Jacob Build – Calgary here it comes!

Jessie BolassenOther Projects

Coming soon a Jacob 32” off set smoker with dual grates.

We start with cutting 24” diameter pipe but before we can cut the green pipe, the pipe needs to be cleaned off. Ya all that green plastic coating needs to be removed. And it’s a real pain in the ass. Now the smaller pipe in the bottom of the picture is the 20” pipe that we use to build a very strong firebox. Not heat lose using 3/8 20” diameter pipe! On the main chamber we’ll need to fabricate a smaller counter balance so Jacob can open and close the main chamber lid with easy, but if the firebox is made from the same material as the main chamber wouldn’t Jacob need a counter balance on the firebox? You bet he does ! And we’ll fabricate a matching but yet smaller counter balance on the firebox. This is going to be a very cool build. I’m happy that Jacob has chosen the offset design. Well let’s start building!
Green coating needs to come off and the only way is to burn it off.
And that’s burnt but now it takes several hours to cool off, then I’ll drag it back into the shop to wire wheel off the garbage
Using a circle maker with a plasma torch to create a some what perfect circle? Not really perfect but the pipe isn’t perfect at all!
Quick grind of the edge and use the “perfect circle” to cap off the firebox on both ends.
Once the main chamber cools off and is wire wheeled clean I’ll cap the main chamber the same way I did the firebox. Soon it will start to look like smoker.

For two days I’ve been trying to build the sub frame for the smoker to sit on. And after several attempts I finally got it!

Just tacked together. I don’t know why it took several try’s? I finally used the floor to lay out lines to keep the frame square to the smoker. There has to be an easier way to do this!
Sitting on its feet, well on wheels anyways. Tomorrow is cut in the collector (stack). Layout the lines for the main chamber and then lines for the firebox. Once these lines are squared off, time to cut them in. We’re half way there. Looks like I’ll be working the weekend to get the job done before Friday’s delivery date.

Hinges mounted. Main chamber door almost cut and the firebox lid is cut but not opened yet. More tomorrow
Laying out the lines and pre drilling the corners to plasma cut is always so much fun, brings me happiness.
Let’s build a collector

Keep in mind, I weld the entire outer shell of the collector then grind it all off smooth and finally weld the seams inside the collector.

Collector mounted and welded completely. Stack welded in place. Popped the doors open for a test fit. Something strange is happening with the hinges. But a little grind here and a little material removal there and she’ll go!

After this build is delivers to Calgary, the Elkford BC build is picking up his smoker on Easter weekend and then we start another Calgary build.

Lots of room for ribs, brisket and pork
Had to add a second main chamber counter balance since the lid is 3/8 steel.

Only 3 more days until it’s done.

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