36" side fire box backyard build

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Well behind the scenes I've been having the pit handles turned and machined. These are not my handles but these are an example of them (newer, polished, and not so dirty but you get the picture lol)
 

 
this is looking awesome man, is it going to be stationary or putting some casters on?
Those would have to be some huge casters lol It will be stationary for a year or so and then my plan is to build a trailer for it.
 
Well I didn't have much time to work this week, but I did get my handles welded on. The upper rack handles I had to pitch inward just a bit so they clear the door.


I also got all the material cut and ready to fit up for the adjustable flue (you can see the material on the rack in this picture). basically its going to have a 6" cap on top, and a solid rod running down the stack to a handle that I can swing one way or the other to open and close.
 
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Today some of my odd and end pieces got cut on the water jet. This little piece of plate might not look like much but some scribbles, but this is the most important part of the pit. About 4 years ago my little girl was diagnosed with a very rare form of pediatric leukemia (3 yrs old when diagnosed). After battling for 2 hard years, she lost her battle just a few days after her 5th birthday. That little girl was my BBQ buddy, she loved my ribs just as much as she loved to follow me around and watch me cook. Her name was Rorie, and these plates are her signature that I had cut out so they can always be on the pit. I needed a brace from the exhaust stack to the end plate because of weight and size so these will run vertically between the stack. I had 2 cut out so no matter what side of the pit you are on it will read correctly, and I plan on putting something colorful between the 2 pieces so you can see it pretty clearly.
 

 
Iridelow that has brought tears to my eye. Ive sat here for about 20 mins with post #47 in my thaughts. Ive been secretly following your build and have been in ore of the quality and workmanship. This is a special build i can see your heart and soul has gone into this and you have your little angel there helping and watching over you. Not long now and your little Rorie will be bbqing in spirt by your side.
 
Iridelow that has brought tears to my eye. Ive sat here for about 20 mins with post #47 in my thaughts. Ive been secretly following your build and have been in ore of the quality and workmanship. This is a special build i can see your heart and soul has gone into this and you have your little angel there helping and watching over you. Not long now and your little Rorie will be bbqing in spirt by your side.
Thanks AussiQ. She definitely was very special. I miss that little girl so very much. I cant wait to cook the first set of ribs and make us one huge plate :)
 
Kinda cruddy picture but the big metal cutout that is going on the backside of the pit just got cut out, and is in the powder coat booth right now. Its a pig on a tray with an apple in his mouth. (yes Joslin is my last name)
 

 
That Porker should look awesome on the Smoker !!!

Mike
Looks-Great.gif
 
Piggy got powder coated. its called super silver (basically just metal flake) and then clear powder coated. these are a little bit better pictures that shoy how big this thing actually is (almost 5' long, and 2' tall)
 


 
Absolutely love it. So are you going to powder coat your pit as well?
doubt it. there are some high heat powders on the market but they all have mixed reviews. I don't want to take the time and spend the money to get it powder coated and then it turn out to be garbage. Ill probably have the pit blasted and just high heat paint out of a spray gun.
 
Well yesterday we got 2 of the end plates fit (1 for the cook chamber, and 1 for the firebox). We got our football shaped cutouts cut, and later today we are hoping to get the firebox hung. I got pictures of the football shape layed out but I didn't get pictures of it after it was cut.


We also started making the deflector plate from the firebox to the cook chamber
 

 
 
Is it an optical illusion ....   Is the lower food grate intersecting the FB/CC opening ??
The top of the opening is about 1-2" under the lower shelf (picture looks differently). I was hoping the grate and opening would be a little further apart but I set the height of the racks a while back thinking it was high enough, and then when I figured the hole opening based on the calculator it was taller than I expected. The deflector plate will be welded in place sending the smoke and heat under the tuning plates so no heat escapes until its in the cook chamber
 
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So yesterday was very productive, we made a ton of progress. We started out my setting the deflector plate before we closed the end of the pit up.

We thought it would be beneficial to brace the end plate since it would have about 500 lbs. hanging off the end. If you look you see we made a brace to stiffen the end plate up so there is no flex with all the weight. Also we welded the deflector plate and some triangular pieces to make sure its air tight and no heat is escaping and it is forced down the lower portion of the pit under the tuning plates.


After we got the deflector plate welded up we moved on to the firebox. We got the firebox set where it needed to be, welded it to the cook chamber, welded the end plate to the firebox, and welded the support gussets on the top and bottom of the pit.



My buddy that has been lending a hand also took some action shots. I still don't have a good picture of one of us standing next to this thing because it is much taller than me and Im 6 ft tall. standing next to it really puts the size into perspective.


 
Ok now i can see the scale of things. With you sitting in the fire box. Man that thing is huge.my fire box would be lucky to get a toddler in. Looks like your on the home stretch now [emoji]9786[/emoji]
 
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