"Three's Company" now that Big Daddy's in the house!

[DivotMaker]

Nice!  Big Congrats to you, KAG! 8)

 

[elkins20]

Tony, why is the top of this smoker rust looking, or a strange color?

 

[SuperDave]

Tony, why is the top of this smoker rust looking, or a strange color?

Reflection from the house siding.

 

[elkins20]

Well that makes sense now, at first thought it was a weird color on top of the smoker. Thanks Dave

 

[elkins20]

Hey Tony, After talking to Rick, we decided on a nice price for everything, $475. I used some birthday money I had stashed, so out of pocket was just 375. But, took everything off Ricks hands. Will get unit tomorrow afternoon. I am really happy.  A large part also was your advice on the Auber.

 

[DivotMaker]

That's a great setup, Rick had.  You'll be very happy, Bill!

 

[elkins20]

I finally did it!  Big Daddy joined the family yesterday!  Today was filled with doing a bypass and wall-mount Auber probe, and getting a cart ready.  I went with the Harbor Freight 24"x36" $54 (on sale) cart, then added a pine 24"x36" wood panel to the top for strength.  I used red PlastiDip on the wood - should be sealed and weather-proof!  Bolted down the Big Daddy, and am now seasoning/autotuning.

I just got tired of listening to all you "happy" #3 owners, and had to join the fun!  I'm really looking forward to big, whole, packer briskets!  Funny thing - went to Sam's to get one, and they were completely out!  Had 3 flats, and NO packers!!  First time I've ever seen that!  Oh well, going to smoke 3 racks of baby backs tomorrow (uncut, for the first time)!

Pic 1 shows the bypass and permanent probe.  I just did a permanent bypass with a butt connector this time - no plans to reverse it.  Pic 2 is the probe cord routed out the power cord hole.  You have to pry the cord clamp out, put in the probe wire, and then reinsert it.  Pic 3 shows how I marked the hole locations for drilling (leg bolts).  Just draw an "X" between the corners, and you have your exact hole center.  (The bolt size, for the model 3, is M12-1.75).  Pic 4 & 5 are the completed setup.  Very happy with the rolling cart.  I definitely recommend a wood top, if you mount a #3.  It can hold it, alone, but it sags.  The 3'4" pine was just the key!

Hey Tony, I just picked up a 16 x 36 x 3/4 pine plank at Lowes and some plasti-dip (red). I will have to cut it to 16 x 27 to fit on my cart. Did you paint both sides? And I too am going to bolt mine thru the cart top shelf and into the smoker. I will just take one of the casters with me to get the correct size bolt and some washers. Thanks, Bill

 

[SuperDave]

Bill, would a little extra lip be a bad thing?

 

[elkins20]

Hey Dave, normally would not cut it but the top shelf of the cart has a 2 in high lip around the outside edge. So will have to cut it to fit inside the top shelf. It is the seville cart from Sam's club.

 

[SuperDave]

drop a couple of 2 X 4's in there and surface mount the top. 

 

[DivotMaker]

Bill, I did coat all sides of the plank.  I wanted it weather-sealed.  I attached it with screws, from underneath, then drilled through the whole thing for the smoker legs.

 

[elkins20]

Thanks, just got to get the correct size bolts, I purchased 7/16" but is too big or the threads are not correct. I tried to get ahold of Steve at 5:15pm central time but got his answering machine. I think they might be 3/8" will try Lowes later.
I too will do all sides as don't want the pine to come apart.

 

[SuperDave]

Bill, I think I've seen posted that the caster bolts are metric. 

 

[elkins20]

I was wondering about that, thanks Dave.

 

[DivotMaker]

Thanks, just got to get the correct size bolts, I purchased 7/16" but is too big or the threads are not correct. I tried to get ahold of Steve at 5:15pm central time but got his answering machine. I think they might be 3/8" will try Lowes later.
I too will do all sides as don't want the pine to come apart.

Bill, the bolts for the #2 are M10 x 150.  I'm pretty sure these are the same for the #1; only the 3 and 4 are bigger.  Look in the metric stainless steel specialty bins at Lowe's.

 

[elkins20]

Thanks, also will take a caster with me. I stopped at a small midland true value to get my cookie cooler racks for the #3. Now will see how much more will need with the 3 that I made for the #1.

 

[es1025]

Welcome to the number #3.

Nothing like smoking a multiple full rack of ribs.

 

[elkins20]

Thanks Ed, also is nice not to have to cut the rib racks to fit them in the smoker. Or cut a brisket into pieces. Also can get quite abit of jerky in them. One other thing it heats up a lot faster than the #1 that I have.