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Side by side Fire box size demensions?

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SlantedBBQ

  • Karma: 0
Hey all working on my latest contraption. I am currently working on Fabing a side by side type smoker out of  35 gallon drum. I am wanting to play around and try out rotisserie cooking so I am building this unit just for that reason. I am turning the drum on its side building the frame and installing a rotisserie assembly. I haven't figured out exactly how I should build the fire box. My Idea is to build a square box and install it under the drum. I am not big on stick burning like most people like to use on a side by side setup so I figured it really doesn't need to be that big if I am just using charcoal. I would install a couple valves to control the smoke flow up in to the drum chamber? But I am looking for other Ideas on the fire box size, shape, location? Is there a benefit to having the box on the side or under the smoke chamber?
#1 - August 11, 2009, 04:57:20 pm

Mike (AZBarbeque)

  • Karma: 171
Is this something that you will want to move with ease or something that will most likely stay in one place all the time?
#2 - August 11, 2009, 05:32:00 pm
Michael J. Reimann
Realtor - Clients First Realty (Real Job) - www.TheReimannWay.com
Owner/President - AZBarbeque - #1 BBQ Club in Arizona
Owner/Pitmaster - AZBarbeque Catering - www.AZBarbequeCatering.com

If God wanted us to be Vegetarians, why did he make animals out of meat??

SlantedBBQ

  • Karma: 0
I would like to be able to move it when needed. And to be able to place in the back of a pickup.
#3 - August 12, 2009, 05:42:54 am

Mike (AZBarbeque)

  • Karma: 171
The reason I asked is because there are a few ways you can do this.

I have seen some where they have 2 barrels, one below the other and the bottom one being the Fire box with 2 small pipes coming into the main one.  I've seen it where the bottom barrel has been either directly below the top one and I've seen it where the bottom one is set back from the top one and the pipes are angled.

I have seen some where they did a half barrel to one side of the main barrel and offset it so it looks more like a traditional smoker.

The fun part about this is that you can customize it to whichever way you like.  Take some time and look around the site, I'm sure there are some pictures here somewhere of some of them.  I like the Rotisserie idea.

I don't think there is any benefit to having it either way, just whichever way you like best.  Once you learn your smoker, it won't matter how it's set up as you will know how to obtain and keep the temps you are looking for.  The one thing I can say about having the fire box either below or below and behind is that the smoker would then come in from the bottom and be more even.  When you have a box on the side, then typically the unit is hotter closer to that fire box and the food you place closer to there will cook quicker.

Good Luck, let us know what you decide and of course take Pictures, we LOVE pictures.
#4 - August 12, 2009, 05:49:35 am
Michael J. Reimann
Realtor - Clients First Realty (Real Job) - www.TheReimannWay.com
Owner/President - AZBarbeque - #1 BBQ Club in Arizona
Owner/Pitmaster - AZBarbeque Catering - www.AZBarbequeCatering.com

If God wanted us to be Vegetarians, why did he make animals out of meat??

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