Getting started with a build

[h2orescuemedic]

I stumbled upon this web forum about 3 months ago, every since I have been hooked. I have spent hours looking and reading many posts and I feel its time to jump in with both feet and see just how well I can hack up a good tank. I found what I believe to be a 200 gal LP tank from a local yard, After paying 50 dollars for it they loaded it and away I went to start a new project. After walking around this tank a few times I believe I want to make mine like "TexasSmoke" did on this forum. viewtopic.php?f=11&t=5038 I really like how his turned out using part of the tank for the fire box. I would like to take the fire box and point the round end down to the ground making it a little different then his.

The tank is 86 inches long over all 28 Wide, end caps are 8 inch from the welds on the tank.
The calculator shows it at 199 gal.

So with my very first post I will start with what should be a simple question. Can I just cut off 30 inch of tank to make my fire box?

I am about 2 weeks out on starting this project and have not ordered the the 1/4 inch plate yet. Thanks for any and all help. I just hope mine turns out as nice as some of the others on this great forum.

[ajfoxy]

That looks to be a very interesting project. Look forward to build pics.

[h2orescuemedic]

62 inches long 27 wide. 147 gal
fire box 24 long 27 wide.
using a 6 inch pipe for chimney
and using a 6 inch pipe for intake



Volume
Volume (in³)
Cook Chamber Size
147 gal.
33,957.00 in³


Diameter
Length
Actual Volume (in³)
Recomended Volume (in³)
% Recomended Size
Firebox Size
27 in.
24 in.
13,741.33 in³
11,319.00 in³
121.40%


Chimney Diameter
Rec. Chimney Volume
Rec. Chimney Length
Chimney Size
6 in.
687.06631334 in³
24.3123253128 in.


Diameter
Intake Area (in²)
Count
Air Intake
6 in.
41.22 in³
1.46


Throat Area (in²)
Throat Size
109.930610134 in.

[h2orescuemedic]

64l 27 wide 152.02

fire box 22 long 27 wide

using 6 inch pipe for intake and chimney

am I on the right track?

[Squiggle]

Looks pretty good to me, should be a very cool smoker

[Pete Mazz]

Yeah that!

[Rodcrafter]

There you go


Making memories!

[h2orescuemedic]

Rain has stopped for a day here in Missouri, I have put my thinking cap on and sharpened my pencil. Sticking the tape strait down one of the open holes I have found out my tank is 29.5 inch inside measurement. That makes my Tank a 250 gal not a 200 gal. Wish I would have done that on the first day I started trying to make my figures come out. Moving on.....

Earlier today I spoke with Frank on the phone from Smoker Builder HQ in St James Mo. Witch is about 30 miles from my house. I had no idea they were so close. And had no idea he would be so helpful. With in a few minutes of being on the phone with him I was ready to start hacking at my tank with a hack saw just to get this build started

Trying to build this with making the least about of scrap drops. I have changed my mind to make a square fire box, if center of tank is 29.5 if I minus 5 that gives me a baffle plate of 24 inches. I can have a 4x8 sheet cut in half that would give me a 24x96 inch long for the top of the fire box and most of the baffle plate. The other side I can cut in to 1/3 that would give me 24x32 3 times. 1 4x8 sheet of 1/4 inch would given me most of the baffle plate top and bottom and left and right side of the fire box. Using the web calculators and using the 24 by 32 fire box. Its says I can have a cook chamber of 230 gal. Tank vol calculator say that's 29.5 by 80 gives me 230 gal. If I typed this correctly It should show the Only plate still needed is both ends of fire box and what ever is left for baffle plate and end to block off tank above the fire box.

Question 1. How do I measure and come up with the baffle plate gap? Bell end of tank starts to neck down at 6 inch's

Throat Calculator said if my Throat Size 147.456 in
Diameter of Tank: 29.5
Throat Area from Pit Calc: 147
Firebox Width:24
Dam Height:

Top width of cut-out.:23.875
Bottom width of cut-out:0
Height of cut-out: 8.359

Question 2.

Guessing if I read that right, I can take my fire box with the top baffle plate being the top of my fire box slide it up to the cut in of the tank and trace the tank on the back wall of the fire box and cut every thing out. If so that should be easy.

29.5 inch by 80 inch tank,
32 Long, 24 width 24 height Fire box

230 gal.Volume
53,130.00 in³Volume (in³) Cook Chamber Size

Length32 in. Long
Width24 in. Width
Height24 in. Height
18,432.00 in³Actual Volume (in³)
17,710.00 in³Rec. Firebox Size
104.08%% Recomended Size Firebox Size

6 in.Chimney Diameter
921.6 in³Rec. Chimney Volume
32.6114649682 in.Rec. Chimney Length
Chimney Size

Air Intake
6 in.Diameter
55.30 in³Intake Area (in²)
1.96 Count

Throat Area (in²)
147.456 in. Throat Size

Looking forward to any and all help you can give me. I may have to sharpen my pencil a few more times

[Big T]

That Frank is a real nice guy! 1) If you look at the top of the home page on your pc you'll see a tab that says smoker builder calculators and there's a BP gap calculator that Pete designed. Your BP gap is the same as the throat or it can be smaller by about 25% I believe, I go the same as the throat and I've never had any issues. 2) You can build your FB/ BP as a single piece and slide it into the tank but I would recommend using a shadow plate on a build this size. A shadow plate is mounted at the top of the throat opening about an inch below the BP for the first 12-18 inches of the CC. It'll minimize the hot spot at the FB. jm2cw

[h2orescuemedic]

Big T, Thanks. I though for sure I had clicked on every calculator link, Thanks for that info.

So If 75% is good then that makes that easy to figure out too.

The shadow plate would make it much easier to get lined up and put together. I never thought about a hot spot.

[The Czar]

Where about in MO are ya?


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[Big T]

I believe 75% was the minimum that it could be but I'm not positive about that. I was just saying that if you get pretty close without going over then there shouldn't be any issues.

[h2orescuemedic]

I live near Sullivan Mo. I am still Drawing this build out on paper so I can see just what I will need and how much it's going to cost.

[Rodcrafter]

Cool, you can also make the opening adjustable from the same as the throat down to whatever. This gives you options without strangling your draft


Making memories!

[The Czar]

Well HQ is in St James...you should give Frank a heads up and come down on Saturday one day and visit!


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[h2orescuemedic]

Finally got a few hours today to work on the smoker. Got a frame build and leveled for the tank to set on. Tank feet cut off and valve holes cut and ready to weld shut. Just need a lot more time to work on it.

[Big T]

It looks like you're off to a good start

[ajfoxy]

Yes, it all takes time. That is part of the magic... the build. No matter how long it takes you will look back and proud of the end result.

[Squiggle]

definitely well worth the time spent.

Awesome start dude, now the really fun begins.

[Pete Mazz]

[h2orescuemedic]

With in a few minutes of getting started today I broke my regulator for the mig. Out with the stick welder, There is something oddly satisfying welding with welding rods.

[Big T]

It sucks that you destroyed your regulator but the patches turned out great.

[Squiggle]

Oh man that sucks, total bummer about the reg. definitely satisfying to burn rods, totally different feel & sound. Plugs look sweet too.

[h2orescuemedic]

Stopped at CK Welding today 40 dollars for a new hose and gauge.

$110 for welding supplies. I shouldn't need anything for the rest of this build and a few others.

[ajfoxy]

Stopped at CK Welding today 40 dollars for a new hose and gauge.

$110 for welding supplies. I shouldn't need anything for the rest of this build and a few others.

Never underestimate Murphy's Law. There will ALWAYS be something more you are going to need in the build... count on it.