Guest Me&BearDog Posted November 11, 2016 Report Share Posted November 11, 2016 I hope this request is permitted if not I understand. I'm needing to have a large brick smoker built at my house with some exact needs. Two weeks ago I emailed and called a man that was recommended to me and he said he would call me back but never has. Can anyone recommend a person or company to hire that has the time and skill to do this work? The photo is of what I need built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sue Posted November 11, 2016 Report Share Posted November 11, 2016 Gustavo 333-157-3048 He speaks english Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensley Posted November 11, 2016 Report Share Posted November 11, 2016 I suggest my Gustavo 331-465-8442 he also speaks English and he just built an apartment for a MX friend. He did an excellent job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Me&BearDog Posted November 11, 2016 Report Share Posted November 11, 2016 Is Gustavo the gentleman that keeps his equipment at a house in Ajijic on Hidalgo half way between Ajijic Plaza and 6 corners? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted November 12, 2016 Report Share Posted November 12, 2016 Is this cast iron door of any use for you? It is U.S. made, cast by the Amish. Could use as a small oven door, or a good, fireproof door for your ash pit. This type of hardware is expensive these days, and shipping even more so. https://www.lehmans.com/product/dutch-oven-left-door-for-building-your-own-brick-dutch-oven Also -don't fall in love with red bricks here. A great many of them here are under fired, warped, and the ones from Mezcales are useless. Think the concrete "blockas". Very strong, all the same size, then cover the unit with lime plaster, and use lime whitewash every year to clean it up, and kill any molds or ambitious insects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned small Posted November 12, 2016 Report Share Posted November 12, 2016 Bricks will be just fine as you want it. This pech in a Ukrainian homestead was made with a willow frame and clay/straw and used in the winter to sleep on in Alberta, Canada. Yes it's a dirt floor. I'm sure you can find an iron worker to make the doors for far less than ordering them from NOB. My friend pedro was kind enough to lend me this pic and advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johanson Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 Thanks for the picture Pedro, AKA Ned Small. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johs Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 Hi Americo Ceja 333 483-5933 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 3 hours ago, johanson said: Thanks for the picture Pedro, AKA Ned Small. Typical Alberta engineering - how do you flush the darn thing!?!? The door is here in Chapala, for barter or sale. Now mr. small has to look in the mirror and ask Peter to give us a local source of waterproof, wire cut bricks, and a cast iron foundry. I know how to make the molds for metals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned small Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 The OP requires what looks like a 2 or 3 tier smoker for which local bricks are quite adequate as well as sheet metal doors all of which can be done right here from locally available materials and maestros and will be more aesthetically pleasing than those smokers made from old refrigerators. He is not asking for a replica of the McLeod Building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 But why I know about bricks is because I was strongly encouraged to put in a bid to restore a historical hotel in Edmonton. I think it was Alberta Hotel, this was a long time ago. This was one of the first hotels in Edmonton, Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier stayed there, when Alberta was made a Province in 1905. All the old bricks were numbered,in storage, but there were an awful lot of them missing. They expected some government contributions, which require keeping to heritage materials and mortars. The structure would also have to include a steel frame to meet current safety codes. I found that the only economical way to do this was to bring up a brick making crew from Lagos de Moreno, Mexico. Some of the best hand crafted bricks and most skilled masons in the world. Mexico!?!? they exclaimed, there is no way THAT was going to happen. The hostility genuinely surprised me, but I didn't say anything - didn't put in a bid either. The local bricks are too soft, they absorb a lot of water (ever heard of salitre?) and the local mortar is weak. The heat and then cooling would cause constant flow of humidity in and out. I do realize that this a smoker, with long time, hot/warm smoke. If that rather remarkable smoker was made with these bricks, and the usually low grade Brazilian or Chinese sheet steel, the structure would be riddled with cracks and broken bricks within three years. The metal doors would have a constant rust problem, even if you painted them every year. Within 5 years it would be a sorry sight, within 10 years it might even be dangerous. Just my opinion. Stick to solid concrete "blockas" -that all I see being used today. You can build doors from other materials than steel which keep in heat, only use the doors when smoking. I thought it was a good idea for a built in ash pit, so you only have to shovel it out once and a while. A heavy metal door on it would be useful, especially if you have kids and dogs running around. http://www.edmontonsarchitecturalheritage.ca/structures/alberta-hotel/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rod.collins Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 I second Sue's recommendation on Gustavo Marquez just had him build a huge wall on my property and some other things, he does an excellent job, he is not the cheapest but he does quality work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned small Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 The Alberta Hotel was never slated for restoration but a facade was considered for it's replacement using the salvaged materials. The job was far too big for your company to even do the facade. There are a few of us who actually lived and or worked in Edmonton unlike you from BC who did one job there which had nothing to do with brick work. Me and beardog[the OP] will be just fine with his plan. I'm sure that he and his Mexican friends and family will succeed using local resources. Here is the CKUA Radio building on the old site completed in 2010 when you were already in Mexico for a long time senor Gary chillin. Border promotions work very seldom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted November 13, 2016 Report Share Posted November 13, 2016 40 minutes ago, ned small said: Border promotions work very seldom. Is that what your magic mirror tells you!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
La Media Luna Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 Sorry I have not been following this thread after I found what I needed. I went with Gustavo as he was an old neighbor of mine. It took a little longer to build than I/we thought it would just about 6 weeks. Water is not a problem being the smoker is under a roof. I've used it now for almost one year with good results. It would not be economical to use wood only for heat and smoke as the correct wood is expensive. So I went with propane for heat. The end results are this: When I was using electricity it cost around $10 American per smoke. When I used wood only it was about $5 American per smoke. Using propain it is some place around $1 American per every time it smokes. Not to bad when you smoke things for 8 to 16 hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ned small Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 What a beauty! So when can we expect some skin and fat on smoked pork hocks and what would be the cost? Also smoked picnic hams? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pappysmarket Posted December 27, 2017 Report Share Posted December 27, 2017 2 hours ago, La Media Luna said: Sorry I have not been following this thread after I found what I needed. I went with Gustavo as he was an old neighbor of mine. It took a little longer to build than I/we thought it would just about 6 weeks. Water is not a problem being the smoker is under a roof. I've used it now for almost one year with good results. It would not be economical to use wood only for heat and smoke as the correct wood is expensive. So I went with propane for heat. The end results are this: When I was using electricity it cost around $10 American per smoke. When I used wood only it was about $5 American per smoke. Using propain it is some place around $1 American per every time it smokes. Not to bad when you smoke things for 8 to 16 hours. Great looking smoker, congratulations, enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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