Dallas Cowboy Mini Build - Tailgating Beast


 

Billy

New member
Here is my build:
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Installed wood knobs and a old school wood handle. Primed, and painted with high heat engine paint.
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I applied 3 coats of high heat primer along with 6 coats of high heat paint and finally 3 coats of high heat clear coats. I let the clear coat dry for 30+ days.
Today I did my 1st burn on my Mini. I did not add the terra cotta heat diffuser.
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And then my paint problem become very obvious... The top and bottom of my Mini turned color after an hour at full heat. Any idea as to why this happened?
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If I repainted the top and bottom Cowboys blue will it remain blue or turn brown again?
Any and all advice is much appreciated.
Lastly, this is my 1st post here and I just want to thank everyone on this Forum for inspiring me to make my 1st Mini.
Be well...
 
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A few more photos:
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Added 2 lamp kits so I can run my Maverick probes.
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And then my paint problem become very obvious... The top and bottom of my Mini turned color after an hour at full heat. Any idea as to why this happened?
It's pretty hard or maybe impossible to get paint to stick to the BBQ it's self. They are Porcelain-enameled. But hey...That's a fine looking mini if you ask me
 
Too bad about your paint job! As was mentioned painting over the enamel is a tough thing to do. You certainly could try another coat. But man too have to wait thirty days before you can use your mini again, that'll be tough. The high temp paint I use says after the cure time to heat the part to 250, cool completely then repeat. So if you do paint maybe try something like that the first few times.
 
To celebrate Memorial Day I'm smoking a small pork shoulder.
Here goes...
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2 hours in...
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4 hours in, time to flip...
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@tim McCann, I'm no paint expert but I think it's the clear coat. But I used high heat engine clear coat.
 
@CaseT, thank you Sir! It was a 4l.lb bone-in shoulder and it took 5.5 hours from the minute I light the coals to the moment I pulled it from the pit. I filled the charcoal basket 2 times. It was a great break in cook.
 
Billy, your pulled pork looks fantastic. The bark and smoke ring are out of this world!! As for your paint issues, not an expert by any means, but i believe your problem isn't in the ain't or the clear coat, but that goofy blue star thingy on the side! I think if you strip it down and paint a green or yellow "G", you'll not only have a beautiful smoker, but you'll also be the envy of all your friends and neighbors!!
Kidding aside, the smoker looks awesome, and your pulled pork looks even better!
Tim
 
I painted a three color paint job on my mini. Check out this thread.

I used high heat header paint. I did 3 coats of primer. 3 coats of each color (9 total) and then 3 coats of primer. So that's 15 total coats of paint... I never thought of painting the actual smokey joe... Like everyone has mentioned I don't think any paint would really stick and look good. I just kept mine black. The paint on my pot and worked out great after several cooks. No paint issues what so ever. It looks like the bottom of your pot is starting to discolor. It looks like your pot is small compared to the smokey joe bottom. does it move around or is it a tight fit? It looks like a lot of heat and smoke escape because it does not fit well. Mine fits very snug and there is not heat or smoke lose around the bottom. Let me know your thoughts...

And Go Cowboys!
 
Billy, your pulled pork looks fantastic. The bark and smoke ring are out of this world!! As for your paint issues, not an expert by any means, but i believe your problem isn't in the ain't or the clear coat, but that goofy blue star thingy on the side! I think if you strip it down and paint a green or yellow "G", you'll not only have a beautiful smoker, but you'll also be the envy of all your friends and neighbors!!
Kidding aside, the smoker looks awesome, and your pulled pork looks even better!
Tim
Tim, too funny...
 
I painted a three color paint job on my mini. Check out this thread.

I used high heat header paint. I did 3 coats of primer. 3 coats of each color (9 total) and then 3 coats of primer. So that's 15 total coats of paint... I never thought of painting the actual smokey joe... Like everyone has mentioned I don't think any paint would really stick and look good. I just kept mine black. The paint on my pot and worked out great after several cooks. No paint issues what so ever. It looks like the bottom of your pot is starting to discolor. It looks like your pot is small compared to the smokey joe bottom. does it move around or is it a tight fit? It looks like a lot of heat and smoke escape because it does not fit well. Mine fits very snug and there is not heat or smoke lose around the bottom. Let me know your thoughts...

And Go Cowboys!
Tommy, Ty for the reply and being a Cowboy fan.
My pot is snug as a bug on the bottom and top... I really think I heated the pit up to fast and picked a light color. I going to cover the star an Texas cut out with painters tape and then take high heat black paint and repainted it. If that does not work, o well... I made it to cook on not look at. Regardless it will be at every home game tailgate.
Stay dry Tommy...
 
Tommy, Ty for the reply and being a Cowboy fan.
My pot is snug as a bug on the bottom and top... I really think I heated the pit up to fast and picked a light color. I going to cover the star an Texas cut out with painters tape and then take high heat black paint and repainted it. If that does not work, o well... I made it to cook on not look at. Regardless it will be at every home game tailgate.
Stay dry Tommy...

staying dry is the name of the game these days!

No matter what the paint looks like they cook great!
 
No expert here, I am guessing that the black enamel absorbed more heat than the shiny aluminum of the pot. Great build and pictures!!
 

 

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