Well, I'm only using 11 gauge steel and I got a little spooked/intimidated by all these smokers I see being made with 1/4" steel and I got worried about the possibility of warpage and such, that's the purpose for adding all the 1" angle inside the box. This is my first smoker build, trying to learn as I go. At the same time, I've got a Brinkmann Smoke n Pit that's made out of what appears to be 11 gauge steel and I've had it for 15-16 years now with lots of use and no ill effects from heat. I'm not usually one to over fire my cooks.Rodcrafter wrote:Nice!
Do you really think you need to do that much welding? I only weld the outside. At about 4000# per inch there should be plenty of weld. In my opinion.
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For better or for worse I'll be finding out what happens, in the meantime, I'm taking steps to mitigate warpage and strengthen seams as I best I can see to do. In a worst case scenario, I cut this firebox off and start over with heavier steel, not something I'd look forward to but it is what it is, for now. I've made my firebox, combustion air intake, throat, and sized my future stack according to calculator specs which should help move heat from the firebox to the CC efficiently.Rodcrafter wrote:The FB is the part that will do all the warping really. Under the BP will run around 500 degrees but above it down to your cooking temperature so no warping to the CC happens. The area just above the FB on the end of the CC gets very hot, but offset smokers tend to have a very hot FB and normal CC