leveling 4 legs

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question for the experts,I am building a vertical bbq smoker with a welder friend.the frame turned out slightly out of square so inevitably it may not sitflat on all 4 legs.unfortunately where we are building it doesnt have a perfectly flat ground surface either and it weighs 300+lbs so will be a task to manipulate.We are nearing completion, any suggestions on how to check that the 4 legged baseis level ?I was thinking of running strings diagonally across the legs and if they cross and touch in the center it should be ok and if not then no.It is also possible that they could meet in the center but one side is higher than the other but that is ok, once it sits flat and doesnt rock obliquely.Lennard
Reply:Forget about the string idea, just pull a diagonal measurement from each side to see it it is square, but having four square sides doesn't mean it will be level either.Easiest thing to do is make adjustable foot pads for it, this way you can put it on uneven ground and not worry about it rocking. It can be as simple as welding a nut onto the bottom of the leg and using a bolt for the adjustment up and down.I am what I am, Deal with it!If necessity is the Mother of Invention, I must be the Father of Desperation!
Reply:Sounds like a plan...A vertical bbq smoker... how many racks?  I used to drive a meat truck in Jacksonville, FL and delivered to the bbq joints.  I saw a lot of vertical bbq cookers (not necessarily smokers) that had removeable racks that could be moved from the bottom to the top as the meat became more done.  Lou Bono's Barbeque on Beach Blvd used this type of system as well as Sonny's BBQ on Blanding(?) did as well.  Heck, maybe they all did... my memory is not what it used to be.A little story for you... when Floyd, the Miller Draft Beer truck driver, and I would be at Sonny's BBQ at the same time (usually once or twice a week) we would get a free meal.  I would grab a couple of bbq pork sandwiches and he would pull a couple of drafts and voila... lunch.  We had to test the product, didn't we?Take care and good luck with the smoker,Bill
Reply:I agree with dabar39.  You should spend time to get things as good as possible before welding, but you must include factors into your design that allow for it to function in the real world.  Adding levelers is a very good idea, and is easily done.Esab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:I like the string idea and the diagonals.  Depending on your design diagonals could be hard to get a good measurement from.  Adjustable is good.  Or you if you decide that is to much of a pain you could get it close and if it rocks weld a piece on the side of the short leg to make it longer.  Not the prettiest solution but it would work.
Reply:Like DaBar said, adjustable levelers is the best solution.  Whether the legs are square or not is a matter of aesthetics on this project.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:what happened is that I initially hired a welder to do the job but he turned out to be a waste of time so I took back the partially started frame and materials to another guy and then discovered some of the small discrepancies.I have since ordered a millermatic 180 and plan to start learning welding myself.this smoker is a clone of a stumps smoker, http://www.stumpssmokersinc.com/about.htmlthey use an ingenious gravity fed design, coals burn at the bottom of a chute and keep falling as they burn aways.
Reply:Congrats on your purchase!  You'll have fun learning to weld with that machine!Esab TradeMaster TorchSmith AW1A Airline TorchLincoln AC/DC 225/125Millermatic 252 w/ Spoolmatic 15aThermal Arc 190 GTSSpeedGlas 9100v
Reply:LennykI looked at the Web site and wish I would afford one of those. Someone came on not long ago with a smoker with a ball valve to adjust the air. I guess maybe he got the idea from them. Is yours going to be double wall ?? Seeing the vertical smokers gave me some ideas if I ever get around to making one. I guess yours will be on casters. it looks like it could be heavy. I don't think the put the weight on their web site.
Reply:Easy way to make it level, place it on a level ground, place flatbar under each leg, place levels on the top of it, and hold it till it is level and weld the flat bar on the legs as feet. Attached Images