Insulating my fire chamber.. Need advice

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smokin-aces

Meat Mopper
Original poster
Dec 28, 2012
194
12
Normandy, TN
Hi ya'll,

Some of you may have seen my buildup thread in the Smoker Builds section of this here forum, but if not I will inform you of what I am dealing with. Below is s picture of my smoker. This is not the most recent picture of it, but it will allow for me to explain my problem.


The fire goes in the far right door and the smoke comes through the two left doors. I need some ideas of how to insulate the fire side of the smoker. This tank is about one eighth inch thick. Does anyone have any ideas of how to insulate this that won't cost me a fortune to do and won't take too terribly long to do. I have a couple ideas but I want some fresh ideas. The front wall of the wood box on the back is getting hot (hot enough to cook the sap out of the planks) and the wood on the other side of the tank is actually burning. So I need to insulate it. Not to mention that if it is hot to be around when it's cold outside, I can only imagine what it will be like in the 110*F summer humid Tennessee heat.

Here are my concerns/questions:
  • It must be something that doesn't cost a fortune
  • Insulated enough that the outside of the tank is less than 200*F
  • Is there a spray on insulation?
  • Will firebrick/refractory withstand vibration from traveling?
  • Should I insulate the inside or outside?
 
I have been told this by several people, but I should've mentioned that I want this to be a permanent solution...
 
Use the cement board but use something to space it away from the wood so u have airflow behind it!  That way wood will not get hot!
 
Aces, evening....  Think about using 14 ga mild steel....  and place it around the smoker using a 1" air gap.... Leave a 2-3" gap between the sheets at the bottom of the firebox to allow air to get in and sweep away the heat from the air gap... When the air get to 200 deg in the air gap, the cold air from below will really move out the hot air... the air gap is very effective..... try it.... if  you don't like it, stuff insulation in the gap...

Dave

 
You continue to impress me with your drawings.. I like the idea. I may have to give it a whirl... now I just need to learn about smoking competitions!
 
I would say the welding blankets seem like a good choice, just pack them with your supplies when you need and ALWAYS take them so its permanent 
biggrin.gif
 
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