New to site. Freezer build questions.

[jno51]

Smokin geese. Holy cow. Nothing wrong with going big. Now thats going to be a smoker. You are at the right place for all the techno

. help you need,  the folks here are awesome and willing to help on any project. good luck and keep the pics coming of the build. and your smoken as well.

  

 

[smokin geese]

After a few more hours in the garage today finished stripping/scraping

all the insulation.  Off to the hardware store to look for replacement insulation.  It may be time to start putting it back together.  All panels are marked and put in the general placement in the pictures.

 

[mneeley490]

If you're going to make it portable, you might want to think about putting some casters on that before it gets too heavy.

 

[bigfatdaddy]

Smoking geese,  How did you get your ouside walls off?  I started on my beveragaire today and cannot figure out how the panels are fastened.  It looks to mee that they are just bonded to the inside by the spray in foam.  Are they welded, screwed, or rivited where I can't see? Thanks for any insite you can give me.

 

[mneeley490]

Smoking geese,  How did you get your ouside walls off?  I started on my beveragaire today and cannot figure out how the panels are fastened.  It looks to mee that they are just bonded to the inside by the spray in foam.  Are they welded, screwed, or rivited where I can't see? Thanks for any insite you can give me.

If your unit is anything like mine was, the edges were tucked underneath and back inside. Inside they were pressed together and riveted, and then held fast by the blown in polyurethane foam. So that makes it basically one piece. It was a pain to get it seperated from the inner liner, but it is possible. You can see it here:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/115657/commercial-ss-fridge-build-my-first-try

Also check the "BLOWN IN FOAM" thread for valuable info.

If you can get the top and bottom off, you'll stand a much better chance of removing the foam if you have to.

 

[africanmeat]

Wow this is a great build

 

[bigfatdaddy]

thanks for the advice and the thread.

 

[smokin geese]

If your unit is anything like mine was, the edges were tucked underneath and back inside. Inside they were pressed together and riveted, and then held fast by the blown in polyurethane foam. So that makes it basically one piece. It was a pain to get it seperated from the inner liner, but it is possible. You can see it here:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/115657/commercial-ss-fridge-build-my-first-try

Also check the "BLOWN IN FOAM" thread for valuable info.

If you can get the top and bottom off, you'll stand a much better chance of removing the foam if you have to.

Mine was also tucked underneath as mneeley490 stated.  The sides were not riveted.  The foam held the panel sides together.  It was riveted on the top and bottom.  I used a larger screw driver to get between the sides and started to pry the sides apart.  At first it seemed like the sides weren't going to release or come apart.  It almost seemed like I was going to crease the panels or ruin the seams.  I started about in the middle of one of the panels sides, next to the back panel, and slowly started going up/down slowly prying.  You can hear the foam releasing from the panels.  Its very noisy and sounds like your breaking something.  Just make sure you don't pull hard on the panels or you may put a crease in them.  You just slowly keep working the sides apart. It seemed easy to come apart.  I used a wonder bar and a hammer to pop the rivets loose.  The front where the doors are were spot welded.  I did the same with the wonder bar and hammer.  The hardest part for me was to remove all the insulation.  Time consuming, but hopfully worth it.  I am glad people chime in to help.  You have all helped me!  Thanks and good luck with your build!        

 

[mneeley490]

smokin geese, whew! You're a braver man than I. I thought about trying that, but I was too afraid of messing it up beyond repair. The seams on mine were extremely tight. So I took the much more time consuming route.

 

[smokin geese]

Just an update.  I have no pics yet but soon.  I took a little time off on my build.  Over the last week or so this is what I completed.  As stated above I scraped and burned most/all the old blown insulation off the panels and with the advise of all of you on this site, I replace the insulation with mineral/rock wool insulation.  I will have some left over if someone is interested in buying it at a reduced price?  I'm from Minnesota, so shipping wouldn't be recommended.  HA HA  Just thought I would ask.  I have insulated and put together all the sides/top/bottom.  Ready to put the front panel on.  The front panel has a little more work involved.  Thats about where I'm at.  Hopefully this weekend I should be close on purchasing an lp burner, etc.  I do have someone helping me with lp gas piping and needle valve, etc.  I'm getting close!  Thanks everyone for the help!       

 

[mneeley490]

I bought a (bale? skein? bundle?) whatever of Roxul from my local True Value hardware store. I only ended up using about half of it, and they were real good about refunding me for the rest.

 

[scrappynadds]

How are you going to fasten the stove rope on??

 

[smokin geese]

If I use stove rope I will use RTV silicone as stated in other posts.

 

[smokin geese]

Well I'm finally finished and starting to season my smoker.  It was a little work, not to difficult, but time consuming.  I bought a dual camping/cook stove for my burners, and a needle valve to adjust my fire.  Copper is ran from my burners to the needle valve and then back to my LP tank.  What do ya all think?  I hope you can see everything in the pictures.

   Vents on both sides on the bottom.  You can see one in the picture.  I did put the smoker on casters!  Alot easier to move!

 

[dward51]

Oh man!!!! That is sweet.

You are going to make some great stuff with that smoker.  Congratulations!!!!

I just wish I could find a donor cabinet to convert around here.  All of the ones I've found are still working and advertised for top dollar.  The metal recycling centers and metal scavengers get the rest before I can find them.  Sure would like to rescue one for a project like this.

 

[mneeley490]

That is indeed a beauty! You could smoke half a cow in there!

 

[dnovotny]

I BUILT THE SAME ONE AND LEFT THE INSULATION IN BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED THAT MUCH HEAT  TO COOK WITH ..LEAVE INSULATION INSIDE ..I BEEN USING MINE  FOR OVER A YEAR NOW AND NO BAD TASTE.. I PUT A 6" DAMPER ON TOP WITH A 4 FOOT CHIMMEY UP FOR DRAFT.. FOR THE DOOR I COULDN'T FIND THE RIGHT DOOR LOCK SO I JUST USED  A PIECE OF 1X6" OAK WITH A PIECE OF 3/8" READY-ROD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DOOR WITH A WING NUT TO TIGHT UP MY DOORS IT WORKS GREAT...NO WEAKS.. I DID BUY 3/8" X 1 1/4" INSULATION STIP TO GO AROUND THE DOORS AND USED HIGH TEMP SEALER TO HOLD IT ON WITH ..IT TAKES A LITTLE TIME TO OPEN THE DOOR TO CHECK MEAT BUT THE FREEZER IS SO INSULATED THAT IT TAKE NO TIME AT ALL TO GET BACK UP TO TEMP..NOW FOR THE HEAT I BUILT A STOVE OUT 1/4 PLATE STEEL WITH A  PROPANE 40,000 BTU CAST IRON COOK BURNER INSIDE - IT'S 2'X 2' X 2' WITH SLIDING AIR VENT  TO LET THE AIR INTO STOVE ABOUT 3"-4" HIGH X 16" LONG ONE ON THE  SIDE AND ONE IN FRONT UNDER THE DOOR --EVER IMPORTANT TO HAVE AIR FLOW FOR THE DRAFT..THEN I RAN A 8" PIPE (AROUND 6' LONG)  TO THE FREEZER BOX  ( I HAVE A DAMPER BY THE STOVE ABOUT 18" AWAY FROM STOVE INSIDE THE PIPE TO HELP CONTROL HEAT IF IF I NEED TO ... AFTER THAT I BUILT A SMALL BOX ALONG SIDE OF THE FREEZER FOR MY SMOKE BOX... I TRIED DIFFERENT METHODS BUT BECAUSE THE SMOKE  NEEDS AIR  TO WORK --( THIS IS WAY I BUILT A SEPERATE BOX ).. I MADE IT SO I COULD USE REAL WOOD, A-MAZING SMOKER   OR HOT PLATE WITH SAW DUST.. MAKE SURE YOU PUT 2 TEMP. GAUGES IN YOUR DOOR (ONE FOR EACH DOOR)  TO HELP READ INSIDE TEMP. I USED  GUAGES THAT HAD 8" STEM TO GET A GOOD READING..   PLUS I PUT IN 2 REMOTE MEAT THERMOSTATE W/ PROBES SO I CAN PUT INTO THE MEAT.. I ALSO LINED THE DOORS WITH RED OAK PLYWOOD AND PUT 2X4 UP AND DOWN SIDE TO HOLD RODS  TO HOLD  THE MEAT ONTO WITH SO I COULD HANG SAUSAGE, HAM, ECT.. FROM . I ALSO PUT STAINLESS GRIDES 2X2 ONTOP THEM  TO SET MEAT ONTO ABOUT 14-16" APART..MAKE SURE  YOU HAVE SOME KIND OF HEAT DIFFUSION OVER YOU PIPE SO YOU HEAT MOVES AROUND INSIDE YOUR FREEZER ..I HOPE  THIS  HELP GIVING ISIGHT ON MAKING YOUR SMOKER IF YOU LIKE I CAN SENT YOU A PICTURE OR  TWO ..GOOD LUCK ..YOU WON'T GO WRONG MAKING A BIG SMOKER ..

 

[dnovotny]

WOW!!  I DIDN'T SEE YOUR FINSHED SMOKER UNTIL ALITTLE BIT A GO I LIKE WHAT YOU DID. THE  ONLY DIFFERANCE IS MINE  HAS THE BURN OUTSIDE INTO A FIRE BOX INSTEAD OF INSIDE BECAUSE OF AIR FLOW.. AND ALSO HAVE ANOTHER SMALL BOX FOR A SMOKER..AGAIN IT LOOKS GOOD --GOOD LUCK --REMEMBER IF YOU HAVE A HARD TIME CONTROLLING YOUR HEAT AND BURNERS IT WILL BE BECAUSE OF THE AIR FLOW.. IF YOU FLAME TURNS YELLOW THAT WILL THE REASON.. AGAIN IT LOOK GREAT GOOD LUCK..ALSO YOU MIGHT WANT TO ADD SOME RACK TO HANG YOUR MEAT FROM SPECIALLY SASUAGE, HAMS ECT.. IT BETTER THAN A SHELF..

 

[smokin geese]

I plan on using ss hooks to hang from the rack when its at its highest setting so I can hang meat, etc.  I'll try to get some thermometers to go thru the door to get inside temp readings.  I already have wireless digital meat probes for cooking.  When I seasoned the smoker this Saturday I watched the temp and kept it at about 225 degrees for about 2 hours.  Today I seasoned again for about 45 minutes at about 325 degrees.  Everything seemed to work fine.  It already smells good without any meat being smoked yet.  I did watch the flame and I did not notice the flame being yellow, it did burn blue.  When I seasoned today, I couldn't see the flame.  Too bright outside.  I had to partially close the door to shield the sun.  I need to put a better door closure on this instead of a 1x1 board thru the handles.  The door seals aren't the best and thinking of using stove gasket rope with RTV silicone.         

 

[smokin geese]