325 Gallon Reverse Flow Build

[nightrod06]

 
Hello Nightrod.

Is that a gate valve? IMHO I wouldn't use a globe valve as it's too convoluted. I see you used an elbow. Sometimes I have to run a rod down mine to clean it out.

If you seal welded the RF plate it can be used for water. I have put water in mine and it works.

If it's removable you can still weld lips all around for water.

Either way you will be able to try it out and see if you like it.

As far as the tank I would paint it with high heat resist paint and let it go. You'll probably have to repaint at intervals anyway.

Dave

Thanks for the reply. The only reason I used a gate valve was because "big blue"  had them on sale this past weekend for $3.99 as opposed to $12.99 for the 1/2" ball valves. I was also forced to incorporate a elbow into the drain because the main cross memeber of my trailer runs directly below the drain hole and would make a mess if I didnt offset it to one side or the other. If the gate valve does not work out it is easily replaced with something else. I also installed another valve at the rear of the CC that will drain the area between the bottom of the CC & the RF plate.

As far as welding or not welding the RF plate in, I think I will be forced to do one or the other. The way I have my RF plate & drain set up using the piece of 1.5" angle, I will be forced to seal up where the RF plate meets the angle. I like your idea of welding lips around to hold water, I just dont think it would work for my application.

Still thinking about the paint/finish, but I have a long way before I need to make that decision. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[nightrod06]

Hey everyone. Got my metal this weekend for the firebox and RF plate. Ended up having everything cut by the steel supplier. Paid a little more than i wanted to, but everything was cut perfectly. i will be home this coming friday and will be off work the entire week of thanksgiving. I plan to get the vents cut in the fire box and start tacking everything together. Here are a few pics untill next time.

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• nightrod06
• Nov 18, 2013

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• nightrod06
• Nov 18, 2013

 

[nightrod06]

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• nightrod06
• Nov 18, 2013

 

[nightrod06]

Well I got quite a bit of work done this past week while home on vacation. I got the FB welded up, vents installed, RF plate welded in, and a portion of the racks built. The last major thing to do is build the warming cabinet & build the FB door. One question I have for everyone. What do you think the minimum thickness should be for the plate I am going to make the warming cabinet from? Is 1/8" plate to thin? With 1/4" plate being so expensive & heavy, I was hoping of making it out of 1/8" plate. Thoughts? I plan to extend the warming cabinet up from the FB only to the top of the CC (about 22"). I think this will be plenty of room to hold 5-6 sheet pans from keeping things warm.

Also, I decided to buy a milwauke metal cutting circular saw a few weeks back. I have to say I am amazed how well it works! I recommend it to anyone who needs to cut plate or expanded metal but doesnt have the money to invest in a plasma cutter. I used a piece of angle & a clamp for a rip guide and it worked great. Even was able to do some plunge cuts with it. So far the blade is holding up well even after making about 25' of cuts. Pics to follow. As always, any feedback is apreciated. Thanks.

 

[nightrod06]

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

 

[nightrod06]

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

 

[nightrod06]

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

 

[nightrod06]

Also had a chance to smoke a few turkeys on Saturday on my in ground drum smoker.

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

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• nightrod06
• Dec 3, 2013

 

[gary s]

You really have that looking good.    Also nice looking birds !!!!

Gary

 

[buda q]

It's looking great!! What did you use for spacers on your vent slide to keep the strips high enough for clearance for the slide plate? I've been trying to figure out what to do here and your pictures are exactly what I want to do to my vents. Did you cut down some angle iron? Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

Keith

 

[nightrod06]

It's looking great!! What did you use for spacers on your vent slide to keep the strips high enough for clearance for the slide plate? I've been trying to figure out what to do here and your pictures are exactly what I want to do to my vents. Did you cut down some angle iron? Any info would be appreciated. Thank you.

Keith

Keith,

The guide rails are actually even more simple than cutting down a piece of angle. I took a piece of 1/2"x1/4" flat stock and tacked it in place, then tacked a piece of 1"x1/8" flat stock on top of that, lapping the 1" halfway on the bottom 1/2" piece. For the actual sliding part, my vent openings are 3"x14" so i cut a piece of 1/4" plate 4"x15" to cover the vent opening 1/2" on each side. When you are tacking the guide pieces in place, make sure you use some anti-splatter or something to keep slag from getting on the face and inside the guide rails where the piece will slide. I got a few splatters on mine and it made it a pain to get the vent to slide. I ended up using a pry bar to tweak the guide rails out a tiny bit so the vent slides nice and smooth. I also took a short piece of the 1/2"x1/4" flat stock and welded it to each end of the guide rails to serve as a stop. Here is a pic of the profile of the guide rails.

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• nightrod06
• Dec 4, 2013

 

[jweller]

@Buda Q I used 1/2 inch angle for the rails, and a piece of 4 X 1/4 flat stock for the sliding door. The thickness of the angle takes up just about all the slop and it slides well.

 

[radioguy]

Be sure to put additional clearance in those slides. Things will swell up a bit when hot.

Keith,

The guide rails are actually even more simple than cutting down a piece of angle. I took a piece of 1/2"x1/4" flat stock and tacked it in place, then tacked a piece of 1"x1/8" flat stock on top of that, lapping the 1" halfway on the bottom 1/2" piece. For the actual sliding part, my vent openings are 3"x14" so i cut a piece of 1/4" plate 4"x15" to cover the vent opening 1/2" on each side. When you are tacking the guide pieces in place, make sure you use some anti-splatter or something to keep slag from getting on the face and inside the guide rails where the piece will slide. I got a few splatters on mine and it made it a pain to get the vent to slide. I ended up using a pry bar to tweak the guide rails out a tiny bit so the vent slides nice and smooth. I also took a short piece of the 1/2"x1/4" flat stock and welded it to each end of the guide rails to serve as a stop. Here is a pic of the profile of the guide rails.

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• nightrod06
• Dec 4, 2013

 

[buda q]

Great ideas, folks. Thanks for responding so quickly.

 

[nightrod06]

Hey guys. Got some work done last weekend on the smoker. Didnt take any pics.

I visited a different steel supply place here in town which sells TONS of drop pieces. Picked up some 1/8" & 3/16" plate drops (24"x36") for $.60 a lbs. which i thought was a decent deal. Got three sides of my warming cabinet welded up as well as the plenum for the stack. Also started making the warming racks for the warming cabinet. One question. Do you guys make your warming cabinet racks slide out? If I make mine slide, I am going to be losing 4" of rack width if I make them slide. I am making them removeable though.

Another thing, do I need to install a heat baffle between the bottom of the warming cabinet & the top of the FB? I was thinking about just putting a 1" layer of sand in the bottom of the warming cabinet to help distribute the heat evenly. Any thoughts?

I have also ordered a new set of trailer springs, mounts, shackels & fenders. Right now I know the axle is too far forward becasue I have ZERO tongue weight on the trailer. Since I have to move the axle i figured it would be worth while to replace the springs and mounts. I have heard that you need to follow the rule of thumb of 60/40 for axle placement but this seems like it might not be applicable for a smoker. Also, I think i need some kind of heavy duty scales to be able to weight each side of the trailer as well as the tongue weight in order to come up with the correct axle location. Does anyone have experience with this? My plan was to just "eyeball" the axle location and go for it. Any advice would be appreciated.

Well thats all I have for now. I will be home on vaction again the week of Christmas and I plan to get the warming cabinet finished up, build the FB door, & start on the trailer suspension work.

Thanks for looking.

 

[nightrod06]

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• nightrod06
• Apr 16, 2014

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• nightrod06
• Apr 16, 2014

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• nightrod06
• Apr 16, 2014

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• nightrod06
• Apr 16, 2014

 

[gary s]

Man !!!!  That looks Great !!!

Gary S

 

[nightrod06]

Thanks Gary

 

[radioguy]

Night,

Looking good.  How does she cook?

RG

 

[nightrod06]

Only seasoned it so far, but it gets up to 350 deg no problem with about 10 deg difference between the front and back. Gonna do some chicken this weekend and a shoulder the weekend after. Trying to get it seasoned and figure it out for a big party at the end of May.