Big Ass BBQ Pit Build! Fully Insulated! DIY

I built a very large, fully insulated, direct heat BBQ pit this summer. This is the build video. The cooking surface is 5 feet wide, and 3 feet deep! 2" of insulation all around besides the doors having 1" of insulation. Total weight is over 1,400lbs! Hope you like the video. If you're in the market for a pit email me at [e-mail]. Build details are below.
Dimensions:
Exterior- 5' 4" wide, 3' 4" deep, 5' tall to the top of the lid, 5' 6" to the top of the stacks.
8" swivel casters on the handle side, and fixed casters on the other.
(4) 4" x 1/8" smokestacks that are 6" tall.
(2) Tel-Tru temperature gauges
Cooking grates are 2' 6" wide and 3' deep. There are two of them.
Lid is 8" tall and made of 2" x 2" 14ga square tubing, and 11ga steel sheeting.
Interior main chamber plates are all 7ga (3/16") thick steel.
Height from coal basket bottom to cooking grates is 24"
Air intakes are on the side and are 4" SS tubing with tri-clamp ends. Each has a 4" stainless steel butterfly valve on it for control.
The lid and doors are all gasketed for tight sealing and quiet operation.
The lid lifting struts are rated for 200lbs of force each.

[@jkgkjgkijk]

I never saw anybody do FCAW on the daily, without a decent, under hood p-100 and full FR gear. I'm going to say a prayer for you.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

I use GMAW so a bit less Smokey and probably only weld 1-3 days a week realistically. Not my full time job. Thanks for the concern though

[@jkgkjgkijk]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274 😎 you do nice work. Thanks for the heads up.

[@mikaeldijoux1968]

Bonjour waouh on a la même idées de fabriquer un four comme sa en plus ces bien fait et beaux boulot félicitations

[@joeyhannan5294]

Been watching as you progress because I’m literally on the same train! Purchased my equipment this year and my garage will be cleared out this coming spring and starting from scratch. Watching your builds progress is great motivation for myself! I don’t want to build commercially. I’m actually medically disabled from some issues I was born with. But I can put in an hour or two a day to keep me moving! I have enough 3/8 walled 24” OD tube to make 4 pits currently. My family has some awesome gifts coming 😂 But congrats on the progress man! Truly inspiring!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Dude that’s awesome! Good luck with the builds! I appreciate you watching and glad you get something out of it. Cheers

[@joeyhannan5294]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274 much appreciated, bud! You keep it up, and I’ll keep learning by watching 😂

[@marieschmidt1624]

What is your email we want a smoker made and can’t find it

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

@@marieschmidt1624 [e-mail]

[@vtecn8ive]

That thing is massive. Good stuff!

[@SD-rq2ob]

That thing is awesome, what a build!!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks!!

[@Thefadax]

Man! You are my today Hero !!! Good job ❤❤❤

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Happy to help!

[@rmaflat2477]

I love it. Nice job.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks!

[@spenjackson]

Love that smoker!!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks man

[@huxmetalworks7371]

Great work keep it up thanks for sharing

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thank you. Will do

[@JollyRoger2408]

What a monster. 👍

[@user-cf3wn9ot4q]

Bro you do awesome work. I'm a welder and I like building cooks too. It's cool we can make amazing things. Keep up the great work.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks man!

[@danlewisii4716]

Great build, any chance of review videos on this in action?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks. I’ll ask for some pics or videos of it in action and try to throw it in one of my up and coming videos for you.

[@davek3726]

Very nice job on that huge cooker first time I've seen that style of cooker insulated. What brand plasma cutter do you use and what the psi set to?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks Dave! It's a YesWelder Cut55DS. I have the psi regulated down to 70psig I believe.

[@JohnJohn-bp5ci]

I subscribed a while back. This grill as well as that 24x36 Cabinet Smoker were really great to watch you build! Quick question, on this big grill, did you build heat diverter plates, for indirect cooking/smoking. Just curious. It does look like a mega Chud Box on wheels! How much was the 24x36 cabinet smoker in the other video?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

This one didn’t get diverter plates. The guy uses it for ribs and chicken almost exclusively. He says it’s amazingly efficient but the lid is entirely way too heavy. That vertical cabinet was about $3k at the time of the build.

[@Aaron-L]

You have some great builds! I was wondering about the welding you did on the mini Chud box, why just a bunch of tac welds and not full welds? What do you think of his new version? Will you be changing your lids on future builds for front access? I hope you do more videos.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks Aaron! I did the tack welds mainly for aesthetics. I’ve never had a door flange leak smoke either. I like Brad’s new version! Cool concept and totally makes sense manufacturing wise. Less welding and more mechanical fastening makes it a much smaller package for shipping and something easily put together by the average person at home. I don’t really have a standard build on anything so if someone wants their lid similar to that I’d be more than happy to accommodate. I do have more videos coming up this spring/summer. Thanks for watching!

[@paulmarion7578]

What state are you in ? And how much is this grill ?

[@austinlambert3994]

I love the build. Any idea how many hours you had into the build? I am currently designing a large rotisserie smoker and your frame/insulation design is the best I have found. Thanks for sharing and dramatically improving my R&D process.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks. I’d say close to 50 hours. That’s a guess though. Could’ve been more. Lots of work on that one.

[@austinlambert3994]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274 Thanks! And organization/workflow can quickly multiply how much time tasks take, especially with fabrication from scratch, but 50 hours is a ballpark I can work from.

[@txqrubs]

Looking to do a similar build. I decided I wanted this type of pit and started to research, and found yours. Beautiful! I want mine to have independent movable fire grates and also a center removable partition so that I can separate the chambers so that I can set the fire on one side and the brisket ribs etc. on the other and be able to mimic an offset style as well. I will be able to do steaks, fajitas, veggies etc, with the fire grate close to the cooking grate , drop the fire grate down and be able to do chicken, whole hog, or direct fire bbq with the drip and sizzle. Finally I can place the partition in to cook offset style. Really beautiful build sir!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

I like it! Very cool concept for a cooker you got imagined up. Extreme versatility.

[@BullseyeMetalWerks]

Man looks like you knocking them out. Hopefully I can get something going 🤣

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

I’m just now getting the videos compiled and edited 🤣😂 Guy picked this up early July!

[@BullseyeMetalWerks]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274 thats a hell of a pit. Should have asked him could you season it and see how long she'd go off a chimney or 2

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

@@BullseyeMetalWerks Yeah i was planning on cooking on it, but i completely forgot he needed it for a 4th of July family reunion. I felt so bad. He was literally in my driveway while i was finishing the build, and even helped with the chain safety mechanism. Super cool guy. The pit was 98% done in my opinion since that lid could have been optimized to open with very little effort, and the exterior could've been polished up a bit.

[@BullseyeMetalWerks]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274 I bet he was smiling ear to ear!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

@@BullseyeMetalWerks Yeah he was pretty stoked! And extremely patient. Really cool guy.

[@robertdewitt625]

I'm sick of hearing all the U-tubers calling their cookers what a beast. Now this cooker is a real beast. What ya goen to name it? The Chud Crate? Job well done. 😉👍

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks Robert! Not sure what I'll call this one...

[@aileronsintowind6835]

“The fat boy”

[@fredjones3137]

What's your price for this build?

[@Sly_MaC]

Great video. One thing though, is that you need to increase the volume of your videos. I have to crank the volume way up to hear you then when an ad comes up it's very jarring. Badass build.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks Sylvester! I thought the volume was fixed on this video but will crank it up on the next one for sure. Sound issues are super annoying.

[@wesir427]

Where do you get your insulation from? Looking to try my hand at making a vertical cabinet

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

I got it off Amazon. Lynn Manufacturing Kaowool Ceramic Fiber Insulation, 2" Thick x 16" x 48", 2400F Fireproof Insulation Blanket, 3037E

[@robertkletke9024]

Amazing build man... And don't beat yourself up over that crooked support we all make mistakes.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks again!

[@nevereverbeendonebefore]

Damn that thing is a monster!!! Did the owner say what he'll be cooking? It's big enough to do whole pigs, lamb, etc.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks! He got it for his family reunion party. Hundreds of people and I believe he was cooking mainly pork spare ribs. He had custom rib racks built so he could fit a crazy amount of ribs on the pit. I’m sure he’ll do a whole carcass in it eventually.

[@nevereverbeendonebefore]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274 does he have yt channel?🤣 I want to see this thing in action so bad!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

@@nevereverbeendonebefore I don’t think so 🥲

[@PeerSupport557]

Email please

[@rocket4602]

Hello, FBMC, great channel...SUBSCRIBED and LIKED. Ha, gotta love that crane! Saves a lot of bruised knuckles, finger cuts and sprained backs, lol! I'm interested in the type of insulation you used in this build. Would you be so kind as to post a link to it in your reply? Thanks if you do, man. You're a pro builder. Your shop set up is awesome. Hope you do well, man. Myself?....I'm an armature garage fabricator/welder. I make or fix stuff for myself and friends. No money involved, Thanks for great content. I look forward to cruising your channel's content. rocket

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks rocket! The insulation is ceramic fiber. It comes in a bunch of roll sizes and thickness. Just search ceramic insulation on Amazon and you’ll find it,

[@rocket4602]

@fabmakebuildcook6274 👍 Thanks, man! Next build....a direct heat box. Was going to use fire bricks sandwiched between sheet metal. After watching your video, the ceramic insulation is the ticket. Metal, Meat and Heat. Cheers, bro. rocket

[@laithrahahlaeh8123]

That very nice how much for that

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks Laith! I just messaged you on IG

[@brianluck84]

What's your process for getting the expanded metal ready to cook on since sanding all the mill scale off is nearly impossible.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

I don't usually have much mill scale on the expanded metal I get. But if it's there you can wire wheel it for a bit then wash off the grit with soapy water. Do a thorough rinse then coat with food grade oil and light a fire. Seems to work pretty good.

[@brianluck84]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274 thanks, replacing my pk grill grate with expanded metal. Wanted someone with first hand experience.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

@@brianluck84 Happy to help. If your PK grill grate will be close to the coals I'd recommend using something more substantial then 3/4 x 9 expanded metal. That stuff will distort pretty quick if exposed to hot coals. You may want to consider using 1/4" or 3/8" round bar grates with angle iron frames. much more heat resistant and longer lasting for grill applications.

[@leonardwilson7800]

Where did you purchase the insulation?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Amazon. Ceramic fire blanket insulation I think it’s called

[@marcuslsmithsr1990]

How much would it cost for 2 of these units?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Somewhere around $12k

[@24Mangible]

What was the length by width of this massive cooker

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

5 feet 4" wide, 3 feet 4" deep for outside dimensions. The internal cooking rack dimensions are 5 feet by 3 feet.

[@paulmarion7578]

Have any videos cooking with it ? How much to build one this size for customers ? Great cooker !

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

@@paulmarion7578 I don’t have any video of it being cooked on but the guy says it cooks like a champ and is crazy efficient. Something like this would go for around $7k right now and take around 6-months to build with my current backlog.

[@fredluden2298]

What area are you from?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Morning Fred. I'm in Minneapolis

[@darrylgranger388]

What is the approx. cost of this

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

That one was right around $6k I believe.

[@darrylgranger388]

Thanks

[@Ocmtz]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274hello do you ship to California ?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

@@Ocmtz yup that’s not a problem. Email me to discuss details please. [e-mail]

[@darrylking5543]

PS your email is wrong or something it would not go.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Hey Darryl. It’s not a link. It would need to be typed out. [e-mail]

[@AdamQuiklikit]

Please stop welding on casters. It sucks when you have to change them. Get yourself a 9/16 anular cutter and a rivnut tool. It’ll give you a 3/8 captive nut. It’ll take 5 more minutes

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Solid advice man. I really like the idea of bolt on casters. Might just have to go that route. Thanks for watching!