Fab tip for free... Be careful when you build something on a floor that is not actually level. Using a level on a floor surface which is not level will yield wonkyness. Either level up the base or use a suitable square. I spent years designing waterpark elements and the ol weld shop overlooked that basic concept more than once and built wonky. If you dont have a level floor, level the base element and you can use either square or level. Garage floors are poured to include about 2 inches of slope by the way.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Also leveling a five foot span with a nine inch level almost never works out. But at the end of the day he's building a bbq pit not a Stieneway.
It's so cool listening to people that really know their shit about their trades. This tip, or Doug's tip about the concrete run off, just little things like this for you guys that those of us on the outside never think about.
I’ve got to say…I don’t comment at all on anything with TH-cam. Love your channel, love learning tips from you cooking for the family and simply love that positive and amazing attitude! It’s refreshing to see someone always in a good mood and happy. I really enjoy the channel and always finding new ideas. Keep up that attitude you have in life and keep being you!
Really enjoying this series -- I wish it had been available when I was stumbling my way through learning how to weld while building my pit. One tip for others who do this, which is partially from the Franklin book and partially from my own experience: Don't fully cut out the doors right away. Leave some tabs on the sides so the door remains perfectly aligned with the cook chamber, then install your hinges and the top and bottom flat bars to ensure the door will have a tight fit when closed. For hinges, *keep them simple,* especially if you're a novice metalworker. I tried something fancy that was way behind my skill level, almost dropped the door on my head when the support contraption I had devised failed spectacularly, and had to go to Plan B. Simple piano hinges ended up working great (you can get them at most welding supply stores), but the door has never had a good fit and always leaks smoke.
The new version of the Mini Chudbox is so attractive. I live in South Africa and watching your videos has made me start to use smoke and direct flame way more in my cooking.
gotta love the "smack the hook with the jack arm to level the load" approach... For $40 at HF you can get a load leveler that hangs between the hook and smoker components and it has a hand crank to level the load...
You can snag a load leveler to help adjust the pipe level front to back, they're fairly inexpensive but it adds lift height to the whole setup. Just food for thought. Another great video as always, I'm really curious to see how this build turns out.
Just discovered this series and really enjoying the level of instruction. I'm salvaging a 200L (52 gal) hot water tank to try and build one of these. No issues with blowing myself up when cutting but getting the insulation off is a real pain. Got another 100L (25 gal) hot water system that I'll do another grill (or spit roaster).
11:30 Tip from a guy with 44 years of fabrication. Use a straight piece of angle bar instead of the flat. Put the open side towards the pipe. It self aligns to be parallel to the center line of the pipe.
This is cool because the heat of the fire box can heat up the collector/exhaust pipe. That will help get the draft going. Nice!! When I build one, I'm going to steal that idea.
Loving this series, mate. I don't have the skills, space, tools or patience to do something like this. So I shall just live vicariously through you. Top work 👍🏻
Bradley, do your shoes have steel or composite toes? They make very good tennis shoes versions from all the major companies that would give you some protection, maybe even the ones with the metatarsal covers. Old manufacturing guy here! Lol
looks great! really made it look manageable and a engine hoist is probably one of those tools you could buy used off craigslist then relist it for the same price.
Thanks for ths great video series and tips. So timely for me as I am in the middle of designing one from an old propane tank that I have access to. Your videos give me more confidence to jump in and do it.
**You can make your own round End Caps Out of the Pipe you have. It's called Orange peel it is in the pipe fitters Blue Book super easy to do after your first try. 👌 😊
Im really liking this series. Im planning to upgrade my current smoker to something more my style, with a bigger firebox. I havent used a welder in a long time, like a few decades, but Im going to give it a go!
Hey Brad can I offer a tip. When dealing with a propane tank, open the valve and empty. Then crank the valve off with your adjustable wrench so it is open ended. Then proceed to cut. Or purge with argon but that can be pricey.
Loving this series! My cheap Home Depot offset is on its last legs and I was starting to lean into the idea of just swallowing my pride and buying the new Traeger Ironwood, but I think with this series I might just have to go for it and build my own “real” pit.
Mr. Bradly Robinson, I noticed on your first BBQ build you did years ago you welded a curved end fire pit to a curved end cooking chamber. I'm going to do the same with my build and am wondering what's the best way to figure out where to cut and weld and stuff. Thanks in advance for any tips you may provide.
When I built my first propane tank reverse flow smoker, I just mocked up the basic location of the chamber and firebox, getting the curved ends as close together as possible. I then transposed a line from the top horizontal surface of the firebox curve using a sharpie marker taped to a straight edge ( ghetto, right?) to the cook chamber and the same from the chamber to the firebox underneath. This gives you somewhat of a baseline which can be adjusted according to your desired throat size. Think “football” shape. Compound curves are a special kind of mindf**k wizardry! Lol. Remember, cardboard templates are your friend for trial and error cutting patterns. Take your time and you’ll get it purrrrfect! Enjoy it!
if you don't have P&O or cold rolled, what's the verdict on removing the mill scale from inside the firebox and cook chamber? any concern with off gassing or other junking getting on the food?
Hey man I’m like 45mins from you. Im experienced in metal working and weldor. I’m willing to come weld for you all day for a rack of smoked beef ribs 😂. Seriously let me know haha just retired and have time on my hand and I love to weld. Keep up the good video output and thank you for the great content.
@@SOLDOZER the textbook I had back in Tech School said there's no industry standard, but for the purposes of the book "welder" referred to the machine, and "weldor" referred to the person doing the welding. Also, try Google before you claim someone else is wrong, "weldor" is perfectly fine.
Ive always used a piece of angle iron to draw my lines after I find the top or 45. Just lay it on the pipe and it is automatically parallel with the pipe regardless of if it is level. Only need to mark at one spot then the angle iron should give you a straight line without have to "connect the dots".
I build custom smoker for a living and if you have a propane tank and it has propane in it hook up a weed burner and light it and let it burn it off then pull the valve and fill with a bottle of Dawn soap and water it will help with the smell
2:58 tack a shallow V shaped shelf made out of angle iron onto the side of the box where you want the cook chamber so that the one side is where you want it and the other side is all you have to worry about fighting with
Like you videos, more cooking than fab, as I'm a mechanical designer and home fabricator myself. Quick observation, I don't see any fire extinguishers in your garage. Also please patch that hole in the ceiling with sheetrock. It will act as a chimney and quickly draw any fire you might have into the attic. Keep Cooking and Burning rods!
When lifting any heavy object with a ratchet strap or spanset, the strap should be loose. Ideally a 30 to 45 degree angle for the strap to hook connection. Tighting strap like a bow string puts very high stress on the ratchet strap. Cheers
LOVE your channel brother! I've learned a lot and had fun watching you. Got an idea for a way to shake up "the official taste test". CGI alligator (or somebody in a costume, even funnier). Use your imagination.
@MR_ChudsBBQ that’s fucking awesome! The last time I won something I sent $10,000 to a Nigerian Prince and he randomly died just after he cashed my check. At least, that’s what his brother said when he answered my email.
Fab tip for free... Be careful when you build something on a floor that is not actually level. Using a level on a floor surface which is not level will yield wonkyness. Either level up the base or use a suitable square. I spent years designing waterpark elements and the ol weld shop overlooked that basic concept more than once and built wonky. If you dont have a level floor, level the base element and you can use either square or level. Garage floors are poured to include about 2 inches of slope by the way.
I was thinking the exact same thing.
Also leveling a five foot span with a nine inch level almost never works out.
But at the end of the day he's building a bbq pit not a Stieneway.
1/4 inch per foot is standard run off. Old concrete guy .
Well at leas the grease will all run to the end 😂
It's so cool listening to people that really know their shit about their trades. This tip, or Doug's tip about the concrete run off, just little things like this for you guys that those of us on the outside never think about.
I’ve got to say…I don’t comment at all on anything with TH-cam. Love your channel, love learning tips from you cooking for the family and simply love that positive and amazing attitude! It’s refreshing to see someone always in a good mood and happy. I really enjoy the channel and always finding new ideas. Keep up that attitude you have in life and keep being you!
Really enjoying this series -- I wish it had been available when I was stumbling my way through learning how to weld while building my pit. One tip for others who do this, which is partially from the Franklin book and partially from my own experience: Don't fully cut out the doors right away. Leave some tabs on the sides so the door remains perfectly aligned with the cook chamber, then install your hinges and the top and bottom flat bars to ensure the door will have a tight fit when closed. For hinges, *keep them simple,* especially if you're a novice metalworker. I tried something fancy that was way behind my skill level, almost dropped the door on my head when the support contraption I had devised failed spectacularly, and had to go to Plan B. Simple piano hinges ended up working great (you can get them at most welding supply stores), but the door has never had a good fit and always leaks smoke.
The new version of the Mini Chudbox is so attractive. I live in South Africa and watching your videos has made me start to use smoke and direct flame way more in my cooking.
gotta love the "smack the hook with the jack arm to level the load" approach... For $40 at HF you can get a load leveler that hangs between the hook and smoker components and it has a hand crank to level the load...
Gotta say I'm loving this series already!!!
You can snag a load leveler to help adjust the pipe level front to back, they're fairly inexpensive but it adds lift height to the whole setup. Just food for thought. Another great video as always, I'm really curious to see how this build turns out.
God this makes me itch to build myself another rig! You're always inspiring, Brad.
Just discovered this series and really enjoying the level of instruction. I'm salvaging a 200L (52 gal) hot water tank to try and build one of these. No issues with blowing myself up when cutting but getting the insulation off is a real pain. Got another 100L (25 gal) hot water system that I'll do another grill (or spit roaster).
11:30 Tip from a guy with 44 years of fabrication. Use a straight piece of angle bar instead of the flat. Put the open side towards the pipe. It self aligns to be parallel to the center line of the pipe.
Thought I would learn to build my own smoker, actually learned it’s worth every penny a professional charges to build one.
This is cool because the heat of the fire box can heat up the collector/exhaust pipe. That will help get the draft going. Nice!! When I build one, I'm going to steal that idea.
Loving this series, mate.
I don't have the skills, space, tools or patience to do something like this. So I shall just live vicariously through you.
Top work 👍🏻
I loved hanging out with you today it was definitely needed, very much appreciated.
just bought my first welder, and went through marketplace hell to obtain some compressor tanks. Going to start building my first pit in a few weeks.
big fan of the build series its a pleasant break from your amazing cooking video's
Yes a 250 gallon build next!
As I was just about to say the fun part is figuring out heavy lifts by yourself without getting hurt, then you said it.
In my Chud's voice ....Beautiful
My 120 gallon is made of rolled steel and I love the perks of it. The flow is definitely different without the rounded ends of propane tanks though
Bradley, do your shoes have steel or composite toes? They make very good tennis shoes versions from all the major companies that would give you some protection, maybe even the ones with the metatarsal covers. Old manufacturing guy here! Lol
Loving the build series! But man, how freaking good did those beef ribs look? Awesome
looks great! really made it look manageable and a engine hoist is probably one of those tools you could buy used off craigslist then relist it for the same price.
Thanks for ths great video series and tips. So timely for me as I am in the middle of designing one from an old propane tank that I have access to. Your videos give me more confidence to jump in and do it.
**You can make your own round End Caps Out of the Pipe you have. It's called Orange peel it is in the pipe fitters Blue Book super easy to do after your first try. 👌 😊
“Let’s get to cooking” 😂
Nice nod to another TH-cam great Mr Reed
Please please please do a build series on the two 250 tanks. That would be awesome!
Ive been waiting for this video for 3 years now 😅
Just smoked some Beef Plate Short Ribs myself and they were outstanding.
I love all of the resourcefulness. Good job!
Hoping to pick up a 24" pipe as well for a smoker build. These videos will be viewed a lot more when I get my pipe 😂
@1Chus_BB oh my gosh are you serious?! What did I win! Thank you so much Chus!!
I welded casters to the legs/feet of my steel worktable.
Would you recommend a hot water heater tank?
Love this series me and my brother are going to building out a 120gal tank and these videos are very helpful
Im really liking this series. Im planning to upgrade my current smoker to something more my style, with a bigger firebox. I havent used a welder in a long time, like a few decades, but Im going to give it a go!
Loving this series
Im loving this series! Those beef ribs looked bomb taboot
great stuff, thanks for sharing how you do things and direct heat beef ribs look delish
Great build video's. Love all you're content. Those beef ribs just yummy. Cheers brother.
I fell out of my chair laughing when you said brisket burnt-end on a stick for some reason lol. Love your videos especially the smoker builds!
Love these build series brad amazing job
Hey Brad can I offer a tip. When dealing with a propane tank, open the valve and empty. Then crank the valve off with your adjustable wrench so it is open ended. Then proceed to cut. Or purge with argon but that can be pricey.
what material did you use for the frame around the expanded metal grates?
Loving this series! My cheap Home Depot offset is on its last legs and I was starting to lean into the idea of just swallowing my pride and buying the new Traeger Ironwood, but I think with this series I might just have to go for it and build my own “real” pit.
Mr. Bradly Robinson, I noticed on your first BBQ build you did years ago you welded a curved end fire pit to a curved end cooking chamber. I'm going to do the same with my build and am wondering what's the best way to figure out where to cut and weld and stuff. Thanks in advance for any tips you may provide.
When I built my first propane tank reverse flow smoker, I just mocked up the basic location of the chamber and firebox, getting the curved ends as close together as possible. I then transposed a line from the top horizontal surface of the firebox curve using a sharpie marker taped to a straight edge ( ghetto, right?) to the cook chamber and the same from the chamber to the firebox underneath. This gives you somewhat of a baseline which can be adjusted according to your desired throat size. Think “football” shape. Compound curves are a special kind of mindf**k wizardry! Lol. Remember, cardboard templates are your friend for trial and error cutting patterns. Take your time and you’ll get it purrrrfect! Enjoy it!
That compressor tank in the background looks like a great next smoker ;)
Where can I get one of your pit thermometers?
Man, that’s life!
if you don't have P&O or cold rolled, what's the verdict on removing the mill scale from inside the firebox and cook chamber? any concern with off gassing or other junking getting on the food?
Always love the PPE
You ever do any vertical smokers, like the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker?
Dude!!! I love your videos!!!! U r a beast!!! Thank u!!!!
Hey man I’m like 45mins from you. Im experienced in metal working and weldor. I’m willing to come weld for you all day for a rack of smoked beef ribs 😂. Seriously let me know haha just retired and have time on my hand and I love to weld. Keep up the good video output and thank you for the great content.
Welding your whole life but can't spell "welder"?
@@SOLDOZER a well you caught me, I misspelled a word. Must be proud of yourself. Now move along troll.
@@SOLDOZER the textbook I had back in Tech School said there's no industry standard, but for the purposes of the book "welder" referred to the machine, and "weldor" referred to the person doing the welding.
Also, try Google before you claim someone else is wrong, "weldor" is perfectly fine.
@@toymachine2328 yup. Some of us just use old technology and some clearly are too smart for the internet lol.
What treatment did you use on the pipe?
would you build a square offset??
Hey Brad. Looking good! A floor Jack might help next time for fine adjustments.
great content. weird that ive never seen a level with punch like that.
Looks awesome keep up the hard work chudster!!!
Ive always used a piece of angle iron to draw my lines after I find the top or 45. Just lay it on the pipe and it is automatically parallel with the pipe regardless of if it is level. Only need to mark at one spot then the angle iron should give you a straight line without have to "connect the dots".
250 propane build next! Maybe do a vertical tank this time
What was the dimension of the chamber you use
Awesome series!
00:18 Shout out to Malcom Reed HowToBBQRight! Loving the build series!
Nice levelling of the pipe Brad. Let’s hope the concrete floor it is sit on is level too…😂
I build custom smoker for a living and if you have a propane tank and it has propane in it hook up a weed burner and light it and let it burn it off then pull the valve and fill with a bottle of Dawn soap and water it will help with the smell
Thanks for an amazing Video.. why would anyone give this video a thumbs down.
What welding rig is that?
Welding, grinding and moving heavy metal objects in a T-shirt, shorts, and Toms shoes.
Man knows no fear!
Eating that rib you did your best Chewbacca noise!!
"rolling your own is definitely more expensive." I roll my own all the time, its cheaper that way ;-)
2:58 tack a shallow V shaped shelf made out of angle iron onto the side of the box where you want the cook chamber so that the one side is where you want it and the other side is all you have to worry about fighting with
@MR_ChudsBBQ so you posted this on another comment also. Do I get two prizes?
why a round pipe for a cook chamber than a square?
Love this content coming threw cant wait to see more content
get a couple of those adjustible jackstands the welders use for pipe
i typed that before i saw you had one
billions must dine
you should explain tack welding before production welding and get a 4 FOOT LEVEL!!!
magnet roll with adhesive side and cloth measuring tape put them together and you have magnet measuring tape
Like you videos, more cooking than fab, as I'm a mechanical designer and home fabricator myself. Quick observation, I don't see any fire extinguishers in your garage. Also please patch that hole in the ceiling with sheetrock. It will act as a chimney and quickly draw any fire you might have into the attic. Keep Cooking and Burning rods!
Nice "Let's get to cooking". I'm sure Malcom doesn't mind.
I would love to see the FedEx driver deliver this one lol
What size pipe is that .
That's a pretty awesome build. Cheers! ✌️
Brad. Harbor Freight has a leveler you can use with that hoist $50-$60 if I recall will help a bunch for what you are doing..
Looking kinda similar to the one I designed (had someone else do the build). Works wonderfully.
When lifting any heavy object with a ratchet strap or spanset, the strap should be loose. Ideally a 30 to 45 degree angle for the strap to hook connection. Tighting strap like a bow string puts very high stress on the ratchet strap. Cheers
How do you feel about vertical offset rigs?
Terrible.
Hey quick question where do I get the pipe from😂😂😂 sorry just had too ask lol
How can we order a smoker from you and how much? I went to your website and dont see smokers
Iron Man playing in the background at same time? Seems fitting.
LOVE your channel brother! I've learned a lot and had fun watching you. Got an idea for a way to shake up "the official taste test". CGI alligator (or somebody in a costume, even funnier). Use your imagination.
Your videos need a LOVE button. Like doesn't do it brother
a small bottle jack or go to your car/truck and use that jack for fine tuning
Hey body,
How long does it take to finish a smoker this size or a tat smaller one? ✌️👍🔥
MR_ChudsBBQ
Coming together nice
“Let’s get to cookin”. Perhaps a collab with Malcom Reed?!?
yo this vape looks crazy
Looking Good.
10:59 WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!?!?!?! I DIDNT KNOW THAT EXISTED!!!!
Damnit. Now I need one.
@MR_ChudsBBQ that’s fucking awesome! The last time I won something I sent $10,000 to a Nigerian Prince and he randomly died just after he cashed my check. At least, that’s what his brother said when he answered my email.
Awesome video
federal iron in corpis christi sells pipe up to 60 inches