Custom Fridge Build and Cold Smoke Generator

[killer b]

I’ve been an avid hunter and fisherman basically since I’ve been little.  When I would get a deer I would take it in to the butcher and wait to get back what was hopefully my meat.  Well, I got tired of doing this and probably around 7 years ago I decided that I was going to do my own processing.  Needless to say I REALLY loved the whole idea of harvesting an animal and doing everything myself.  This way I could control exactly what my family would be eating.  So, I bought a small Maserbuilt Electric smoker with digital controls on sale after Christmas for $100 (I see now they are selling for over $200. I really liked the digital control of it, but didn't’t like the capacity in which I could smoke at one time.  Finally this year I was trying to find a larger electric smoker and after doing some surfing I came upon this site.  Needless to say it has been a god send and is great to see people passionate about BBQ like I am.  So, I went browsing through multiple forums trying to find a custom build and found some refrigerator builds.  Plus, I found some forums where there was talk of PID controllers.  I also liked the idea of a cold some generator and of course found some more info on them as well.  After doing my research I decided to do a custom build.  I was stoked about the build where my wife thought I was nuts.  I finished the build and yesterday was my first run.  I am glad to say I am EXTREMELY happy with how everything ran and can’t wait to do more!!  I didn’t get a chance to take many pictures of the build, but here’s what I got.

1940's fridge after things have been tore apart and now ready for the build.

16 Gauge Steel put on the inside of the door.

Finished Build (it's going to be on a small trailer, but had to use it before then)

My version of a cold smoke generator made from 4" Tube Steel. 

PID Controller from Auber Instruments

Smoker loaded with 25 lbs. of snack sticks

9 Gauge Expanded Steel shelving with 3/4"x1/8" angle iron for brackets 

1500 Watt heating element

Fresh batch of snack sticks

Mmmmmm....

I must say that I am EXTREMELY happy with how the build went and also with how my first batch of snack sticks turned out!  I brought a bunch into the office today and they were all gone in about 1/2 an hour!  I couldn't have had a successful build without all you members!!  Thank you all and I look forward to sharing more down the road!
 

Brandon

 

[billyj571]

Nice build...  sticks look real good

 

[kootenaysmoke]

great looking rig im working on an old deep freeze so like you said lots of ideas out there with such a great group of skilled people

i guess i had better take pictures of my build so i can be apart of the family

 

[doctord1955]

do you burn chips or dust in ur smoke generator?

 

[ptcruiserguy]

Great lookin build. That is the kind I want to do, but am having a problem finding 

someone in the backwoods of Tenn. willing to part with an old fridge. lol

Stix look really good too.

Mike

 

[SmokinAl]

Great build & great looking sticks!

 

[rbranstner]

Great looking build and sticks. How do you like your PID? I was thinking about getting the same one for the fridge build I am working on. What size electric heating element did you go with?

 

[rbranstner]

Sorry I didn't read close enough. I see you went with the 1500 watt element.

 

[driedstick]

I'm doing the same thing but my racks are #13 expanded metal did you seanson yours first like you would a cast iron skillet, I picked up my metal just from a Metal manufacture and they had a oil substance on tme so I put tem in BBQ and got them to about 500-550 degrees to but that stuff off then let them cool put them back in with a veg oil and seasoned it, I will post also when I get mine going I built shed for it and everything, yours looks great, my burner is a double burner is suppose to put out 1500 watts also?? how high can you get temp upto on yours with no product inside or have you tried?? Thanks

 

[killer b]

I seasoned the grates with veg. oil.  I haven't been really high yet, but I have no problem maintaining 350 degrees with it.

In the generator I usually use chips & chunks.  I haven't filled the generator up all the way to see how long it will smoke for, but I have no problem creating smoke for 5 hours or so when it's been 2/3 to 3/4 full.

 

[bigfish98]

Nice build! Wish I was that handy!

Bigfish

 

[killer b]

As long as you have some basic tool knowledge you could build one of these.  It was fun to build and quite simple as well.

 

[nekramp]

Killer B

What kind of element did you use in this fridge and where did you get it? I'm in the proceess of a fridge right now!  Thanks

 

[mneeley490]

It appears to be a Brinkmann replacement/conversion element, like here: