AZ Barbeque.com
Smokers, Grills, Pitts & More => Show us your Smokers & Grills => Topic started by: bbqman73 on October 30, 2010, 10:22:41 pm
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Well, I got a little more work done today on my smoker project. I'm really trying to get it done and seasoned before Thanksgiving. There is still a lot of work left to do. I still need to build the firebox door, smoke outlet, upper cooking rack, and mount it to the trailer. All comments and suggestions are welcome. Thanks for looking!!
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Some earlier pics. I started with a 320 gallon propane tank and cut the length down. The smoke chamber is nearly 6 feet long and 30 inch diameter. I'll keep adding pics as I make more progress.
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pretty cool............should be a fun one to watch.
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Robert- Is that a forklift elevating the tank...it is not often I find two things to envy in the same photo. Looks like a start on neat build...show us more my envy can't wait. When cutting the bell off did you find it had been inserted some inches into the cylinder before the original welding? And did you find this out before or after the cutting? Slow Fu
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Looking good! I will be doing the same except guessing my build will take quite a while. :'(
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Looking good so far. Can't wait to see the finished product
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Robert- Is that a forklift elevating the tank...it is not often I find two things to envy in the same photo. Looks like a start on neat build...show us more my envy can't wait. When cutting the bell off did you find it had been inserted some inches into the cylinder before the original welding? And did you find this out before or after the cutting? Slow Fu
When I cut the bell off I noticed there was a 1 inch wide metal band welded in behind it for extra strength....and unfortunately, I found this after I started cutting. Next time I will cut it differently.
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;D I got a lttle morework done today. I finished the cooking racks, the firebox door(except for the air inlet), put a handle on smoke chamber door and started building the legs to mount smoker to a trailer...Here are a few more pics. Enjoy!!!
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looks like it is coming along just fine.
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BRIAN, looks good ! Are you going to split the door and or use counter weights? I built mine a few years ago and wish that i had split the door!! Or at least my back does! :)
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Very nice smoker there Brian can't wait to see it in action.
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BRIAN, looks good ! Are you going to split the door and or use counter weights? I built mine a few years ago and wish that i had split the door!! Or at least my back does! :)
I'm probably gonna use counterweights. I'm hoping to get the rest of it built and ready for thanksgiving and then work on the weights after. I totally agree with your back because that door is heavy...LOL!!! Thanks
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Very nice smoker there Brian can't wait to see it in action.
Thank you!!! I can't wait to use it and all the guys at work want me to hurry up so they can borrow it(I knew that was gonna happen).
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I think I would have split the door just to help with keeping heat in the pit.
I built one of my pits with only one door and now I'm going back and reworking it to have two doors.
My new pit has two doors in it and I'm liking the way it keeps heat in.
just my 2 cents
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I think I would have split the door just to help with keeping heat in the pit.
I built one of my pits with only one door and now I'm going back and reworking it to have two doors.
My new pit has two doors in it and I'm liking the way it keeps heat in.
just my 2 cents
I struggled with that decision when I was cutting the door out. I knew that if I cut a single door it would be easy to change later so that it has 2 overlapping doors and I'm still considering it. I just want to try it first and see how well it does. This is my first smoker build and I'm learning as I go. Thank you for the input.
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Put it on a trailer today. now time to sand blast, install smoke outlet, air inlet, and paint.
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scored a chrome stack for the smoker. what do ya think???
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Looking Good ;D
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I'm jealous
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Looks like it is coming along great keep us posted
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I like the chrome stack
Can I ask are you going to mount it where the photo shows it?
Why not mount it on top of the cooker back by the fire box end and make it a reverse flow?
I love to see people making their own smokers I had a blast making my first one.
Timm
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I struggled with that decision when I was cutting the door out. I knew that if I cut a single door it would be easy to change later so that it has 2 overlapping doors and I'm still considering it. I just want to try it first and see how well it does. This is my first smoker build and I'm learning as I go. Thank you for the input.
I know what you mean I to struggled with the design of my door, one door or two.
If you are any thing like me each time you use it you will come up with new ideas of how you could change things.
As I think I said before I'm going to change mine to a two door cooker.
I also found out that I had more then enough room between the cooking racks about 10" so I added a third rack in the center. The top rack still has 10" of clearness above it for the big meat.
Timm
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I also found out that I had more then enough room between the cooking racks about 10" so I added a third rack in the center. The top rack still has 10" of clearness above it for the big meat.
Timm
hey Timm,
what is the space between your shelf now?
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between the bottom and middle rack there is 4 1/2" and the same between the middle and top rack.
The top rack to the the top of the cooker there is 9-10"
hope this helps
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I like the chrome stack
Can I ask are you going to mount it where the photo shows it?
Why not mount it on top of the cooker back by the fire box end and make it a reverse flow?
I love to see people making their own smokers I had a blast making my first one.
Timm
I'm gonna mount it where the pic shows and see how it goes. There is already a large hole in that end from where I cut out the propane guage. I've never used a reverse flow and I've read mixed feelings about them. Some say they heat more evenly than the standard flow and some say they are a pain to tune. I guess that's the way it goes with everything. Some like Ford and some like Chevy...LOL!!! I've really enjoyed this build (and all the positive comments from AZBarbequers) so who knows....I might build another one that is reverse flow and see which one I like best( just don't tell my wife...LOL)!!! We have a local propane company with a large variety of used tanks for sale. The possibilities are endless.
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I know what you mean I to struggled with the design of my door, one door or two.
If you are any thing like me each time you use it you will come up with new ideas of how you could change things.
As I think I said before I'm going to change mine to a two door cooker.
I also found out that I had more then enough room between the cooking racks about 10" so I added a third rack in the center. The top rack still has 10" of clearness above it for the big meat.
Timm
Wow..cool!!! I like the third shelf. I'm already thinking about adding one on my smoker. When I built the racks I wasn't sure how much room I needed so I spaced them by what I thought "looked" good. I have 10" between the bottom and top rack. Thanks for the info!!
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You did the same thing I did 10 inches looked good. I found out I didn't need that much space. The 3rd rack took me from 20 sq. Feet of cooking area up to 30 sq. Feet. I can now cook 36 full racks of spareribs at one time.
Keep posting love to see updates.
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Fresh paint today. Now I gotta figure out how to put it back on the trailer without scratching it up....LOL!!!! :laugh: :question:
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Looken good what color is the trailer going to be.
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Looken good what color is the trailer going to be.
For now it's gonna stay purple. I'll do something different when I have more time. Gotta be ready 4 thanksgiving!!!!
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Does the exhaust out the side in the middle of the smoker work well? Does allot of soot build up in the top? Just curious it looks great!
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Does the exhaust out the side in the middle of the smoker work well? Does allot of soot build up in the top? Just curious it looks great!
Thank you!!! I've been told that it works better and heats more evenly. I'll build the first fire in it tomorrow..so I'm keepin my fingers crossed.
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Back on the trailer. I'm gonna install the thermometers today and build the first fire. After thanksgiving I'll build the shelf on the front and add a box to the trailer for extra wood.
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fired it up!!!
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Looks good put some meat it are you seasoning it today too.
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Looks good put some meat it are you seasoning it today too.
Yeah. I'm gonna try!! Thanks!!
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Brian, what kind of trailer is that? BTW the cooker looks great!
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Sweeeet.
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Looks great! really slick!
let us know how things go when you fire up. I does take time before you can really see the performance of a smoker. It may hold temp empty, but what matter is how it behave full of meat. finger cross!
cheers
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Finally fired up the new smoker at the dunes for Thanksgiving. Sorry, I forgot to take pics!! First cook: 9 pound brisket, two 7 pound turkey breasts, stuffed porkloin, bbq baked beans, and an 8 pound pork shoulder. Brisket didn't turn out very well. It had a nice smoke ring and good flavor but was dry and a little tough. Pork shoulder, turkey and beans were AWESOME...just the right amount of smoke and super moist and tender. Stuffed porkloin had a great flavor but a little dry. I guess I'll just keep practicing and using the family for testing purposes... LOL!! Hope you all had a great thanksgiving...keep on smokin!!
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Practicing is always good however if your family is like mine they are sick of BBQ after 10 months of practice.
Next time you cook on it post the some photos.
Trailhound
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Practicing is always good however if your family is like mine they are sick of BBQ after 10 months of practice.
Next time you cook on it post the some photos.
Trailhound
Ok, I will post photos next time. I hope they never get tired of practice BBQ because I don't have any replacement test dummies!!! LOL!!
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We put on two big BBQ dinners a year for friends & family one in May and the other in November we ask for donation to help pay for the food and ask them to score and give us reviews on the BBQ. Its a lot of work but you can get good feed back and make a littel money at the same time.
My 2 cents
Trailhound
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Ok, I will post photos next time. I hope they never get tired of practice BBQ because I don't have any replacement test dummies!!! LOL!!
I do my practices a touch differently.
I ask people if they want brisket, butts etc...
then I cook it and tell them to come pick it up that afternoon. I only charge them the cost of the meat and the deal is I have to take a slice of everything so I can see my work progress....
it only cost me coals/wood and flavor stuff...
good deal for everyone!
cheers
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I try to do a practice cook about once a month infact I'm doing one on the 11 or 12 of December.
Just pork butt and brisket, maybe some chicken to see how the pit works with the new insulated fire box.
Also to work on time frame for the long cooks Butt & Brisket.
Trailhound
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Great work and I echo the earlier post, I rarely find two things to drool over in the same photo (forklift and a Smoker.) That's like Pam Anderson (10 years ago) with a bratwurst in her hand but I digress. I want to see more photos too as this thing heads towards completion and first smoke. How big is the firebox? Great looking Smoker. Great job.
I also ran into that inner steel band where the end caps get welded on. Sucked. But I was committed and just kept going.
Daryl
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Looks good Brian make sure you save all remnants that you cut off, work great for mods.
Marv
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Would love to see some shots of the firebox door and how you sealed it (what gasket, etc) was used. That firebox door can be a pain and I am working on my firebox door right now too so maybe I can gleen some knowledge from you.
Thanks again and love the scale of your smoker, SICK
Daryl