Newbie with questions...

[daveomak]

Bill, afternoon......  If you mean "reinforce the tank to keep it from collapsing", No..... It will be there forever....  

Where is the vent going to be installed.....    Is it one of the 2 vents on the firebox.......   Dave

 

[bbq bill]

Hey Dave!   Yes, I was asking about reinforcing the opening of the tank. I went with 1/4 of the diameter of the tank for the door opening. It is pretty sturdy (1/4" thick) I was just wondering if it would hold it's shape with that much cut away.

The vent is the one I have a picture of. I made it because the other one kept binding up and wouldn't slide open/closed with the contour of the tank.  I designed a box that I want to weld in place on the fire box.  I only have the 1 vent. I would like to put it closer to the top of the firebox because it will be easier to get to.  My question is if the vent has to be under or near, the bottom of the firebox?    Thanks again for all your help and advice.  

ventt.jpg

• bbq bill
• Dec 11, 2012

 

[daveomak]

Bill, morning.... One vent directing air under the grate for heat control and one vent above the fire to increase or decrease air flow through the cook chamber, without affecting the heat, would be the best of both worlds.... Some have found that arrangement, improving their smokers, beyond what they could have expected..  Dave

 

[bbq bill]

Morning Dave!  OK, the vent under the fire grate I understand, but could you show a picture of a smoker with the 2nd vent above the fire so I can see the placement & size please?

Thanks again! 

 

[daveomak]

The pencil drawing  is one I put together for another member.... The lower air intake openings are based on the calculator... The air inlet in the door is subjective in size...  10-20% of the lower opening would be a best guess estimate....

The lower pic and drawing are from RibWizards collection.... The top pic is the "air above the fire" vent for through smoker air flow...  In the drawing below that, the air for the "below the grate heat" vent is pictured ...  I'm sure there are others but I don't know where to look .....

Placement in the firebox is best determined by the builder ..... The bottom vent is best placed below the fire-grate... On the side of the firebox is another location that would work...... 

 click to enlarge

FB air inlet Exhaust Plenum.jpg

• daveomak
• Dec 13, 2012

 

[daveomak]

Morning Dave!  OK, the vent under the fire grate I understand, but could you show a picture of a smoker with the 2nd vent above the fire so I can see the placement & size please?

Thanks again! 

Bill, morning again....  Read the thread below.... It will give you an understanding of what mods can do for a smoker.... Marco describes the gains made to his smoker better than I can relate....  Poorly designed smokers can be "remodeled" to work very well.... We have many members that have helped others make their smokers the best they can be....  That is our commitment to our members... Make you and your smoker the best on the block, or the neighborhood....  Saying the "county" might start a controversy with another member so I will not touch that.....    If I can stumble across any other pictures I will forward them....  Since each smoker is different, theory in operation and subjective installation and placement is still left to the builder for best results.....     Dave

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/129239/trying-to-make-my-pit-to-a-reverse-flow-smoker#post_897764

 

[sunman76]

edit... I answered a question on page one. LOL didnt see page two.

 

[bbq bill]

I got the door cut and have started trying to figure out how and where to mount it on the trailer.

002.jpg

• bbq bill
• Dec 23, 2012

 

[bbq bill]

OK, got the big tank mounted on the trailer FINALLY!   I am taking the silence(or lack of replies) as approval that I am not messing it up! haha

 

XXXXX 070.jpg

• bbq bill
• Dec 29, 2012

XXXXX 069.jpg

• bbq bill
• Dec 29, 2012

This is where I plan to mount the firebox.

XXXXX 071.jpg

• bbq bill
• Dec 29, 2012

I got the tanks centered on the trailer pretty good... (Not even sure if that matters since one tank weighs so much more than the other)

I did it for looks I guess! 

XXXXX 072.jpg

• bbq bill
• Dec 29, 2012

This is the design I went with for the cooking surface. I will weld expanded metal to the frame I have here and weld some brackets on the sides so the tray can't fall out.

I will be able to remove it completely when I want to.

XXXXX 074.jpg

• bbq bill
• Dec 29, 2012

 

[bbq bill]

I have been posting all my pictures in my album instead of here. For anyone who was wondering about my progress. Thanks again for all the input DaveOmak!!  

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/g/a/120879/my-1st-smoker-build/

 

[vaquero01]

one quick comment, I'm sure your already ahead of me here but just in case.....don't forget the fenders on your trailer...for my short keister I'd make em long and strong so I could stand on them when working. I seen a fellow burn a hole in a tire one time at a comp for the lack of fenders near his firebox.

 

[bbq bill]

one quick comment, I'm sure your already ahead of me here but just in case.....don't forget the fenders on your trailer...for my short keister I'd make em long and strong so I could stand on them when working. I seen a fellow burn a hole in a tire one time at a comp for the lack of fenders near his firebox.

Thank you sir!   Yes, I actually have a pair of fenders for it.  Just waiting till I am done with crawling under it and welding around the area before mounting them.  Thanks for the advice!!

 

[bbq bill]

Fired her up for the very first time!!!  Temp was awesome!!  With the vent all the way open temp was above 400, half way open was around 275, and almost all the way closed was 225!!

I just about have her done.  I made the caps for the stacks today will mount them tomorrow.  

Still need to sandblast and paint. I'll post more pictures when I'm done.

Smoker 003.jpg

• bbq bill
• Mar 2, 2013
• 2

 

[bbq bill]

pic 009.jpg

• bbq bill
• Mar 6, 2013

pic 008.jpg

• bbq bill
• Mar 6, 2013

 

[bbq bill]

Finally!! Done!!   Gonna smoke some ribs on her tomorrow!!! Pictures to follow!

 

[imjesse1]

Holy crap!
Looks awesome!
Nice work , what would you say it cost to build?

 

[bbq bill]

Well... I'm a cheep-skate!!  I went to scrap yards and like I said, scavenged my firebox from the woods near my house... In all I spent around $250. (mostly in welding wire)

 

[leroyvdh]

Awesome build..My son and myself are in the process of gathering for a build...

Happy smoking

Leroy

 

[bbq bill]

Thanks for looking!  There were a few times I wasn't sure if it would work or not, but I stuck it out and it works GREAT!  Holds temp better than I could have hoped for!  Have fun with your build. My crappy walmart smoker lasted 4 yrs!  This one should last 20!!

 

[daveomak]

Bill, morning and congrats on a job well done.......  You will enjoy the smoker for many years....   

 ......

Dave