New insulated build...

[garretthall29]

Thanks for the pics. Im getting ready to start a build very similar just with the firebox on the side. I was curious as to where you got the insulation and after its all said and done do you think it was worth the extra effort and more importantly the money?

 

[philly single]

I got the insulation from a seller on eBay...if you want, I could probably dig up the exact seller, it's 2300deg kiln insulation.

I'm sort of mixed on whether or not it was worth the time and expense. For some reason, I had it in my mind that it would hold heat like a thermos...which obviously, is impossible with the big 'ol smoke stacks!

So far, the only think I've had to deal with here is a few weekends with stong wind and I have noticed that even a strong wind doesn't effect my temps at all - so that's a plus.

Haven't had a chance to fire it up in the rain yet...maybe this weekend.

If I built another insulated I would:

Build it smaller ;) and probably use 2" insulation in the cooking chamber...not just on the firebox. Or at least use 2" on the top of the cooking chamber and 1" on the rest. I can still feel a good bit of heat from the top of the chamber thru the 1" insulation. I may actually add another 1" still to the top. For comparison, the firebox is 2" thick and even with a big fire in there for a few hours I can pretty much put my hand right on the top of the firebox!!

I think the biggest payoff is / will be the ability to hold a constant temp, no matter if it's windy out, raining, etc...

 

[daddyzaring]

Would it have made a difference if you had of put the stacks, mid-low of the sides?

 

[philly single]

On one hand that would make sense...but I was worried the heat/smoke would come out of the vent in the back and try to go right out the stacks if they were on the side and low like that.

Am I off base with that or what? I'm not opposed to moving them for the ideal smoke :)

 

[philly single]

Ok...I'm onto smoke #2...this time an overnight deal. Learning a few more things...good things :)

1) It's def more efficient than my old non-insulated smoker. After smoking for a few hours, I packed it up with Charcoal, using firebricks to isolate it into rows and went to bed. Rolled the dice...got up 6-7hrs later. It did burn through 99% of the fuel and was "warm"...temps were ~125F...meat was significantly hotter.
My old smoker would be air temperature in no time and rip thru the fuel.

So, I learned to make a bigger "S" pattern and really pack in the charcoal for a long smoke...I was WAY too light on the amount of charcoal.

2) Temps stay WAY more stable, get a decent bed of coals and wood for smoke and it'll hover 220-230 for a long time. I'd say at least 2hrs with pretty much no tending...that's nice.

3) Still working on the "tuning". Right now the temps are dead on from the left to 2/3rd's of the way over..then the far right...for some reason it's always ~15deg higher...don't get it.

 

[pigpen]

Very nice smoker. Have you thought about a row of tuning plates to even the internal temps? Do you know what your approximate cost was?

Is your Supra still 6sp or a glide? That 106 should suck in small animals. As you can see by my avatar I am a turbo fan myself.

 

[philly single]

Very nice smoker. Have you thought about a row of tuning plates to even the internal temps? Do you know what your approximate cost was?

Is your Supra still 6sp or a glide? That 106 should suck in small animals. As you can see by my avatar I am a turbo fan myself. 

Hey...sorry for the long delay!  Thanks for the comments...it was a beast to build.  I have actually added a few tuning plate and the temps are more even...but I suppose a 10-15deg variation on something this big isn't *too* bad.  It's 60"L x 24"W.

Ahhh...the Supra.  It did start life as a 6spd, complete with monster 14" Brembo's, etc...was a real street monster.  However, these days it has a glide and a 377" Brodix block along w/that monster turbo ;)  Yeah, I did take notice of your avatar - how's your ride treating you??

Jay