Cutting door in pipe for smoker

Oscarito · Joined: 26 May 2012 Posts: 4

Hey everyone. New guy here. Just finished my first custom smoker. 20" pipe 1/4" wall. One question, when cutting the door to the pipe, the door expanded, so now it doesn't close as tight. Any tips on how to keep that from happening? Stitch cut?

http://instagr.am/p/LGuD_1uIM8/

k.a.m. · Posted: May 27 2012 Post subject:

Welcome to the ring Oscarito, looking forward to seeing some pics of your cooks. Smile

Let me first say it really does not matter what you use to cut with or the method to do it if the pipe or vessel is sprung in the location of your door cut the metal will relieve itself when you cut it.
I do prefer to take precautions when making a door cut, I leave about 1" at all four corners and 12-3-6-9 then let the door cool completely this does work from time to time. I always just prepare myself for a door tweaking session once the door is back on.
Here are some pics that may help.
In this pic you can see the portions left to cool.

In this pic I have cleaned up the door and repositioned it for straps and hinges, I prefer to lay out my doors this way so I can set it in the hole where I want it. If you add hinges before the cuts the door sometimes drops and that is a pita to recover from.

_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

Oscarito · Joined: 26 May 2012 Posts: 4

thanks k.a.m

yeah, next time i'll probably leave the corners for last.

here's some pics.

cajun · Posted: May 27 2013 Post subject: Heavy ?

That thing looks awful heavy to move it around, maybe some bigger wheels and some swivel wheels on the front. Or you better have a belly full of Pork Butt before trying to move it. Anyway that is one good looking pit, and I bet when it gets hot it will be hot for a long time..Great job........

famous david · Joined: 07 Dec 2013 Posts: 23 Location: Ne Ks

Nice cooker, nice shop,[/b]

DUMMY QUE · Joined: 12 Aug 2013 Posts: 23 Location: stoutsville Ohio

SWEET NICE JOB
_________________
MEAT,FIRE,SHARP KNIFES,LIBATIONS ON THIS SIDE OF THE DIRT LIFE IS GOOD

whiskers57 · Posted: Dec 23 2013 Post subject:

I'm working my first build, for a friend and what I did on the door cutout is made the top cut all the way across, and down each side a couple of inches. then I laid down the seal strap, and hinges. Then I cut the sides all the way to the bottom and across a couple of inches, and laid down the side seal straps. Then the bottom. I did all the door cuts with a cutoff wheel. It worked out good.
_________________
If Ya Can't EAT IT, SHOOT IT, S***W IT, OR RIDE IT, IT AIN'T WORTH WASTING A WHOLE LOT OF TIME ON!

Wreckless · Posted: Dec 24 2013 Post subject:

k.a.m.'s method works well. There are a few tricks to getting her back in shape though. A chain and bottle neck jack, a piece of heavy angle and a good door slam or two, grind the offending corner down a bit, grinding the bottom cooker opening down to split the difference of the pull. If you decide to fix the door, post some close up pics of the pulled area and some good advice will surely follow on how to procede if wanted.

whiskers57 · Posted: Dec 25 2013 Post subject:

If you had the door completely off the tank, could you use a hi-lift/handy-man jack to put the curve back into the door, has anyone tried this? Just thinking it might be easier.
_________________
If Ya Can't EAT IT, SHOOT IT, S***W IT, OR RIDE IT, IT AIN'T WORTH WASTING A WHOLE LOT OF TIME ON!

Dand78 · Posted: Dec 26 2013 Post subject:

k.a.m. · Posted: Dec 26 2013 Post subject:

A high lift will work I prefer a hydraulic bottle jack or my porta power jack it is easier to maneuver around.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

abaralnek · Joined: 26 Aug 2012 Posts: 7

The last couple of builds I did were reverse flows.I ended up cutting 1 end bell off the tank and then welded the BP plate in before I even touched the door. I also bought a milwaukee metal cutting saw and have been using it to cut all my metal and doors, best investment I've made. Using the saw the cuts stay cool to the touch and I haven't had to straighten a door since

Smokin Mike · Posted: Jan 14 2014 Post subject:

abaralnek · Joined: 26 Aug 2012 Posts: 7

i am..seems to work great!!

k.a.m. · Posted: Jan 16 2014 Post subject:

I would love to have one for cutting sheet metal and almost bought one a while back until I saw some doors cut with one and they had sprung. I have also seen guys beat themselves to death with sawzaws only to have doors spring. These cookers convinced me that it really doesn't matter what you use when cutting the door if the tank or pipe is stressed when you make the cut you relieve it. Some folks get lucky some don't. I have made continuous cuts on doors with my O/A with minimal to no springing at all.
One build here on the ring took off his bell like I did and mentioned earlier by abaralnek put his plate in and was happy that no warping had occurred He then cut his doors with said sawzall, with our help and days of tweaking he fixed the doors.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

Smokin Mike · Posted: Jan 16 2014 Post subject:

k.a.m. · Posted: Jan 16 2014 Post subject:

Stainless · Posted: Feb 11 2014 Post subject:

I know this isn't possible with all builds but for a lot of them. Has anyone ever tried pre-cutting the holes like k.a.m. and then gusseting the lid on each side with a shallow half moon? I know it would make the lid a little heavier but with 1/4".. who would notice.