Reverse Flow Rat Theme Smoker

[ewilly]

I had most of the materials and calcs ready to go and today opened up so I went for it. Cut the cabinet out of longer piece of 23inch pipe with .375 wall to 40 in long. Did the following:

Cut in door and added hinges
Using a pipe wrench for a stop and going to add a counterweight
Used an old combo wrench for handle
Cut and fit BP with a piece of angle for drip groove and a 1/2 in pipe for drain
Cut and tacked ends
Fit exhaust stack and going to use a 3/8 plate on top with a acetylene bottle cap on top to match the rat tool theme

Question: Is there any concern with the opening size I used coming out the end of the cabinet into the 4 in pipe?

Plan to fab fire box next and cooking trays

Going to install this on a small trailer I already had built a few months ago.

[Big T]

There shouldn't be any problems as long as your opening isn't smaller than the stack. I use the same design and I haven't had any issues.

[Rodcrafter]

The only problem I see is the 1/2' drain. I think that will clog easy so make sure you can get to it to poke something through it if needed.

You're doing some nice work.

[ewilly]

Roger that on the drain! Should have gone big!

Accomplished the following:
Added counterweight to door
Fabbed firebox, ashtray, sliding damper and tapered wood burning bin
Started welding joints
Also fabbed exhaust cap and mechanism

Going to hinge the door down so it doubles as a catch tray for hot coals when starting fire and briquets

Sure hope this tapered firebox works.

[Big T]

[Squiggle]

[The Czar]

Boy that’s nice!!!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[ewilly]

Thanks Gentlemen - It seemed to get small when I put the tray racks in! Can someone confirm if 6.5 in lower and 5 in clearance will be usable from your experience? I have no experience with actually using one.

Finished majority of the welding and mounted it on the trailer. Going to do some clean up and maybe make the trays and paint this weekend.

I plan to build a wood bin underneath the CC so I will still have room for a ice chest and possibly propane grill on the backside.

Still open to input if you see something that will not function correct.

[ewilly]

Fabbed an upper and lower tray and used somem stainless steel reverse cutouts from some past jobs for the grates. Adds a custom touch and the stainless should avoid the rust of expanded metal.

[Big T]

That rack spacing will be fine for most cuts of meat. Some of the larger butts might be tight but you could pull the top rack for turkeys and large cuts if you had to.

[Rodcrafter]

You are going to be very happy with that rascal. The fire basket is great too.

[ewilly]

Thanks BT and RC. I am buttoning it up although I am still waiting for the thermometer. Added a small wood bin underneath and added a 2" pipe fitting in to the bottom of the tank to aid in cleanout of the area below BP.

Fabbed a L-shaped aluminum counter with cupholder for setting trays etc. Fabricated a swing away FB door latch with a small vise grip and also have the chain option for opening when starting or using the door as a ash catcher to prevent potential fire hazards. Also added the seals on both doors and used a spot weld pattern to emulate the look of a boiler.

Most importantly I added a drop in receiver tube to accept a telescoping pole I had that will be our flag pole!!! Murica

[Big T]

Heck yeah!!

[Rodcrafter]

I have to say that is some nice work right there. I wish I had a stainless table around my smokers.

[ewilly]

Sorry to bore you guys with pics but there is always a chance a problem area will be noted. Touched up paint and anchored down tool box, cargo rack, added tray loops and some other tie downs on trailer. Also found a cool fire truck fitting I had to use for the 2 inch clean out under the BP. Of course I added a fire extinguisher and a Shelterwerks MPS-1 Aluminum camp survival shovel which I manufacture for marketing.

Plan to season this afternoon and maybe try a quick smoke effort on some chicken or sausage.

[ewilly]

Sorry to bore you guys with pics but there is always a chance a problem area will be noted. Touched up paint and anchored down tool box, cargo rack, added tray loops and some other tie downs on trailer. Also found a cool fire truck fitting I had to use for the 2 inch clean out under the BP

[Big T]

Doesn't bore me at all, I think it's awesome

[Squiggle]

[temurf]

We LOVE looking at pics.

If you could post some pics showing more detail on the exhaust cap, I would not be bored when I look at them.

[ajfoxy]

Yep, more pics the better. Very nice build and awesome unit. Well Done!

[ewilly]

Well the T Rex Smoker Trailer build was unbalanced and I wanted more cooking capacity for events so I made the following changes:

Relocated the toolbox
Purchased 8 burner event gill and remove the base and fabricated a custom configured and special height base and closed in ends with dimple die aluminum and going to and a slide out tray underneath for more storage.
Still need to fab a propane tank rack at each end
Added a tank mount on the tongue to supply the Shelterwerks UFO-1 Cooking disc that I manufacture
Fine tuned the flag pole mount install
Add a T post up front with an led light for each side of the trailer - these are hard wired to a custom box I put together that contains a 18 AH battery and capability to charge on shore or solar panel

UPDATE on Smoking-I fired it up again on Sunday and am very impressed with how well and easy it has been to maintain temperature.

[temurf]

That is sure looking good dude.

And speaking of pics, it looks like its time for some Q-view.

[Big T]

Sweet

[Cole]

Well done!

[ewilly]

We LOVE looking at pics.

If you could post some pics showing more detail on the exhaust cap, I would not be bored when I look at them.

Hi Temurf

There is not anything special regarding the exhaust cap. I used a 3/8 thick plate for the actual cover plate and then welded the acetylene cap on top to match my tool theme.