That's some pretty advanced fire-retardant cardboard!
How's it for breathability?
What are your imressions with the CG firebox? I'm building a smoker from a fridge, and I'm considering using that same model firebox, but I'd like some feedback on it from those who've played with them a bit.
LOL - fire retardant. Nothing but the best will do!
The Firebox is a bit smaller than most offsets, but it's still good for the money. The slide out ash pan warps pretty easily, and the firebox its self has a bunch of small open screw holes you have to watch for.
Looking good so far. You're on the right track. Have you thought about the baffle yet so you can have even temps across the cook chamber?
Funny you mentioned that. When I got your email, I was actually putting the finishing touches on some things:
I made my charcoal basket. It measures 12 X 12 X 6. It was originally a 24 x 24 16 ga. piece of sheet metal from the local hardware store. I just followed the directions of a template I found here on the forums on how to construct one and it was actually pretty simple.
I ended up bending back the excess pieces of sheet metal that were protruding on the top. The screws are extra material screws from the grill/firebox when I originally got them (figured those would come in handy someday, LOL).
Here's a comparison of my basket vs my 'fire retardant cardboard' basket
Finally, the baffle. So, the fam and I went on an excursion today that started out quite interesting. Here goes:
My wife is the treasurer of our church, so it's her job to make sure certain things in the finances are accounted for. We apparently needed deposit bags, so she calls the bank to see if they have any. Yep, they do, so we start on our way.
I pull out of the driveway, start up the road, and BAM! Flat tire. Apparently someone used our street for their personal dumping ground and laid a bunch of solar lights in the street. I tried to avoid one, and ran into another. Shredded the sidewall, thanks for playing. New tire.
Now, the wife is going nuts cause EVERY BANK CLOSES AT NOON on Saturdays (she's like most ladies - she works at a credit union, and thinks all financial institutions keep the same hours).
I say, "Dear, did you call them to see what time they close?" Her response? "I KNOW they all close at least by 1. We need to go." (remember this)
So, I change the tire, and we head to the bank. She comes out, no bags.
Me: "Uh, where's the bags?"
Her: "They don't have any."
Me: "We're rolling around on a spare. I'm not driving all over the city to look for a couple of bags. Why don't you call them?"
Her: "UGH!"
She calls. Apparently, plastic deposit bags are a novelty, cause hardly any bank in the city has them right now.
Me: "What time do they close again?"
Her: ".........."
(at this point, I knew I had her)
Me: "Dear?"
Her: "Four. Four PM."
LOL -
So, I suggest we go get the tire fixed. I go to Tires Plus. This place is a rip. The guy says, "Well, it's in the sidewall, so it's not repairable. Where'd you get the tire from?" So I tell him where I got the tire from....one of his competitors. He precedes to show me a price list for three brands of tire (one tire, mind you). Astronomical. I'm like, "I'll just go to where I got the tires from."
Stay with me on this, folks, LOL
So, we go get the tire fixed. Ninety bucks. I could have gotten two tires on the car for the price the guy at Tires Plus was asking for, LOL
Now that we've got the tire fixed....we're back on the road for bags now. So we drive to the place where they've got some bags. Wife gets back in the car, looking frazzled.
Her: "Do I speak ENGLISH?!? I said CLEAR PLASTIC BAGS!!!"
Me: "HUH?!?"
Her: "Look at this."
They apparently DON'T speak English, LOL. They gave her two leathery type bags.
Me: "Let me call."
So I call the main branch. The lady says, "Yeah we have some clear bags. Across town." (paraphrase).
Me: "LOL"
So we go get the bags. We then go to Penzey's Spices. I will swear by this store, they have every dog gone spice or seasoning you can think of. Check them out if you'd like:
http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penzeys/shophome.html
NOW - getting to the baffle...finally, LOL
We stop by the store that just happens to be in the same strip mall as the hardware store! I tell my wife I'm going into the hardware store. The wife sends her spy along with me (our eldest daughter, LOL).
We get in there, and it just so happens they had the same style grill setup as I have. I'm like, hmm.....
So I go back to the sheet metal, and found an 8 x 18 sheet that cost bout seven bucks. The spy and I take it to the setup grill (perfect for measuring) and measure it. I grab it, and some stainless steel screws with some washers as well.
While we're walking back to the car, Mommy's little spy begins her interrogation:
Spy # 1: "Daddy, why are we getting that thing?"
Me: "Well, honey, we're trying to keep the heat down in the smoker."
Her: "How much did that cost us again?" (LOL, she is trained well)
Me: "Nothing, dear. Mommy paid for it with the gift card she got Daddy for Christmas." ROFLOL
That ended the conversation there. She gave her report to headquarters later, LOL
So I got the baffle, measured in half an inch on the width, hammered it. I drilled a couple of holes into the sheet to match a couple of pre-existing holes on the smoker body. Here's the result.
PRIOR to Baffle:
AFTER Baffle:
I keep telling myself that the rewards will be well worth the adventure, LOL
I'll keep you guys posted on how it all turns out. Thanks for indulging me!