Hi all, thanks for the add.
Have done some smoking in recent years when away camping (using a mate's smoker).
Over the last month or so I've been making my own offset smoker.
Just about finished. Looking to do a test smoke this weekend before I paint the outside.
Hello from Victoria
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Davo
- Forum Administrator
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- Joined: Sun Jun 15, 2008 2:44 am
- Location: Albury NSW on the mighty Murray River
Re: Hello from Victoria
Welcome to Aussie BBQ Forum.
Great to hear you're making your own offset, that is something else to make your own.
Hope the test cook goes well, any idea of the first cook up?
Melbourne or regional? I'm not too far, just over the border from you in Albury.
Cheers
Davo
Great to hear you're making your own offset, that is something else to make your own.
Hope the test cook goes well, any idea of the first cook up?
Melbourne or regional? I'm not too far, just over the border from you in Albury.
Cheers
Davo
Moderator/ Admin
Weber Q3200 NG
Weber Performer Kettle - Sage Green
Weber Mastertouch Plus - Deep Ocean Blue
Weber Jumbo Joe - black
Weber Q3200 NG
Weber Performer Kettle - Sage Green
Weber Mastertouch Plus - Deep Ocean Blue
Weber Jumbo Joe - black
Re: Hello from Victoria
Hey Davo,
Thanks for the welcome.
Test cook went well, it was a very modest cook (steaks, and some chicken) as I didn't want to ruin a perfectly good roast or brisket.
Got a few little tweaks to make, mostly just a support/rest for the lid so it only goes just past the balance point for easier access to the handle.
The wheels on it are from 2 kids bikes so I have the brakes still attached. Need to mount them somewhere.
And I need to attach a stainless steel prep board/bench to the front of it.
Might take me a while to do these things though as I'm probably just going to want cook in it
Thanks for the welcome.
Test cook went well, it was a very modest cook (steaks, and some chicken) as I didn't want to ruin a perfectly good roast or brisket.
Got a few little tweaks to make, mostly just a support/rest for the lid so it only goes just past the balance point for easier access to the handle.
The wheels on it are from 2 kids bikes so I have the brakes still attached. Need to mount them somewhere.
And I need to attach a stainless steel prep board/bench to the front of it.
Might take me a while to do these things though as I'm probably just going to want cook in it
- Compress_20250322_215210_0983.jpg (248.71 KiB) Viewed 133806 times
- Compress_20250322_215208_8665.jpg (223.16 KiB) Viewed 133806 times
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Davo
- Forum Administrator
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- Location: Albury NSW on the mighty Murray River
Re: Hello from Victoria
That's gotta be the wildest smoking contraption I think I've even seen in my 25 years of BBQ 
As long as it works, I can see a whole lotta work went into that awesome smoker.......use what you have and put it all together...brilliant!!
I could never do anything like that, I'm afraid that my welding skills are such that it's safer for me to buy new, i'm not a handyman by any sense of the word
Awesome Job JB.Davo
Moderator/ Admin
Weber Q3200 NG
Weber Performer Kettle - Sage Green
Weber Mastertouch Plus - Deep Ocean Blue
Weber Jumbo Joe - black
Weber Q3200 NG
Weber Performer Kettle - Sage Green
Weber Mastertouch Plus - Deep Ocean Blue
Weber Jumbo Joe - black
-
Cobblerdave
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:17 pm
Re: Hello from Victoria
Gday JB
Well I’m jealous. Being waiting for an air pump cylinder to drop in my lap for years.! Not that I’m a great welder but I’m not afraid to use a flap grinder disk in anger. I’ve done my research the fire box should be 1/3 of the main chamber etc etc….,
Yes and I’m certainly aware that if it isn’t broken you will not fix it. So get on to the painting. Now!
Well done.
Regards dave
Well I’m jealous. Being waiting for an air pump cylinder to drop in my lap for years.! Not that I’m a great welder but I’m not afraid to use a flap grinder disk in anger. I’ve done my research the fire box should be 1/3 of the main chamber etc etc….,
Yes and I’m certainly aware that if it isn’t broken you will not fix it. So get on to the painting. Now!
Well done.
Regards dave
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Cobblerdave
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:17 pm
Re: Hello from Victoria
Gday
Old rusty…. Who cares.
Striped ready for the angle grinder
Old rusty…. Who cares.
Striped ready for the angle grinder
- Attachments
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Re: Hello from Victoria
Thought I'd update on my smoker on here about a year on since I finished the build.
Smoker has been excellent, I've experimented with more closed grating in the firebox, but I think that tended to make the fire take longer to catch on the preheated splits.
Was thinking about tacking in a plate infront of the smoke hole, not too close to it but just enough to stop direct flame from contacting the baffle.
Overall though it's been fun cooking on this thing.
Smoker has been excellent, I've experimented with more closed grating in the firebox, but I think that tended to make the fire take longer to catch on the preheated splits.
Was thinking about tacking in a plate infront of the smoke hole, not too close to it but just enough to stop direct flame from contacting the baffle.
Overall though it's been fun cooking on this thing.
- Compress_20260315_090708_8549.jpg (225.36 KiB) Viewed 627 times
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Cobblerdave
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:17 pm
Re: Hello from Victoria
Gday JB
Summer in the subtropics is not the time to an offset in the heat. It’s now the start of autumn and the temps are dropping just that little bit. Actually got to 18c this morning and I pulled the sheet up… I can see a blanket being used within a month. So the Sparra will be out soon.
I’ve got a few touch ups to do. A small lip on the firebox to stop the occasional lite coal from dropping and fix the movement in the firebox lid. Also got a large hardwood chopping board to go on the handles as work area. That will have to be fixed and removable.
On the hunt for some bricks/pavers to build a pad to keep it off the soil.
On a more serious note plans are too home corn a lamb shoulder and smoke it. A take on pastrami. I’ve got a small supply of iron bark from my bro. Can’t wait.
Good to hear you about
Regards Dave
Summer in the subtropics is not the time to an offset in the heat. It’s now the start of autumn and the temps are dropping just that little bit. Actually got to 18c this morning and I pulled the sheet up… I can see a blanket being used within a month. So the Sparra will be out soon.
I’ve got a few touch ups to do. A small lip on the firebox to stop the occasional lite coal from dropping and fix the movement in the firebox lid. Also got a large hardwood chopping board to go on the handles as work area. That will have to be fixed and removable.
On the hunt for some bricks/pavers to build a pad to keep it off the soil.
On a more serious note plans are too home corn a lamb shoulder and smoke it. A take on pastrami. I’ve got a small supply of iron bark from my bro. Can’t wait.
Good to hear you about
Regards Dave
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Cobblerdave
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:17 pm
Re: Hello from Victoria
Hi Dave, that looks fantastic. Great build.
Definitely coming into the optimal smoking seasons now. Can't wait to see some of the cook's you do on that beast.
Cheers, JB.
Definitely coming into the optimal smoking seasons now. Can't wait to see some of the cook's you do on that beast.
Cheers, JB.
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Cobblerdave
- Posts: 145
- Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:17 pm
Re: Hello from Victoria
Gday JB
The pic of yours don’t do you justice I’m sure. What was your finish in the end. I’m quessing a baked oil finish? It certainly different than the red.
Regards Dave
The pic of yours don’t do you justice I’m sure. What was your finish in the end. I’m quessing a baked oil finish? It certainly different than the red.
Regards Dave
Re: Hello from Victoria
Yeah, I haven't worked out how to make my pics small enough in this thread just yet. I ended up coating in pot bellie black. Did quite a few burns before cooking in it just to be sure. Link belowCobblerdave wrote: ↑Tue Mar 17, 2026 4:55 pm Gday JB
The pic of yours don’t do you justice I’m sure. What was your finish in the end. I’m quessing a baked oil finish? It certainly different than the red.
Regards Dave
https://imgur.com/gallery/hs41vPo