Why aren't more of us using this?

[foomench]

What did you use to cut the steel?

Cutoff saw at Harbor Freight, less than $100, like this. That link shows $90, but I think it was on sale for $60 or $70 when I bought it. I doubt it would hold up under heavy continuous use, but it works for an occasional project. I already had a stand/table for a sliding compound mitre saw, so I just rigged it up on that. You could improvise if you had to.

[usmcruz]

What did you use to cut the steel?

You can use a chopsaw with a fiber metal blade, which will make easy work of angle, tubing, and round stock. I can cut through 1/8" 2 by 2" tubing in about 10 seconds using a fiber blade. You can use a cutting torch, or even cheaper than the last two is a angle grinder with a cutoff wheel, although I dont recommend using a cheap angle grinder to do this, because it will kill it. Also, craftsman, has made a skill saw with two blades that rotate in different directions that is specifically made to cut all of the above, but it cost about $290.


Also for those of you that want to build your own, and dont have the first clue on welding, I will walk you through it, from start to finish. This is what I do for a living, so feel free to pick my brain.

[EagleDude]

I considered cutting the steel myself with an angle grinder, but realized that it was very imprecise (bends with pressure), so I paid a couple extra bucks to have the steel cut at the place I bought it (all of the steel and cuts for ~$90). Unfortunately, they didn't produce perfect cuts either, but the grinder and welder fixed those problems. If you wanted to cut it yourself, it would be best IMO to use a radial arm saw designed for cutting metal (big version of the angle grinder). I have one for wood that I could have used, but the plastic guard would have taken a hit from the sparks.

If you don't have the means to cut the steal, pay the extra $10 to $15 to have it cut to specs at the steel store.

[EagleDude]

... a saw like "foomench" posted.

[EagleDude]

That triple burner is only 40,000 btu per burner. Is this enough power? I was aiming for around 100,000 btu.

I'm not sure what the BTU's for the burners I used are, but they work great. I rarely turn them to full blast and never during the boil. Here is the linkhttp://bayouclassicdepot.com/bg12_cast_iron_burner.htm

[bluelou6]

where's the best place to buy steel?

[TheMadHopper]

That triple burner is only 40,000 btu per burner. Is this enough power? I was aiming for around 100,000 btu.

I'm not sure what the BTU's for the burners I used are, but they work great. I rarely turn them to full blast and never during the boil. Here is the linkhttp://bayouclassicdepot.com/bg12_cast_iron_burner.htm

Are you doing 5 or 10 gallon batches with this burner? I'll call them and see if it is the same one on the Triple cooker.

[foomench]

where's the best place to buy steel?

Best? Dunno about that. I bought mine at a local steel yard. I looked online, but shipping killed that. The nice thing about the place I used is they also sold "used," which wasn't really used but just not pristine. This really made some of my pieces much cheaper.