PLANNING FIRST BUILD ( PICS NOW INCLUDED )

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I FINALLY GOT THE FIREBOX OPENING CUT IN MY TANK.  I USED A LASER LEVEL TO GET THE CUT STRAIT.  I THINK THAT THE OPENING IS ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZE BUT I AM STILL A BIT CONFUSED ON HOW TO FIGURE THE AREA OF THE OPENING.  I NEED TO GET THE INSULATION AND OUTSIDE SKIN PUT ON THE FIREBOX AND VERTICAL COOK CHAMBER SO THAT I CAN FIT IT TO THE TANK.  I AM ORDERING THE CERAMIC BLANKET INSULATION 2IN THICK, RATED AT 2300 DEGREES MAX.  IT IS 8 LB/FT3 DENSITY.  I HOPE THAT THIS STUFF WILL WORK.  HERE ARE A FEW PICS OF WHAT LITTLE PROGRESS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THIS WEEK. 



 
http://www.1728.org/circsect.htm

To figure the opening you need to click on "radius and segment height" in that link. Enter the tank radius, which I think is 21" if I read that right, and the height of the opening you cut in the tank as the segment height. It will give you the segment area. When you measure the segment height you will have to subtract for the FB frame if you don't plan on cutting it out when you cut the opening.
 
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Thanks RASSIMO,  I finally got it figured out.  I will have to measure it again but i think that i am very close, hopefully close enough. 
 
The firebox to horizontal cook chamber opening came out at about 220 sq in. ( slightly larger than recommended ).  The insulation is ordered and on the way.  I have started fabricating the door between the fire box and cook chamber. 

With my firebox and vertical cook chamber being miss matched i am trying to figure out how big to make the opening between the two.  The firebox is much too big for the vertical cook chamber alone.  I thank that it should draft OK since the cook chamber is above the firebox and i would think that the heat and smoke would want to rise.  I am planning to make the opening 6in x 6in square.

Do you think that this size opening will work?  Bigger?  Smaller?
 
I FINALLY GOT MY INSULATION.  I ORDERED 2" THINKING THAT I COULD GET IT PACKED INTO THE 1 1/4" SPACE BETWEEN THE INNER AND OUTER WALLS OF THE FIRE BOX.  THE INSULATION IS VERY DENSE AND WOULD NOT FIT.  LUCKY FOR ME IT SPLITS APART NICELY AND ALSO CUTS NICELY.  THE STUFF IS ACTUALLY PRETTY EASY TO WORK WITH. 

I WENT WITH A 6" X 8" OPENING TO THE VERTICAL COOK CHAMBER AND GOT THE TOP OF THE FIRE BOX INSULATED AND THE SKIN WELDED IN PLACE.  GONNA TRY TO GET THE BOTTOM AND BACK OF THE FIRE BOX INSULATED AND THE SKIN PUT ON TODAY. 

THE DOOR / DAMPER FROM THE FIRE BOX TO THE MAIN COOK CHAMBER IS IN AND WORKS PRETTY GOOD.  I MADE IT OUT OF 1/8" PLATE.  I HOPE THAT IT DOES NOT GET TOO HOT AND WARP.

I NEED TO START THINKING ABOUT DOORS AND HINGES.  GONNA TRY TO FIND SOME BUILDS WITH INSULATED DOORS AND SEE HOW TO MAKE THEM FIT AND WHAT HINGES TO USE. 

I GET A COUPLE PICS POSTED THIS AFTERNOON.
 
I AM JUST GETTING BACK TO MY BUILD.  I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH TIME LATELY TO WORK ON IT.  I AM ALMOST READY TO TACKLE THE FIREBOX AND VERTICAL SMOKER DOORS.  I AM GOING TO INSULATE THESE DOORS ALSO.  I AM NOT SURE WHAT TO USE FOR HINGES AND HOW TO GET THE DOORS TO SEAL UP TIGHT.  ANY SUGGESTIONS?
 
I used 1" x 1/2" c channel on the doors to add some rigidity and as a place to glue in some rope gasket. I used 3/4 at first, then went up to 7/8" after the 3/4 broke down. That seems to work nicely.
 
I LIKE THE CHANNEL IRON IDEA FOR THE FIRE BOX DOOR.  THE ROPE GASKET WILL TAKE UP ANY GAPS I MAY HAVE.  IS IT AS IMPORTANT TO HAVE THE CC SEALED UP AIR TIGHT OR CAN I GET AWAY WITH A LITTLE LEAKAGE THERE? 

I HAVE THE CC TANK TACKED ONTO FIRE BOX NOW.  I FLIPPED IT UP ON ITS FRONT AND HAVE STARTED WELDING IT SOLID.  I WILL GET A FEW PICS WHEN I GET IT FLIPPED BACK OVER. 

I NEED TO INSULATE THE TWO SIDES AND TOP OF THE VERTICAL CC WHEN I GET IT FLIPPED BACK OVER AND THEN I NEED TO START ON ALL THE DOORS. 

I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL BUILDS ON HERE WITH GUSSETS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CC DOOR TO HELP IT KEEP ITS SHAPE.  I PLAN TO USE THAT IDEA AND INCORPORATE THE HINGES, HANDLE, AND POSSIBLY THE COUNTER WEIGHT WITH THE GUSSETS. 

I HAVE READ SEVERAL POST ON THE CC DOOR NOT KEEPING IT'S SHAPE.  I AM HOPING TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM. 

ANY ADVICE WOULD BE WELCOMED AND APPRECIATED.
 
Sholmes, morning.....   Air leaks......   If you have no air leaks, the smoker control temp will be totally in your control.....  If you have leaks, temp control will fade away, the more leaks you have.....   

Looks like you will have one fine smoker pretty soon.....   lookin' good.....

Dave
 


THANKS DAVE,  I AM GOING TO USE THE ROPE GASKET ON THE FIRE BOX DOOR AND VERTICAL SMOKER DOOR.  I AM HOPING TO GET THE HORIZONTAL CC DOOR TO SEAL GOOD ENOUGH WITHOUT A GASKET. 

I GOT THE SMOKER FLIPPED BACK OVER AND TOOK A COUPLE PICS.  I AM GOING TO CLEAN UP SOME OF MY WELDS AND GRIND THE DOOR SEAL AREAS SMOOTH.  I NEED TO PICK UP SOME MORE STEEL BEFORE I CAN GET MUCH MORE DONE.  I NEED TO FINISH INSULATING THE VERTICAL CC AND INSTALL THE INNER WALLS BEFORE I CAN START ON THE DOORS.  PROGRESS IS SLOW BUT IT'S STARTING TO COME TOGETHER.
 
I PICKED UP A LITTLE MORE STEEL TODAY.  I GOT SOME 1/8' PLATE TO FINISH INSULATING THE VERTICAL COOK CHAMBER.  I ALSO PICKED UP SOME 1' WIDE BY 1/2' DEEP C- CHANNEL FOR THE DOORS.  I AM HOPING THAT I CAN FIND SOME ROPE GASKET THAT WILL FIT THE CHANNEL WELL. 

I HAVE MY ANNUAL HOG ROAST COMING UP ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND SO I WILL NOT HAVE MUCH TIME TO WORK ON THE SMOKER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.  I NEED TO GET THE SHOP CLEANED UP A BIT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE PARTY. 
 
I GOT THE VERTICAL CC INSULATED AND THE INNER SKIN TACKED IN.  I ALSO CUT THE PIPE FITTINGS OFF OF THE TOP OF THE TANK AND I AM READY TO WELD THE HOLES SHUT AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THE DOORS.

I AM KEEPING MY EYES OPEN FOR A TRAILER TO MOUNT THIS THING ON WHEN IT IS DONE.  DOES ANYONE HAVE A GUESS AS TO WHAT THIS THING MAY WEIGH WHEN IT IS DONE?  THE TANK IS 3/8" AND THE REST IS ALL 1/4" AND 1/8" PLATE.  I AM PRETTY SURE THAT I WILL NEED A TANDEM AXLE TRAILER.
 
No earthly clue, but it does add up. Based on the BOLs from my steel, as well as calculating the pipe wt (google), I was north of 1600#. Don't think you'd regret the tandem, ESP if you'll be working on it for the stability.
 
I feel your pain. I started mine about the same time as yours and said I wanted it done by Thanksgiving. looks like I am going to be cutting that close.
This looks great and all that planning and work will pay off in the end I am sure.
 
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