Starting an 80 gallon smoker build...

[FabberMcGee]

Looks like a fun project.

What's the diameter is the small tank? Can you get a good fire in it, or would you be better off with a larger diameter and shorter one? I don't think rust will matter, even if it's rusted through in a little. I would want a little grate in the bottom anyway to get air under the wood and that would keep the heat off the bottom where it could further erode the steel.

P.S..... don't forget, Jen really likes smoked salmon. lol, who doesn't?

[Hummve]

I did use the calculator as mentioned. Fire box tank is 14x30 and it is a little older one fairly heavy and thick I think it should handle the heat ok. I do have a question about the stack how far should the stack penetrate the smoke chamber? I have built a smoker out of a 250 gallon propane tank knowing nothing about smokers for the most part and little guidance from the customer. I will dig up some photos and throw them up soon.
But on that one he had me float the stacks about 2" above the main rack which was positioned almost center of tank. Also the calculator shows an 18 inch stack I assume that is the exposed portion.

[Floptop]

I have no idea on these smokers with the fire box on the side, but they obviously work well. Interesting stuff.

[Hummve]

Originally Posted by Gadgeteer

What is a "metal recycling place"?

You know where you take metal (steel, aluminum, copper) and get paid for it. Well I just happened to see it sitting off to the side of there pile of stuff for a while and asked about it. After a few weeks they decided to let it go. I guess they had plans off fixing it at one point.
They also have an area with usable remnants this is where I am getting most if the material at only 22 cents a pound much much cheaper than new most the time and they really only put stuff in there that is in good shape anyways.

[Hummve]

Pictures of the first and only smoker I built like I said I really didn't know anything about smokers at the time. Not that I know much more now. Still never used one
The design for the most part was all left up to me the drawing of what he had in mind consisted basically of an oval with two stacks on it and a couple lines representing the shelves scribbled on a piece of paper (should have gotten a picture of that).

[Hummve]

More pictures

[TEK]

Man, that thing looks awesome....bet it can smoke up some meat--


oh,by the way, did you know Jen likes smoked salmon?....

[DrBob]

Wow! I really like the slide out shelves! Great work. Remember, Jenn's a vegan and therefore all the smoked salmon should go to me.

DrBob

[Hummve]

Thanks guys. It was a very fun build, if you look at the top shelf you will notice that they pull out and then the center support pieces of channel come out to allow you to put something very large across the whole bottom.
Made some progress on the build tonight cut out the doors on both tanks. Also rough cut out the baffle plate. Hopefully I will get some time this weekend to work on it.
I plan on putting two burners in it so it can be used as a regular grill as well. Here is a picture of the specs I am planing on will most likely change a little though.

[Hummve]

As I'm sitting around this evening I just had an epiphany(maybe). So my original plans where to use a piece of six inch pipe for the baffle but decided to go with a plate due to the lose of space in the cook chamber trying to keep off the bottom for cleaning and also keep distance from the cooking surface.
But now I am thinking of cutting a slit say 5"-6" wide length wise in bottom of the tank. Thus allowing the piece of 6 inch pipe to rest about half way out the bottom. Thoughts?