Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[pmillen]

A recent thread about adding castors to a Camp Chef smoker got me interested, again, in adding them to my 2013 Cookshack Fast Eddy PG500. 


It has wheels on only one leg set so I have to lift the right-side legs off the ground in order to move it.  That’s a bit troublesome for me.


I’d like to use these adjustable-height castors on the right legs and put slightly larger wheels on the left ones to compensate.  But I don’t look forward to drilling mounting holes in the stainless-steel legs.

A guy in a hardware store told me that his drill bits that are better suited for drilling SS with a hand drill, but he didn’t seem trustworthy.

Do any readers have first-hand knowledge of appropriate drill bits and technique?

[MysticRhythms]

I want to do the same thing.
If you end up doing it I hope you will post your method and results.

In the meantime, I found a video that might help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk-Yhcvp2Bg

[hughver]

Wouldn't adding the wheels unlevel the cooking surface? As for drilling stainless, I find that drilling a pilot hole first helps with the larger hole.

[Bentley]

Drilling SS with an electric drill, that is a living xxxx!  I had to drill the Memphis Pro in 2010 to put the Competition Wheels on that ITC1 made me.  I still have nightmares about it!

[pmillen]

Wouldn't adding the wheels unlevel the cooking surface?

I think I can maintain a level pit by using adjustable-height castors on the right legs and putting slightly larger wheels on the left ones to compensate for any non-level condition that I can't adjust for. 

[hughver]

I think I can maintain a level pit by using adjustable-height castors on the right legs and putting slightly larger wheels on the left ones to compensate for any non-level condition that I can't adjust for.

I think that is a better solution than cutting the legs as was mentioned in another post on the same subject.

[Bentley]

Those are good looking casters.  Solid Rubber tires, I think that is the answer!

[LowSlowJoe]

Back in the 80s, I was sort of a machinist, most self taught on the job.   For the most part, we used High Speed Steel drill bits for drilling all kinds of stainless steel, never seemed to be a problem.  So, years later, I've personally never found a good reason to buy anything any more expensive then high speed steel drill bits.   

Most stainless steel really isn't that hard, or that hard to drill.   Get the speed right, use a little cutting oil if your drilling through something thick, you'll be fine.   Larger diameter drills requires lower speed than smaller diameter.

 Hardest drilling job I ever did , was putting three 0.030" holes through  three of the points of the 1/8th inch hex heads on 1500 small bolts that were being made to go on a F-18.   Only drilled my finger once during that job... ( and never on any other jobs ).   If I was lucky , I could get about 30 holes drilled before the drill bit broke, or I had to go sharpen it.  These were wire holes , on the small bolts.   Thankfully, I  only had to do that particular job once...  It was easier than digging ditches or bailing hay though.    The most amazing skill I learned on that job, was how to sharpen a 0.030" drill bit... of course I probably couldn't do it today, as my eye sight just isn't what it used to be.

[Canadian John]

 Paul, whatever caster you end up with it should "lock", otherwise the right side of your pit will move, either by gravity or the slightest nudge.

 The large pivoting casters I put on my kamados don't have locks. That's how I know.


 Re drilling stainless:  You will need a much harder bit than high speed steel such as tungsten carbide... A few tips; Proper drill speed, there are charts. A good cutting oil.  Center punch then drill with a small,
 say 1/16' bit. That will be  the hardest part...Keep the bits from overheating and being damaged by simply dunking the bit in water if you feel it is getting hot. A clue is the bit not generating chips while you
 are pushing and of course, smoke.. Once the small pilot hole has been made graduate up to your final size..Final step is de burr the hole. A hard countersink works well.

 The caster you have shown us requires 4 holes/ caster..There might be an easier way by going a 2 hole/caster route with a better caster selection..Larger wheels = much easier manoeuvring. Let me think about this.

[litzerski]

Heat is your enemy when drilling stainless steel.  Cobalt bits exist to combat this.  Purchase a good cobalt bit, use cutting oil and drill with slow rpm's. 

[Canadian John]

 More on casters; Is the pit hight to your liking? If not now is the time to change it. If it's OK height wise, I would cut the legs off to accommodate the new caster assembly by measuring and marking the legs at least twice. If the leg(s) come up marginally short, they can be shimmed up using fender washers, that is if you go the threaded swivel stem caster route..Don't try and cut the leg off in one cut. At each end and corner, start the cut so as to just go thru the metal. Next, cut to meet the small start cuts. File smooth and you are done this part.

 The CASTER would be as above, screwed into a square mounting block held onto each leg by two 1/4" bolts. I can give more detail if required.

[Mikro]

How about remove the rear wheels and make a new lower frame that attaches to the existing legs. This way you get extra strength in the bottom frame as well as you can use any preferred caster type. If height is an issue then offset the caster points out side of the legs so that legs sit lower in the frame. This would also give you a possible lower shelf below the pit.
MK

[okie smokie]

Have you inquired with CookShack?  They might have a tested method.   

[pmillen]

Have you inquired with CookShack?  They might have a tested method.   

You can't tell by looking at the photograph I posted, but Cookshack has drilled the legs to mount their optional castors.  I don't like them; the wheels are too small, they don't lock and they make the PGs sit unlevel.  I think it's really poor engineering which is not their wont.

EDIT:  Removed autocorrect error