UK mini
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- Smokerbuilder
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UK mini
Are there any builders from the UK that have made the mini GF? Roughly what was the steel cost? I can weld and have access to a workshop full of the necessary equipment.
Also what did you use for insulation and where from?
Thanks Paul
Also what did you use for insulation and where from?
Thanks Paul
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Re: UK mini
Best advice i have is to call Frank and try to get an idea of what the thing is made of then call and price material. Steel prices change almost daily and vary a lot city to city.
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- Smokerbuilder
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Re: UK mini
On a side note I have some large plates of 20mm mild steel at work going free, would it be overkill to use this as my firebox material. Shouldn't burn through.
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- Big Time SmokerBuilder
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Re: UK mini
20mm? If I had access to economical 20mm plate, I'd have used it in place of the 1/2" I have in my double pan. Your firebox will be a little heavier. 

"Measure with micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with fireaxe." Ted M., USCG (ret)
- ajfoxy
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Re: UK mini

I would not make the chute out of it though as it will add considerable weight going fron 6mm to 20 mm.
But for the firebox it is fine. Apart from that being the tight bugger I am, if I had access to free 20mm plate and the means to drag it home, I'd grab it.
Learning generally boils down to "Repetition or the avoidance of pain", some people learn by doing, some by watching and some just have to pee on the electric fence.
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Henry Ford
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Henry Ford
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- Smokerbuilder
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Re: UK mini
The plates are roughly 700x500. Stack of them to use up. Not sure our plasma cutter will cope to make a grate as well sO may have to crack out the OA
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- Big Time SmokerBuilder
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Re: UK mini
Oh, WAIT!!!!!!
Make a removable grate, don't make the bottom of the firebox the grate.
A removable grate has a few advantages. You can dump the column into the ash box if you have a run away. You can shake the grate to knock the ash loose. You can pull the grate out if you want to unload the charcoal column. Personally..... I don't see any advantage to a fixed grate. YMMV, though.
Make a removable grate, don't make the bottom of the firebox the grate.
A removable grate has a few advantages. You can dump the column into the ash box if you have a run away. You can shake the grate to knock the ash loose. You can pull the grate out if you want to unload the charcoal column. Personally..... I don't see any advantage to a fixed grate. YMMV, though.
"Measure with micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with fireaxe." Ted M., USCG (ret)
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Re: UK mini
I agree with the removable grate. You can cut the grate from 20mm, but I think there is some advantage in having round bar for grate
- ajfoxy
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Re: UK mini
If you got free 20mm plate and your plasma or gas axe will handle it, go for it. You can always file the edges round should you so wish.
Learning generally boils down to "Repetition or the avoidance of pain", some people learn by doing, some by watching and some just have to pee on the electric fence.
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Henry Ford
Whether you think that you can, or that you can't, you are usually right. Henry Ford
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- Smokerbuilder
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Re: UK mini
Thanks, I planned on making the grate removable after reading several threads but was going to use the 20mm to make it.JKalchik wrote: ↑December 10th, 2018, 5:57 pmOh, WAIT!!!!!!
Make a removable grate, don't make the bottom of the firebox the grate.
A removable grate has a few advantages. You can dump the column into the ash box if you have a run away. You can shake the grate to knock the ash loose. You can pull the grate out if you want to unload the charcoal column. Personally..... I don't see any advantage to a fixed grate. YMMV, though.
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- Big Time SmokerBuilder
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Re: UK mini
Personally....... I'd save the gas. Make the grate out of angle iron and rebar, you'll be done in a fraction of the time it'll take to burn out the spacing.
"Measure with micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with fireaxe." Ted M., USCG (ret)
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- Smokerbuilder
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Re: UK mini
I don't pay for the gas work do

I've got prices for my frame steel and I'm pleasantly surprised.
- mp4
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- Smokerbuilder
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- Wants to build a smoker
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Re: UK mini
Hi Diggerg I’m also in the UK in Essex. May I ask what your metal cost as I also want to build a mini GF. I have metal suppliers nearby so sourcing it is not a problem.