275 Gallon Smoker – First Time

[mikedubs]

Hey y'all,

I'm building a smoker for the first time. I just bought a 275 gal. propane tank. I'm planning on doing a RF. My welding experience is pretty much none. After reading some other threads and using the Alien BBQ calculator, I've come up with the following so far:

FB/CC opening: 254.1 sq. in.

Area at end of RF: 254.1 sq. in. 

Area under RF: 254.1 sq. in.

FB inlets: 63.5 sq. in. 

Exhaust: 1079.9 cu. in. 

What's the area under the RF? Is it the the other area below the RF and the FB/CC opening?

I have a 55 gal. drum that I was planning on using as FB. Has anyone done that or have advice about it? Would the size work out for it?

I'm also thinking about having an option between cooking grates and a spit for a pig. Would that work, or is it better to go just with the cooking grates? 

I looked at Cisweld's thread where he built his, and I'm also thinking about having a reflector plate. How thick should the baffle and the deflector be? 

Thanks,

Mike

 

[mjeffcoat]

Make damn sure you evacuate all the propane out of the tank prior to any torching/welding. Best way to do that is to fill it up with water. That will force all the propane vapor still in the tank out.