I literally just finished welding mine. I did it before it was put together, right out of the box. I have built a couple smokers and knew where the problems would be .
Cool video, some tips from a qualified welder. more amps, and more prep. Needed more energy to properly seal both angles of metal, and the difference between welding and buffing is buffing cleans what you can see, welding goes deeper. The left over paint bubbling up would have caused the worlds best welder issues
+Biskyree Le Bisk could definitely have used more amps on it. I had to go over a few spots again after the initial pass, it seemed like instead of pooling it just kind of separated and stuck to both sides but still leaving a gap in the middle. I know some paint on there mixed in with the slag causing some ugly bumpy holes.
Any updates on the welds? Did you line the bottom of the firebox with fire bricks? Will you weld a smoker collector box and 4.5" chimney that is more than the length of the cook chamber?
Thanks, and no, the sealant I put there is still there and holding up just fine. It was only crumbling by the fire box due to warping and banging the lids.
Welding on the inside where you did is more difficult than outside, if you would have made a mess of it on the outside all you had to do was grind and paint. The only problem with the Oklahoma Joe is the stack is not big enough which is what I'm getting ready to fix and welding the fire box together. Other than that I really like my Oklahoma Joe, I would have loved it, except it loses to much heat when it is cold.
I'm going to do this to my smoker too. My 2 question are why didn't you weld the joint from the fire box to the cook chamber from the outside? I would think it would serve as a seal and it will also give it some added strength to the joint. Second question is did you end up burning any holes in it? I don't wanna screw mine up lol Thanks 🤙🤙
I welded the inside vs the outside because I am not a very good welder and I didn't want big ugly weld marks showing on the outside. Welding on the inside allowed me some margin for error :). I used thin rods so there was little chance burning a hole in it unless I stroked out for a moment and stopped moving. The steel in the OKJ is of decent quality for the price point so it did pretty much what I wanted.
How do you like that chimney brick in the firebox? What’s the goal with it in there? I imagine to retain heat and maybe to have charcoal not fall off the edge.
I actually really enjoy the chimney brick. It helps retain heat much better helping keep a more consistent temp. Doesn't do much to help keep charcoal in place.
I wouldn’t have bothered welding it. A smoker isn’t meant to be an airtight vessel. For proof look at all the old smokers from the dawn of smoking. I don’t know why people have gotten so anal about having these airtight smokers.
I agree with you 100% about air tight. My goal was to close gaps on the front and back of the fire box and close any gaps between the firebox and the main chamber. That way there is a direct flow from firebox to stack. Could care less about the main chamber door and firebox openings leaking a little air. Was just trying to get a good 80% of my combustion to flow in where the food is. I was losing most of it at that connection point.
Mark In The Pit I give you props for even attempting that man! I’m a TiG welder and I wouldn’t try it on my Oklahoma joes. The only way I would have tried it is prior to complete assembly so I could grind down to bare metal. But damn man big thumbs up for the effort and balls!
Being able to weld is a wonderful life skill.
I literally just finished welding mine. I did it before it was put together, right out of the box. I have built a couple smokers and knew where the problems would be .
I will be welding smoke rails on soon to stop the main chamber smoke leaks
You did a pretty good job welding from the inside.
Thanks!
Haha....love the license plate! Sooo crafty. DIY is almost always cheaper 😉
Nice welding. That should be a permanent airtight fix.
+Mark H hope so :)
But a very good effort ! You probably got 95% of the leaks sorted
Good work
Cool video, some tips from a qualified welder. more amps, and more prep. Needed more energy to properly seal both angles of metal, and the difference between welding and buffing is buffing cleans what you can see, welding goes deeper. The left over paint bubbling up would have caused the worlds best welder issues
+Biskyree Le Bisk could definitely have used more amps on it. I had to go over a few spots again after the initial pass, it seemed like instead of pooling it just kind of separated and stuck to both sides but still leaving a gap in the middle. I know some paint on there mixed in with the slag causing some ugly bumpy holes.
Honestly the paint contamination would have been most of the issue. It bubbles and forms gas pockets in the same place you want metal to pool
+Biskyree Le Bisk makes sense man. Thanks for the tips, and thanks for all the channel activity. That is greatly appreciated!
good engineering!
Any updates on the welds? Did you line the bottom of the firebox with fire bricks? Will you weld a smoker collector box and 4.5" chimney that is more than the length of the cook chamber?
I love my oklahoma joe over my traeger and my smokey mountain by weber
I'd say that's a nice job for only your 3rd time welding.!
+RJ_Make Thanks RJ!
how are the welds holding up today? would be interested in seeing a followup video.
Mig is way easier than that
i got one similar with a skull drawn in his front ...
Nice job for not know how to weld as it was your 3rd time. Did you weld the smoke stack to the cooking chamber as well?
Thanks, and no, the sealant I put there is still there and holding up just fine. It was only crumbling by the fire box due to warping and banging the lids.
Thanks for answering. Great video and job again
Welding on the inside where you did is more difficult than outside, if you would have made a mess of it on the outside all you had to do was grind and paint. The only problem with the Oklahoma Joe is the stack is not big enough which is what I'm getting ready to fix and welding the fire box together. Other than that I really like my Oklahoma Joe, I would have loved it, except it loses to much heat when it is cold.
Thanks for the comment, Lining mine with brick really seemed to help with heat retention in colder weather.
Not perfect but works!
I'm going to do this to my smoker too. My 2 question are why didn't you weld the joint from the fire box to the cook chamber from the outside? I would think it would serve as a seal and it will also give it some added strength to the joint.
Second question is did you end up burning any holes in it? I don't wanna screw mine up lol
Thanks 🤙🤙
I welded the inside vs the outside because I am not a very good welder and I didn't want big ugly weld marks showing on the outside. Welding on the inside allowed me some margin for error :). I used thin rods so there was little chance burning a hole in it unless I stroked out for a moment and stopped moving. The steel in the OKJ is of decent quality for the price point so it did pretty much what I wanted.
How do you like that chimney brick in the firebox? What’s the goal with it in there? I imagine to retain heat and maybe to have charcoal not fall off the edge.
I actually really enjoy the chimney brick. It helps retain heat much better helping keep a more consistent temp. Doesn't do much to help keep charcoal in place.
I give you credit for doing that to a pit that isn't worth the trouble. But it's fun and a definite improvement to it! Metal On! \m/
Let me guess you probably dont even own a kettle
I wouldn’t have bothered welding it. A smoker isn’t meant to be an airtight vessel. For proof look at all the old smokers from the dawn of smoking. I don’t know why people have gotten so anal about having these airtight smokers.
I agree with you 100% about air tight. My goal was to close gaps on the front and back of the fire box and close any gaps between the firebox and the main chamber. That way there is a direct flow from firebox to stack. Could care less about the main chamber door and firebox openings leaking a little air. Was just trying to get a good 80% of my combustion to flow in where the food is. I was losing most of it at that connection point.
Mark In The Pit I give you props for even attempting that man! I’m a TiG welder and I wouldn’t try it on my Oklahoma joes. The only way I would have tried it is prior to complete assembly so I could grind down to bare metal. But damn man big thumbs up for the effort and balls!
LMFAO