Hybrid????

[TexasSmoke84]

Has anyone built a hybrid smoker?? Charcoal grill on one side smoker on other?? Thinking about adding a grill to my smoker but was wondering about pros and cons of doing this. Saw a builder do it and I like the idea but didn't know if it would affect temp in the smoker when both are fired up.

[Rodcrafter]

I made my Fb open from the top so I could use it as a grill if I want. Also it is easy to add wood or charcoal that way. But it is the heat source for my CC(s) as well so I really can't grill while smoking unless it is something that can take that level of heat. For an example, I smoke steaks for about an hour at 180*- 200* then take them off and put them in the FB to reverse sear, awesome! But it sounds like you are really making 2 separate cooking environments, just joined on the same frame. Is that right?

jm2cw

[TexasSmoke84]

Yes. They will share the end cap of the smoker

[Rodcrafter]

Maybe you could post a pic of what your thinking?

[TexasSmoke84]

Ok here is my sketch. Don't judge it!!! Lol

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

I assume based on the sketch you are going to weld in a wall between the grill and smoker. What is your plan for fueling the grill?

[TexasSmoke84]

Yes. The smoker I already have I'm just adding about another 2ft pipe in it and just making it to out charcoal/ wood in it. Have a vent on the side for air and stack on the end.

[Rodcrafter]

I see, so it will have 2 stacks not just the 1 in the sketch. The only problem I foresee is radiant heat from that end coming through the plate between the 2. It would take some experimenting to see the results, but you may be able to just reduce the fire size in the FB.

[Gizmo]

You will definitely share heat across the center wall into the smoker if you decide to grill while doing some low and slow cooking on the smoker end. As RC said - with some experimentation you could probably figure out the fire size for the smoker (smaller) for that situation otherwise your low and slow won't be so low …. Certainly a balancing act….

[TexasSmoke84]

Yeah I figured I would get some added heat with both going at same time. I just liked the idea of having them both right there readily avaliable.

[Smokeone]

I like your idea and think it will work.
I agree on the heat transfer too.

[TuscaloosaQ]

I am personally going to build a unit very similar to the one you are talking about. The simple solution to me is to put insulation between the 2 cookers. you will have insulation plus 2 ....1/4" plates separating the two!!!!! Works for me

[TexasSmoke84]

Damn never thought of that but I can see where it works.

[Frank_Cox]

Just what I was gonna say TQ, sounds like you're on the right track!

[Puff]

This will likely not help your plan but: the design that Frank Cox has on my oil tank smoker has a section of the RF baffle that converts to charcoal baskets to use the rack above as a grill rack over charcoal. To get more coverage since there is 57" of free baffle plate, he designed two in the tank. To take it a step further, it has a rotisserie above the charcoal baskets. Cover the baskets and it converts back into a full RF baffle plate ! Multi-function? Yup....however, not at the same time.