DarrinG's Stumper Build

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:51 am

Alright I know this is a little early for me but I figured I could start my own thread and keep it going during the planning & building portion of this.

The only reason why I even started thread was the excitment of my father in-law when I showed him the progress pictures from DarrelB's & Hrchdog's stumper builds.

He wanted to start right now. He works for a chemical plant that throws away all kinds of steel tubing & pipes from different jobs. Its all used for steam so I don't have to worry about all kinds of chemicals. Most of its also unpainted so thats great too.

So material I would have to buy right now would be 67 feet 8 inches of 2 inch square tubing. That covers the frame & doors. Which I can get through my wifes work with her discount. Smile

I'm going to post all my dimensions first to double check with you before I order and start cutting anything.

Build Cost Total:

Materials - $0
Time - 1 hour planning

DarrinG

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:02 pm

What, no pictures Darrin? Laughing

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:32 pm

I'm in planning stages of my cooker too. Right now I figure about 80' of tubing for the frame. With all three doors i will be over 100'.

Here are a couple preliminary design ideas, without the exterior skin.

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 2:38 pm

Well I will have a pic of my plans up real soon as soon as someone can show/tell me a few things.

1. When making the chute I read that it should be above the top of the smoker to prevent water from getting in. Could someone show me this in a pic along with the door to account for the extra bit popping out.

2. The ash box. Does someone have a pic of how the grate (that holds up the charcoal) is constructed. Is it just expanded metal. Does it slide out what?

3. Where did you get the latches that holds all of the doors locked?

4. I want to trailer mount this. What is the best way? I have thought about mounting short with the door facing the back of the trailer. This would be best because it would allow me to have a removable hitch so I could park it in my garage right up against the wall. This is something I don't want to leave outside. I would also make it so I could have 4 feet come down to stablize it so I don't have to worry about it tipping.

5. Is there anyone I can e-mail my plans to so they can look everything over and give me some input. I am currently drawing the full size plans on my computer and can make them available as a JPEG.

Thanks

DarrinG

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:41 pm

The chute on mine sticks up about 1/2" above top of cooker, I used 1-1/2" tube for the door on the chute with one inch of insulation between the skins. My grate for ashbox is made fron 1/2 stainless rod like a grate for grills and it will slide out. I got my latches from mcmaster-carr.

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 7:41 pm

mds2 that looks great. I sure with I had a CAD program on my machine. However I do have Illustrator. LOL. Its alot harder doing it my way.

BTW what are the dimensions of your machine?

So far mine are:

Entire unit: 48"x48"x28"
Cooking chamber: 36"x36"x26"
Smoke Stack: 4" pipe - it will have a damper on it.
Charcoal Shute: 6"x6" Tubing
Ash box: 8"x10"x12"
Fire box opening: 3"x5"

Now I plan on spacing my racks 6" apart from the bottom to the very top?
Also I plan on putting my smoke stack in the middle/back of the cooking chamber. Do you know if its better to place it square in the middle or is having it offset like that ok?

Also after taking a look even closer at the pictures what size of tubing do you use for the doors? I'm using 2 inch tubing for the frame do I use 2 inch or should I use something smaller?

Thanks

DarrinG

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 9:30 pm

I used 2" for all the frame work. The fire box door and charcoal shute door are just 1" sq. tubing.

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:22 pm

Jim,

Is that 1" tubing for the all 3 doors? You didn't mention the cooking chamber door LOL.

BTW Jim I want to mount my cooker on wheels like this. Does it look familar?

I just need to figure out what to do with the rest of the trailer.

DarrinG

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 10:57 pm

The cooking chamber door is 2", as there would be no sense in making it only 1" when the rest of the chamber is 2".

Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:08 pm

Thats good news. I was almost fearing the price of the 2" tubing alone. My wife priced it out right now at $2.91/foot. Although that doesn't include her employee discount. LOL

DarrinG

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:28 am

DarrinG, what wall thickness are you using. My 14g was under $2 a lf.
Call an industrial steel supply house and let them quote the whole job, tubing, plate, hinges and casters. They will gladly qoute a job that is in excess of $500, which is a normal order for a small to medium shop. If you piece out your material you will pay as much as 50% more. It costs just as much for the forklift to pick 500lbs of material as it does to pick 50lbs.
What business is your wife in?

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:41 am

My wife works in oil well supply. They get all of there steel from Canada Steel. I don't remember if it was light (7/64") or heavy (1/8") wall construction. I'll have to ask her tonight. As for the price I've seen it go from $2 thru to $2.91. Its crazy but thats business.

DarrinG

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 7:47 am

DarrinG wrote:

mds2 that looks great. I sure with I had a CAD program on my machine. However I do have Illustrator. LOL. Its alot harder doing it my way.

BTW what are the dimensions of your machine?

So far mine are:

Entire unit: 48"x48"x28"
Cooking chamber: 36"x36"x26"
Smoke Stack: 4" pipe - it will have a damper on it.
Charcoal Shute: 6"x6" Tubing
Ash box: 8"x10"x12"
Fire box opening: 3"x5"

Now I plan on spacing my racks 6" apart from the bottom to the very top?
Also I plan on putting my smoke stack in the middle/back of the cooking chamber. Do you know if its better to place it square in the middle or is having it offset like that ok?

Also after taking a look even closer at the pictures what size of tubing do you use for the doors? I'm using 2 inch tubing for the frame do I use 2 inch or should I use something smaller?

Thanks

DarrinG

Mine will be 60"x48"x28" overall and the cooking chamber will be 48"x36"x26", with 6 racks at 7" spacing. Other than that our two units will be about the same.

I want to leave enough room so I can get it full of rib racks. I dont know if 7" will be enough room or not. I need to measure some ribs to see.

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 8:18 am

Is this to be a commercial catering cooker? Ask Jim how many racks it will hold. He has been up and running consistantly and would be the one to ask.

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 9:35 am

Darrin, try the total package approach for them to price, and let them know what you and your wife are going to use the steel for. Often times suppliers can price you from a higher user price list if they know it is for the personnel use of a good customer.