may need to be set higher.

I got the igniter installed today as well as some more grinding and sanding. Hooked up the gas and fired her up. Got it up to 500 degrees and let her cool off. No pops so far....

Haven't got the gasket material yet. Frank must have sent it Pony Express.