First RF smoker- 115 gal propane tank

[bruno994]

Very well explained Rib as always!

 

[slowjeep]

Judgement hour is upon me.

I made some fixes:

Welded up the drain.

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• slowjeep
• Dec 6, 2013

Relocated the high inlet.  Notice that it is below the bottom of the tank now.

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• slowjeep
• Dec 6, 2013

Picked up a little 50 pounder from Winn-Dixie and dressed it out for a 0600 load in to the smoker.

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• slowjeep
• Dec 6, 2013

Flaco getting into the radishes.  

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• slowjeep
• Dec 6, 2013

I ran another test burn on the cooker after the modifications and it got up to 237 F when I quit looking.  Glad to see I can get it hot enough.  Thanks for all of the suggestions.  

I'm also gonna smoke two butts, two chickens and a pile of ABT's.  I'll add pictures of the cooker in the morning when I have decent light.  I have to wake up in 3.5 hrs...better get to sleep.

 

[markbeer]

good to see that you are getting the hang of it!  keep on smokin' on!

 

[daveomak]

https://statich.smokingmeatforums.com/f/f6/200x200px-ZC-f61d12b8_IMG_20131014_173118_373.jpeg

I copied a picture of your FB/CC opening...... If that is the way you left it .... the rest of the opening needs to be cut out.... you are restricting the air flow too much.....

Dave

 

[slowjeep]

That is how I left it.  The RF plate intersects with the top surface of the FB.  I think my flow worries are behind me.  I've got the inlets almost completely covered up to keep the temp below 250.  Thanks again to everyone that made suggestions.

 

[bruno994]

Sounds like you got her purring now!  Congrats, sometimes it just takes the smallest adjustments.

Dave, thats the way my FB top runs into my CC then ties into the RF plate, Jeep should be ok, especially since he is having to keep the lower inlets nearly closed off to maintain under 250.

 

[daveomak]

HEY, my mistake..... looking at it again, I see the piece I thought was "IN" the FB/CC opening is one of the walls of the FB..... Kind of an optical illusion to these old eyes.... looked like half the FB/CC opening had not been cut out.....
Sorry for my confusion...... stuff happens when you age.... some of it ain't funny.... unless you can laugh at your "faults".... Then you have something to laugh at daily.....

Dave

 

[slowjeep]

Haven't touched the smoker since the party.  Still need to finish a few things here and there and weld some tires on it so I can move on to my boat project.  These are pictures of how it sits today.

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• slowjeep
• Dec 15, 2013

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• slowjeep
• Dec 15, 2013

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• slowjeep
• Dec 15, 2013

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• slowjeep
• Dec 15, 2013

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• slowjeep
• Dec 15, 2013

No after pictures of the pig but it turned out OK.  Still room for improvement on my process.

 

[markbeer]

holy rust bucket, batman.  any chance you could keep the smoker indoors like in the garage?  getting the rust off is another story.

 

[ribwizzard]

spraying it down with anti splatter spray will help some with out messing up your work.

 

[slowjeep]

Don't like the rust color?  I'll probably paint it once I get it all squared away.  

 

[billy roberts]

Is it better to place the chimney right above the firebox or at the other end? Most of the ones i have seen are at the other end of the smoker.

 

[markbeer]

 
Is it better to place the chimney right above the firebox or at the other end? Most of the ones i have seen are at the other end of the smoker.

there are two kinds of offset smokers.  one of which is a reverse-flow in which the smoke and heat travel below the plates at the bottom away from the firebox. as it reaches the end, the elements flow up and back through the upper part of the chamber and around the food, then finally up and out the chimney at the other end which would be right next to the firebox.

the other kind with the chimney at the far end is just a straight-flow offset, however anyone calls it.  the food nearest the firebox will get the most heat in a sort of a direct way, as opposed to the reverse flow one.

HTH!

 

[markbeer]

 
spraying it down with anti splatter spray will help some with out messing up your work.

anti-splatter is nasty stuff.  take precaution please!!

 
Don't like the rust color?  I'll probably paint it once I get it all squared away.  

if that's the paint color you're going for, then it's a fantastic look!  otherwise, you know how bad rust can get.

 

[lendecatural]

One of the most effective anti splatter products for MIG welding is common spray on PAM. It just happens to be food safe but I'm not sure how hard it will be to get off when you go to paint.....

Len

 

[markbeer]

Pam?!  ha, this I ought to suggest to the bosses at the metal shop tomorrow. thanks for the idea!

and acetone is very effective at cleaning up the mess.  it is also good at removing the rust, but too much of acetone can be harmful.  wear a good pair of latex/rubber gloves and maybe some ventilator mask when using that product.  on the plus side, acetone evaporates quickly and leaves little to no trace.  oh, on another plus side, a soaked rag makes a good fire if a single spark from the welding lands on it.

just so you know.  

 

 

[billy roberts]

 
there are two kinds of offset smokers.  one of which is a reverse-flow in which the smoke and heat travel below the plates at the bottom away from the firebox. as it reaches the end, the elements flow up and back through the upper part of the chamber and around the food, then finally up and out the chimney at the other end which would be right next to the firebox.

the other kind with the chimney at the far end is just a straight-flow offset, however anyone calls it.  the food nearest the firebox will get the most heat in a sort of a direct way, as opposed to the reverse flow one.

HTH!

Thanks Mark, i understand now.

 

[ribwizzard]

Come on guys...really?

Billy, anti splatter sprays used to contain dichloromrthane,....bad stuff.

But the new generation sprays that are water based are basically highly refined vegetable oil, safe and effective. They clean off easy and will not effect your paint application like products like Pam will. All you need to do is wipe it down with a little prep ease or similar pruduct before you paint, or better yet, sand blast the cooker before painting.

 

[morning wood]

Great Build!!!

I wish I would have read the part about the upper inlet being to high.  I am in the process of building mine now and have mine set to be directly accrossed from the FB/CC opening.

I wish I could help out with the anti-spatter comments but I have never heard of anyone using it to prevent rust.  I would go with RibWizard and blast it prior to painting or maybe use a sanding disc (or 2) on a grinder.

 

[daveomak]

Great Build!!!

I wish I would have read the part about the upper inlet being to high.  I am in the process of building mine now and have mine set to be directly accrossed from the FB/CC opening.

I wish I could help out with the anti-spatter comments but I have never heard of anyone using it to prevent rust.  I would go with RibWizard and blast it prior to painting or maybe use a sanding disc (or 2) on a grinder.

MW, afternoon..... It may not be too high.... Depends on how the air moves through your smoker, how well sealed the doors are, and whose calculator you followed.... If the upper vent leaks smoke, close the lower air inlet a bit and the smoke will stop.... If it doesn't, you have air leaks that need looking after.....