Building My First Smoker

Miketheforester · Post by **Miketheforester** » November 9th, 2012, 7:40 pm

Alright guys here we go. I am building my first smoker and it is going to be a 60 gallon reverse flow. I am going to apologize right up front for my smoker newbie-ishness and the number of questions that will be attached to this thread, but I would appreciate all the help I can get. If you have suggestions feel free to share your knowledge.

Miketheforester · Post by **Miketheforester** » November 9th, 2012, 7:46 pm

So here is the blank canvas. It is a 60 gallon compressor tank that was not so successful at holding air. However, it is the right size for my purposes and the price was definitely right $0.

SMOKIN JAY · Post by **SMOKIN JAY** » November 9th, 2012, 7:51 pm

should be a great build

Miketheforester · Post by **Miketheforester** » November 9th, 2012, 8:09 pm

Here is my progress from tonight. I got the brackets wacked off of the tank and got the bottom cut out of it so I could survey the extent of the rust that ended it's life as an air tight vessel.

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Fortunately the the rust seems to be confined to the bottom and the rest of the tank looks pretty clean. Now the questions begin. I called my steel place to get prices for metal for the rf plate and fire box, and a 4x8 sheet of 1/4 is $208 and 3/16 is $143. I know 1/4 will hold the heat more evenly, but 3/16 is significantly cheaper. Would 3/16 be a lot worse or would it work about as well? If I can save some money I will, but if it will have significant negative effects, in the grand scheme of things saving $65 is not worth making a poorer grade of smoker.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » November 9th, 2012, 10:15 pm

.......

SOILhunter · Post by **SOILhunter** » November 9th, 2012, 11:37 pm

That will be a great size! I would go with quarter..I know 1/16 doesn't seem like much difference but I can really tell when I'm working with it. The quarter feels so much more solid, I'm afraid of warping issues with 3/16. Also if there is other places for steel in your area I'd check prices there if your looking to save the most dime, your price is about 30 dollars higher than what I've been paying here.

Cave Man · Post by **Cave Man** » November 10th, 2012, 12:54 am

mine is 3/16 and I have had a little warping on the top of the fire box. if i were to build another with 3/16 i would double line the top or get 1/4 for it. the tuning plates are 3/16 and I dont have much trouble keeping temps steady. Mine is an 80 gal tank and I love the size of it. I put it on an old motorcycle trailer to keep the waight down because I pull it with a 70 VW Bug. Good luck with your build.

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » November 10th, 2012, 7:55 am

Cut down another tank to make the firebox - then it's free?

Miketheforester · Post by **Miketheforester** » November 10th, 2012, 9:22 am

So it is unanimous, 1/4 is the way to go since doubling up 3/16 would defeat the purpose. Thanks for the input. You joke about getting another free tank, but I actually hauled a safe out of the river a couple of weeks ago that would have been plenty thick but it went to scrap. I price Dry Fork Steel, does anyone have other suppliers around Rolla?

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » November 10th, 2012, 9:27 am

Yep.....he is Frank Cox AKA OB1.......he has all kinds of crap....I mean supplies.....

YouTube · Post by **Frank_Cox** » November 10th, 2012, 9:46 am

I will pm you my number. gimmie a call and I will help you out. I now a guy.....

Sent from my iPad using Forum Runner

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » November 11th, 2012, 7:04 am

now a guy?

SmokinFF · Post by **SmokinFF** » November 11th, 2012, 7:53 am

Don't ask. Some things are better left unknown.

YouTube · Post by **Frank_Cox** » November 11th, 2012, 12:55 pm

hahaha, "know" a guy

Jethro · Post by **Jethro** » November 12th, 2012, 7:03 am

its just my opinion, but, for that size of firebox, your not gona have any problems using 3/16. I used 3/16 on my trailer firebox and had absolutely no problems with it. It holds the heat well and minimal warpage. Maybe I'm wrong, but, I've been wrong before

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » November 12th, 2012, 7:09 am

Edgar's firebox is 14 gauge lined double wall with 16 gauge outer wall.
The door did warp so it is now 1/4 inch but the rest of the box has never given any problems in a dozen cooks now...

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » November 12th, 2012, 8:42 pm

I would go 1/4. I'm sure Frank will hook you up. As long as he doesnt hook you up with my 1/4 plate that is "aging" around his place.

OKIECOOKER · Post by **OKIECOOKER** » November 13th, 2012, 9:55 am

This will be a good build to watch. I used a old piece of pipe for the inside of my build that was 1/4, and have no prob with mine. I think bigger or thicker is better then you don't have to worry about it. Spend the money up front, not do it again later.
Good luck with the build.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » November 13th, 2012, 5:41 pm

Smokeone wrote:I would go 1/4. I'm sure Frank will hook you up. As long as he doesnt hook you up with my 1/4 plate that is "aging" around his place.

.....

...aging.....

YouTube · Post by **Frank_Cox** » November 13th, 2012, 8:19 pm

haha S1 it is still there!
and Mike, sorry I haven't gotten back to you yet, been working some crazy hours. You have my number, call me anytime.

Miketheforester · Post by **Miketheforester** » November 15th, 2012, 9:07 pm

Alright guys I have more questions. I have done the calculations for my smoker, and I have some questions about the numbers spit out by the calculator. I know you don't want to go smaller than the numbers provided for vents on the fire box, fire box to cooking vessel opening, etc. or you will have problems staying up to temp. My question is does it hurt anything to go well over these numbers or should my goal be to hit these numbers as closely as possible? I am usually an overkill kind of guy, but I figured I had better ask if this could have some detrimental effects such as making it difficult to keep the temp down at a desirable level, or use far more fuel than is necessary? Also I had seen a post somewhere else that the area below the rf plate should match the opening from the firebox to the cooking vessel fairly closely. Is this true or is it mainly just important that this area is not smaller than that opening?

YouTube · Post by **Frank_Cox** » November 15th, 2012, 9:18 pm

I usually oversize by a small percentage on my smokers. I don't think you will have any problems unless you go way bigger like 60% or something like that. If you do oversize then you will prolly want to be something like 10% or 20%. any more than that is a wast of materials IMHO.
as far as the area under the BP goes, it needs to be as large as the throat or larger. here again, no more than 20% or so.

Miketheforester · Post by **Miketheforester** » November 30th, 2012, 7:37 pm

Finally got back to work and got the door cut. I stole the drilling idea from someone else so that the corners of the opening will be round for aesthetics and the others are so that when I weld on the seal strips I can spot weld them from the back for a clean look.

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And yes I cheat and use a straight edge because I couldn't freehand a straight line to save my life

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » November 30th, 2012, 8:26 pm

Looking good Mike!
I like the spot weld holes. Great Idea!

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » December 1st, 2012, 6:08 am

Coming along nicely!

Oh! and on the eighth day god made straightedges

just sayin'

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