Welduns mini build

[Ramie1936]

I wanted to start a thread that refers to my build rather than my junk pile, so apologies for possibly duplicating some pics that may have been posted in another thread but if I've learned one thing here I've learned "no pics didn't happen".
So far I haven't deviated from the plans much other than the fire grate and I want to make my throat grating bolt in so if the heat takes its toll on it I can easily replace it, I also offset the upper and lower frame rail outward on the door side which will eliminate the need to skin the door perimeter, in addition to the before mentioned I found some small 1-1/2" c-channel that I will utilize for my cooking rack slides. My sheeting and angle should be in tomorrow so I can move on to the next step.

Well Done! Its really looks Awesome!
Great Job. Keep it up

[Squiggle]

I did a quick estimate and the amount of tubing in my mini build probably weighs 65#

Definitely not as much as the FB/chute assembly, that's a heavy bastard!

[Rodcrafter]

SWSS


Making memories.

[The Czar]

SWSS


Making memories.

What? Ha!!

[Rodcrafter]

I stole your line


Making memories.

[Squiggle]

I thought it was TWSS, what's the first S for RC?

Is it Sass What She Said?

[Rodcrafter]

Darn I guess that's what I get for stealing.


Making memories.

[Big T]

[Michael303]

Hey what's the red stuff you used to fill around the curb of the charcoal chute? Some kind of auto body putty?

[Weldun]

Hey what's the red stuff you used to fill around the curb of the charcoal chute? Some kind of auto body putty?

It's automotive high temp rtv gasket maker

[Michael303]

It's automotive high temp rtv gasket maker

Thanks. Does it take paint well and can you get it at auto parts stores?

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[Weldun]

It's automotive high temp rtv gasket maker

Thanks. Does it take paint well and can you get it at auto parts stores?

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

It took paint fairly well, and I did get it from the auto parts store. I've had probably six heat cycles on my mini and so far no troubles with it. I did find some stuff that was called lab metal but decided due to cost I'd try this route first.

[KarateDoc]

OOPS I posted in the wrong thread

[ncmcnabb06]

Awesome build

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[Weldun]

Awesome build

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Thanks, I have to say this has been one of the funnest and rewarding projects I have done in years.

[StorkQ]

Thanks, I have to say this has been one of the funnest and rewarding projects I have done in years.

Weldun, I'm planning my mini GF build and hope that it will as rewarding as yours. While planning my build I studied your excellent build but still have some questions.

Why did you use the RTV around the charcoal door and top panel?
Did you left it floating? Did not weld it to the top panels and/or frame?
How is the RTV seam holding up?

Did you do the same with the firebox door?

You did an excellent welding job. How did you attached the panels? It looks like you made a fillet corner joint. Where the panels touching each other at the edges? How sharp are you edges now? What panel gauge and mig wire size did you use?

Is there anything else you would have done different in hindsight and after several months of use?

Again thanks for all the information.

Thanks,

Stork

[Weldun]

Thanks for the compliment,

My reasoning for not welding the outer perimeter of charcoal chute frame and ashbox frame was my concern of warping ( oil canning ), I figured with the outer skin being pinched between the the inner and outer door frames and both frames welded completely on the inside there was no reason to weld the outside as well, the red high temp rtv has held up well with no issues. The skin is 16 gauge carbon steel and all outside corners were tig welded at about 58 amps using 1/16" er70s tig wire. The corners are what I call crisp and straight but not sharp. I can't really think of anything that I would have done different.

Have fun and enjoy your build!

[StorkQ]

Thanks for the reply and the extra details.

So you fully welded to firebox to frame, at the top and right hand side. My guess was that you had it "floating", only welded on the tube below the transfer tube. I'll probably weld the seams as well instead of caulking them in order to prevent paint issues. Not that your build had paint issues but it will probably happen to me.

You've a very good tig hand because those edges look beautiful. Did you plug weld any panel to the frame or are the panels only welded to each other? Did you leave a gap or were they butted against each other?

I'm thinking about mig brazing the panels and the firebox-panel seams with silicon bronze wire (CuSi3). Never used that process but it seems appropriate, less heat, easy cleanup and the extra strength of a weld is not needed in this case. And I always want to learn something new.

I'm looking forward toward my build, but I need to source some components and want to tweak the plans a bit.

[Weldun]

Thanks for the reply and the extra details.

So you fully welded to firebox to frame, at the top and right hand side. My guess was that you had it "floating", only welded on the tube below the transfer tube. I'll probably weld the seams as well instead of caulking them in order to prevent paint issues. Not that your build had paint issues but it will probably happen to me.

You've a very good tig hand because those edges look beautiful. Did you plug weld any panel to the frame or are the panels only welded to each other? Did you leave a gap or were they butted against each other?

I'm thinking about mig brazing the panels and the firebox-panel seams with silicon bronze wire (CuSi3). Never used that process but it seems appropriate, less heat, easy cleanup and the extra strength of a weld is not needed in this case. And I always want to learn something new.



I'm looking forward toward my build, but I need to source some components and want to tweak the plans a bit.

I did weld the ash box door frame and charcoal chute door frame continuously, I didn't plug weld any of the exterior sheets but with small gap where the sheets met to make a corner the weld penetrated into the corner tube enough here and there.

I did plug weld shelf slides

[Rodcrafter]

Looks great


Making memories!