You can put them on before or after you paint but be sure to tape up the area where they will be if you paint first. I like to mount the gasket on the inside of the door flange so that they are out of the way when the door is open and you don't risk damaging them. I use 3/8'' or 1/2'' fiberglass rope gasket and high temp RTV (red) to glue it to the door. Those are some good looking birds!!
Ok I’ve been working on the inside of the CC and honey-dos and its time for the hinges what is the best way to line them up so they work together and not bind?
I put the door in place and snug it down with a couple of ratchet straps. You'll need to have your gasket in place or use spacers that are half as thick as your gasket material. Once it's in place I lay the hinges where I think they should be and put a few real good tacks on them, loosen the straps and try to lift the door to see if it binds. If I was using bullet hinges (I rarely do) I would use a straight edge to keep them aligned and tack them down.
I have the door on I cut it out with a circular saw and carborundum blade and formed the steel strapping with the aid of a vise got them all welded on the door and hinges and gasket in place and all without warpage at all ( I don’t know how it happened but lm glad it did ). My next question would be the placement of the counter weight on the door, how far down from the top should it be?
Here’s what I have done so far the door is hinged, the counter balance has been built and installed although I think no extra weight is needed, the stack is in place and one rack frame is built. Now it’s about time to knock off for the evening.
Let me ask another question what is going to be the best way to get the temperature probes into the CC, a weld on 1/4” or 3/8” pipe thread that can be plugged or just a small entry whole?
You can weld a couple of pipe nipples and plug them or what I normally do is drill a 3/8'' hole and tack a nut to the inside of the tank so I can plug it with a 3/8'' bolt. Whenever I have my probes ran through the holes I put some tin foil around the wires to block of the rest of the hole.
My plans has the ash pan for the FB suspended about 1 1/2” from the bottom, I’m just wondering in my own little P brain if it wouldn’t be better to put it closer to the bottom to keep anything from getting under it and allowing more room for the door and fire basket?