SmokerBuilder.com

On a good note I was showing the pictures of my smoker to a guy who is cutting down several apple trees and he told me he will save all of the wood for me, plus he has some seasoned already I can have. Once I figure out the fire and heating issue I am ready to go!

We have a lot of snow falling today so I am going to try again on Saturday. I used ten hardwood charcoals to start and added some split oak to that. I have a temperature gauge on the fire box and it was around 500 degrees most of the time. Temperature difference across the CC was about 5 degrees unt...

Matched the pit calculator exactly.
Would the snow melting on the smoker make a big difference, and or did I just not make the fire big enough?

Fired up my smoker today trying to burn off every thing before I do a final sanding and paint on it. Seemed to take a long time to get it up too temperature. 2 hours to get it to 250 degrees. Firebox was 700 degrees. Is there any reason not to build a big fire to get it up and going then let it burn...

The two smokers side by side

So one smoker is finished and mine is coming along pretty well. Not done in time for the Superbowl, but maybe by next weekend. Still have to finish some welding and I am going to add a shelf in front of the doors and also down below a box for wood storage. A handle on the side for pushing it around ...

what is the hole in the end of the cook chamber is that for the stack?
That is for the stack. I am going to use schedule 10 in a 2.5 inch diameter. I read that it works better closer to the grill surface but looking at it I wish I went a little higher.

Now that he is done with his build I am starting mine. Link to BBQ Pit Calculator 18x18x28 with a 14x14x16 Fire box. Reverse flow with a Baffle plate. Decided to make it rectangular to maximize the space inside. Just a small patio model to play around with on the weekends. 3/16" thick. It sure seems...

Started the smoker up for its first real burn. Surprising how fast it gets hot considering its only 18 degrees outside. There was a little bit of condensation leaking out from the front cover, but that stopped after about 10 minutes. Is the concept to get a bed of coals or to keep the fire big? When...

That's funny -clear as mud

We followed the pit calc. First sized as 6 and then sized as 4. So if I am understanding the reason the smaller pipe is taller and capable of working is due to the increased draft or vaccumn created from the taller height? Wow a lot more science than I would have thought in building a smoker.

The stack was going to be 6" but he wanted it to be taller so we switched it to 4" now it should help keep smoke out of his eyes.

I did not start cutting metal yet, but I have laid out the design. One off the other guys in my shop started building one and I helped a little. Makes it easier to figure out what I want to do by watching him build his. He is starting to cut up the oak pallets for his first burn, before he paints it.

Thank you, I start tomorrow

I was thinking a single rack about 36" long 24" wide and 20" tall. Patio sized, cooking for about 6 people.
I was planning on a sloped back top similar to a regular grill

New to building a smoker. First post before I build it. I found the calculator page and I think I understand it. I have 3/16 inch steel and plan on doing a reverse flow. Plan on building it rectangular shape. My question- what would be the smallest size cook chamber recommended? is there a height, w...