Need some Help for may first build

[PatriotBBQ]

Hello to all

I have started on a journey to build my first RF Smoker. My family was in the restaurant business years ago and now I would like to carry on the tradition.

I have what I believe to be a 250 gal propane tank.

Circumference is 95"
Diameter is 30.24
Right end is 10.5"
Left end is 10"
Total length is 90.5"

Using the calculators this is what my designs should be. Note I will make the vents larger and may increase the FB just a bit more.

Diameter Length Volume (in³)
Cook Chamber Size 30.24 in. 90.5 in. 64,998.31 in³

Length Width Height Actual Volume (in³) Recomended Volume (in³) % Recomended Size
Firebox Size 28 in. 28 in. 28 in. 21,952.00 in³ 21,666.10 in³ 101.32%

Chimney Diameter Rec. Chimney Volume Rec. Chimney Length
Chimney Size 8 in. 1097.6 in³ 21.847133758 in.

Length Width Intake Area (in²) Count
Air Intake 5 in. 3 in. 65.86 in² 4.39

Throat Area (in²)
Throat Size 175.616 in.


I right now I have the doors marked to be 31" across the top and 32" to the bottom. Is this correct? The reason I am asking is because the doors look real long compared to the tank..


Appreciate all the help!!

[Rodcrafter]

I am on my phone looking at this so the calculations I can’t speak to. The door question has me trying to figure out what you are saying. 31” across the top should also be 31” across the bottom. Or were you asking about the lines that go up and down on the door? The tank shell between the bells, is about 70” which leaves you 6” between the doors and about an inch inside the welds for the bells. I would say that is ideal (for me). As far as the vertical lines of the doors I never measure them they are as long as they work out being. I start my door cut at 1” above top dead center and go down to 1” below 3:00 o clock so I can set my main cooking grate at the widest point of the CC.

I hope that helps

jm2cw


Making memories!

[Big T]

I ran your tank size using Pete's tank calculator and it came out to be 260 gallons, your FB was 109% which is right on the money and the other numbers were fine. I'm also not sure about your door question.

[PatriotBBQ]

Sorry about the confusion on the doors. What I was trying to say is that horizontally the doors are 31" across. I had initially planned to have the doors run 32" vertically but that looked WAY OUT OF WACK..... So right now the plan is to have my doors 31" across (horizontally) and 25" up vertically...

[Rodcrafter]

So looking at it like a clock where does this put the horizontal lines ?


Making memories!