Finally pulled the trigger!

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » March 8th, 2016, 11:02 pm

Well, I finally got my butt into gear & purchased a set of plans for the Mini GF about a week or so ago & today I when & picked up the first of many loads from the steel supplier. My biggest issue so far is converting everything from imperial to metric, doing all the guage & thicknesses has been easy but I'm finding the dimensions are starting to wander a bit with the conversations. i.e. 1/2 inch is 12.6mm & the closest is 12mm. So I'm slowly going through the plans & working out the differences, hopefully it won't take to much longer & I'll start insulating the frame & welding it together.

Post by **Big T** » March 9th, 2016, 12:03 am

I think as long as you keep everything as close as possible you'll be fine.

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » March 9th, 2016, 1:06 am

Thanks, the one I'm most worried about is the hole in the side wall for the transfer tube. I think I'll make the firebox assembly before I cut the hole to make sure it's perfect.

I'm probably overthinking this, which doesn't help, lol.

Post by **Pete Mazz** » March 9th, 2016, 4:58 am

Cool!

Post by **Rodcrafter** » March 9th, 2016, 6:12 am

You weld that in too so if is a bit bigger you just fill it in

Making memories.

mp4 · Post by **mp4** » March 9th, 2016, 6:52 am

Or...you buy a new tape measure with inches.

I know a retired iron worker that would tell stories about laying out buildings designed in metric and converted to imperial and they were never good!

LSz · Post by **LSz** » March 9th, 2016, 12:43 pm

Hi,
the same here... therefore I've started to create a 3D CAD model before I buy or cut anything. I've everything to rounded to the closest available metric units and (up to now) the model seems "build-able" with metric as well.

(I was also thinking that the FB will be 12mm and the chute with 6 mm.)

mp4 · Post by **mp4** » March 9th, 2016, 12:52 pm

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » March 9th, 2016, 3:11 pm

Yeah I will be doing 12 & 6 as well & I've decided the safest way will be to build the fire box & chute first & then the rest of the smoker around it & write down the actual measurements as I go. Looks like I'll have to wait some more, till I have the money to get the plate for the FB cut, to be able to start playing with steel in the shed.

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » March 9th, 2016, 9:43 pm

Math

lol

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » March 9th, 2016, 11:15 pm

Just adding my 2 cents, but we have metric tape measures here.....couldn't you just use a imperial tape measure and build as the plans indicate? My guess is that your steel is actually sold in metric as well so this would also require a conversion.

Yikes. I'm good a t math but that sounds like a nightmare.

Congrats by the way....can't wait to hear how it goes.

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » March 10th, 2016, 12:05 am

I was going to try to do that but it's the steel sizes that cause the main problem, 1/2inch = 12.5mm & 1.5inch = 38.1mm, closest we have to those sizes are 12mm & 40mm in box & angle. The 2mm difference in the box for the frame is the main problem in the conversions, the dimension front to back in the frame is 23in internal & 26in external but the conversion is 584.2mm internal & 660.4mm external, but 660 - 80mm is not 584, already 4mm difference on that one alone(5/32inch).

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » March 11th, 2016, 12:28 am

It's the overall volume that is critical. An extra bit here and less there is ok. Unless you plan to cut every piece before you start you can measure and fit as you go.

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » March 11th, 2016, 5:55 am

I do like to cut a bunch of stuff, clean it all up & then tack the lot so I know it all fits right, then weld as much as I can in one session(usually the lot) but I guess that's all part & parcel of having OCD, lol.

Post by **Rodcrafter** » March 11th, 2016, 6:49 am

My wife says "they spelled it wrong it's CDO anyone knows it should be alphabetical." She may have that issue too. lol

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » March 11th, 2016, 3:39 pm

Hahaha, I've been saying that for years but everyone just thinks I'm crazy!

forty_creek · Post by **forty_creek** » March 11th, 2016, 3:52 pm

Good Luck Squiggle!
I would advise to tack a lil as you go to try and cut down on waste and mistakes, however you may be an expert and don't know it...like DC!

Drankin, Smokin and Dreamin

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » March 11th, 2016, 4:12 pm

There is no way I could come close to the caliber of DC's expertise, but then again, if I don't know it then how can I tell?? Hmmmm, I think I have just put my brain into an infinite paradox, doh!

SmokinDTown · Post by **SmokinDTown** » March 12th, 2016, 11:47 am

So if you convert this all to inches, will your metric pigs fit in the smoker?

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » March 12th, 2016, 4:38 pm

Jeez, now there's more conversions to worry about, I'll have to ask the butcher to sell me pounds of meat instead of kilos!

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » March 12th, 2016, 9:34 pm

And I thought I was confused before.....just as long as you don't use kelvin for temp I think I can follow this thought process.

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » March 13th, 2016, 3:31 am

Hahaha, how's celcius for a bit of confusion?

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » March 13th, 2016, 10:47 am

Sure is interesting how products are different in various parts of the world. Never even thought of the challenges of converting one to another.

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » March 13th, 2016, 5:46 pm

Totally dude, I always new it would take some work but I thought it would just be converting all the measurements not adjusting the stock size & altering dimensions to suit as well.

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » March 13th, 2016, 8:29 pm

Just makes your build that much more unique.....hang in there and remember to have fun with it.

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