Anybody like ribs?

[purplewg]

Nice work josh. I liked the spurs also. I used horseshoes on mine for handles. I put oak doweling between them. Again good job!

[SpyGuy]

Didn't someone on here use a set of spurs for hinges on his bbq?

Nice work on yours so far - keep us updated.

[Ranch Land Toys (RLT)]

Josh it’s coming along and looking great! Springs or wood would help insulate you from the heat. But with that long handle it should help a lot. If not you can always add spring handles. Once again looking good! You can almost smell the ribs cooking.

[tom37]

Take this for what its worth gentlemen, If one is grilling then I DO think the handle being hot would be an issue. But we are talking about 200 to 250 degree's. In a drunken stooper one night I ended up with a temp of 350. Blurred vision I guess. Even at that high temp I was still able to open and shut the door, tho it was warm.

Sometimes the springs look good sometimes they don't.

Josh, on my rig I used a threaded rod with two nuts, one on either side of the door (welded to the door on both sides). The threaded rod is welded to a 5/8" round bar and bent to make the handle. This makes pretty decent heat transfer, but at the same token 8" in handle length provides for heat loss as well. The only factor I can think of that would make a difference is the wall thickness where the handle is mounted. Mine is 1/8" where the handle is welded on.

Now my fire box is a whole different animal. It gets HOT HOT, and has to have a spring handle.

Josh, I say try it before you change it man, It looks really nice the way it is. I wouldn't change it unless I had to.

[joshcarlegis55]

Thanks for all the compliments guys. I am definately trying it before I change it.... I sure am going to hate all the R&D drinking beer and smoking meat many long nights

[joshcarlegis55]

Hey Tom,

I notice your cooking grate is painted black. Did you just use carbon steel and paint it with high temp paint? How does that work for you? Any problems with flaking or anything like that? I was gonna make mine out of stainless mesh and after pricing that I am leaning towards a painted grate.

[tom37]

Oh its not painted, its smoked. My grates are plain expanded metal. (flat style ). Stainless would be very cool but I thought it was to pricey too. I have heard that sometimes with the stainless you can use just the sheet without edge banding or stiffeners. My shelves have 3/4" bridging from a roof truss project used as a frame for my shelves. The only thing I did to any of the steel was to build up a giant @ss fire, say to near 4 or 5 hundred degrees. Use a small mop and bucket of water to sling water into the hot cook area. Kinda like steam cleaning. I let them cool and wipe every inch of inside area with cooking oil to help season. Then I bring it to temp and cool until I can reapply the oil. A good weekend and plenty of beer you can do this like 4 times at least. The oil I use cheep cloth ( a new one each time ), this also helps collect any stray metal shavings and such.

Even after pressure wash my racks stay black.

One other thought is to make sure that you have a way to let water escape from your tank, even if its as simple as a slight tilt toward the fire box. Water and grease that sits in the cook area breeds MOLD fast. Mold is the only time I pressure wash, other then that is makes good crispies . Sorry I had to say that one, since each time someone eats my food they say dam thats the best I have ever eaten. I think they lie since they are getting free food. In all honesty, I have a giant size home made putty knife I scrape off my shelves with before I fire it up each time.

[purplewg]

Don't mean to steal your thread joshcarlegis55 but just thought I would post of pic of the smoker I made. I call it The Wild Pig.

[joshcarlegis55]

Looks great! I read your buildup on it and got a few ideas for mine. Thanks for the help.

Josh

[oiw]

It looks like your doing a great job keep it up i started one about a year ago its kind of been put to the way side need to get back on it i think you have inspired me.I steel cant believe you got ride of your jeep.good luck