#22 cheap mini

ribwizzard · Mar 21, 2013

I know I dropped off there for a lil bit , and didnt finish posting this build. But here it is , just a quick build mini, been using it for hot dog and italian sausage cook outs in the shop. Works perfect for that and does not use much fuel.

ribwizzard · Mar 21, 2013

heres the firebox vent, wanted to be able to open it up to sweep out ashes I really dont like the round firebox and will return to the square design, but I do think I like this style vent door and have already added it to the build I have in progress now. Im going to change the hinge design though.

tobycat · Mar 22, 2013

That's the perfect size smoker for cooking for two ,what are the dimensions and chimney diameter? Really nice build, I like the wood handles. Are you using a roll bender for the door flanges?

ribwizzard · Mar 22, 2013

Thanks Tobycat:

Cooking chamber is 12" diameter, I think the pipe is 3", check out my thread on building door flanges.

This is the first one I built with wood handles. I usually use stainless steel spring handles, but some feed back I got was some people prefer wood handles. They are a lot cheaper, and I kind of like them as well. $6.00 piece of oak at home depot and $.75 cents worth of screws.

My plan is to design a high quality reverse flow "patio size" smoker and try to mass produce it. Im building these "mini's" to try out different design concepts, and they are so cheap and fast to build. Kind of a research and development kind of thing. My final design will be a 16" diameter cooking chamber, I believe that would be the perfect size......any input on that?

Any ideals in what people would like to see in a patio size smoker, let me know. Im shooting for something I can sell in the $800.00 range. Im also working on accessories like gas burners, charcoal baskets, propane charcoal starter etc. and have some really cool stuff already in the works, just holding back sharing those things just yet.

And the cart, just cant get my head around what would be the perfect cart design just yet.

dirtsailor2003 · Mar 22, 2013

I am always amazed when I see your workmanship on your smokers. Looks great! I really like this size of smoker. How about adapting it to a receiver mount as an option for tailgating/camping? I think the price point you mention is great.

ribwizzard · Mar 22, 2013

I almost did that with this one, but wanted to play with the cart design.

Thanks for the compliment.

seenred · Mar 22, 2013

Very nice build! That firebox vent looks well designed and well built. And I think your onto a winning idea with an affordable, patio-sized RF. I never cease to be amazed at the talented and creative people on these forums!

ribwizzard · Mar 22, 2013

Thanks SeenRed, I just stuck an eyebolt in it for a handle right now. Im working on an inproved design for the door right now and should have some pics saturday once I get back to fabrication.

weedeater · Mar 22, 2013

Ribwizzard, As always you have made what I know will be a great little smoker. Your skills really show. What about a design that includes a cart for the patio user that can also convert to a receiver hitch for the car. Kind of the best of both worlds. Be able to have it on a cart and roll it up to you vehicle and attach to your receiver hitch leaving the cart at home. Just a thought but I think that design would sell the unit for a lot of people. Maybe rides sideways down the road to be tucked in close to the vehicle and pivots out to cook. Could be one of the options available in your line of accessories. I know you could design it. Just a thought.

ribwizzard · Mar 22, 2013

Weedeater,

That ideal is definitly in the works, just right now my mind is on a 25-30 gallon size. The tailgate model ( I think) would be better in the 10-15 gallon size, just becouse of the weight. I dont want to skimp on the guage of steel I am using, Built for a life time will be my moto.

I think that if there are people ready to spend $1000.00 on a big green egg set up, and you show them the advantage of a wood smoker over a charcoal smoker, it would be an easy sell. Add a full line of functional assesories to go along with it... and you might have something.....

I see those horizons selling like hot cakes at Bass Pro for $1600.00 plus, I think that I can put something together a whole lot better. Just working out all the little details.........

ski-freak · Apr 22, 2013

Very nice mini design for when you're cooking small quantities!

dirtsailor2003 · Apr 22, 2013

What's a finished weight estimate on these guys?

ribwizzard · Apr 23, 2013

This one probably is in the 75lb range, thats just a quess, I can handle putting it in the back of the truck fairly well, but #20 I can not pick up, it has to be at least double that. Thats why I decided 3/16" would be better material for these instead of 1/4"

dirtsailor2003 · Apr 23, 2013

Ribwizzard said:
This one probably is in the 75lb range, thats just a quess, I can handle putting it in the back of the truck fairly well, but #20 I can not pick up, it has to be at least double that. Thats why I decided 3/16" would be better material for these instead of 1/4"

Thanks. I was figuring they'd be more around the 250# -300# range.

ribwizzard · Apr 23, 2013

These are pretty small, they were test subjects for some designs I wanted to mess around with. The ones Im starting production on now will probably be in the 250lb range when complete.

dirtsailor2003 · Apr 23, 2013

Ribwizzard said:
These are pretty small, they were test subjects for some designs I wanted to mess around with. The ones Im starting production on now will probably be in the 250lb range when complete.

I can't wait to see your production models.

ski-freak · Jul 28, 2013

I picked up a Char-Griller Kamado Akorn Grill at BJ's for $280. It has a 19.5" round cast iron cooking grate and triple wall STEEL insulated shell. It came with a thick ceramic interior smoking baffle for indirect-heat smoking and a nice fitted cover. So it has 300 square inches of primary cooking area not counting the additional 143 square inch (13.5" diameter) warming/upper grill. About the only things I needed to add were a round charcoal basket, and a 10 - 13 inch diameter water/drippings pan to place on top of the ceramic smoking baffle. The first smoke was great with amazing control as it's very tightly sealed with precise draft controls, and it's a STEEL body and NOT Ceramic so not fragile.

I also have a large side-burner (OK Joe - 20" X 40" cooking chamber and 20" X 20" firebox with searing/grilling grate) that's single wall STEEL, but was looking for a smaller secondary rig that's unaffected by cold weather and is sized right for the times when I'm cooking smaller quantities of food to conserve my fuel/effort. RW, this is IMO the price point you want to beat for those with a "big rig" looking to also buy a secondary "mini"!

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