(2) 500 gal propane tank smoker build. Franklin style.

[ahumadora]

Using a grate for the fire is actually better.   You want the wood to burn completely, and not be suffocated by the ash build up.

Air can flow  (over, around,under) the fire and be heated.    So you get a large amount of hot air combined with a clean burning fire gives you good quality smoke.

Check out how Aaron Franklin leaves his doors open most of the time and maintains temp with the amount of fuel (wood)

 

[JckDanls 07]

I opened up the throat a bit tonight with the torch. We will see next cook. Do you prop your wood up on anything to maximize airflow, or just sit it all in the coals?

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• josheaton
• Jun 14, 2017

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• josheaton
• Jun 14, 2017

I'm assuming the second pic is looking inside the firebox ?? If that's the case I'm thinking your firebox is to high... in turn that makes your hole from FB to CC to low... trapping heat at the top of the FB ...

 

[pc farmer]

I'm assuming the second pic is looking inside the firebox ?? If that's the case I'm thinking your firebox is to high... in turn that makes your hole from FB to CC to low... trapping heat at the top of the FB ...

You want the hole in the firebox at the very top of the firebox.?

 

[josheaton]

A little late to move it! Any ideas?

I'm assuming the second pic is looking inside the firebox ?? If that's the case I'm thinking your firebox is to high... in turn that makes your hole from FB to CC to low... trapping heat at the top of the FB ...

 

[smokin peachey]

A little late to move it! Any ideas?

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• smokin peachey
• Jun 14, 2017

Get yourself some grates to get your fire up off your ashes. I used grates out of an old out door wood furnace. They are heavy and work really good.
The temp stays within 5 degrees in by 500 gallon tank even when loaded with 40+ butts inside.
You need to keep the air flowing through.

 

[sxfxz]

I'd blast that hole wide open! lol

 

[rstroup10]

Well smoker number 2 is in the final stages. Just a few minors things to finish thermometers, stack cap and badging. All in all though the smoker turned out great. Now I just need to get it seasoned and ready for it's first cook.

 

[ahumadora]

Damm, now all you need is some stockyards to herd the cattle and fill those beasts!!

 

[Sterling1776]

Possibly a silly question, but how did you determine where to cut the top of your doors?

 

[ahumadora]

Experience. Tell me what you are trying to do . How many racks, what diameter tank.

 

[Sterling1776]

30" diameter tank, main rack is at the center line, I'd like to do a second rack maybe 8 inches above?

 

[ahumadora]

For 30" (762mm) tanks I cut mine 150mm down from 12 o'clock and 50 mm down from 3 o'clock. I run 3 racks on mine as we are no where near vegetarians around here :)

 

[rstroup10]

Possibly a silly question, but how did you determine where to cut the top of your doors?

Look up bbq with franklin. He builds a pit and shows how he lays out his doors. I made the doors 22” tall which made my cut ~11” from the top center.

 

[rstroup10]

These pictures are from a fundraiser that we did for my Brother and his wife’s adoption we cooked 40 butts and a brisket with room to spare

 

[smokin peachey]

These pictures are from a fundraiser that we did for my Brother and his wife’s adoption we cooked 40 butts and a brisket with room to spare View attachment 349619 View attachment 349620 View attachment 349621

Beautiful pics. Those are some nice offset smokers.