Paint drum smoker

[breavis]

I'm finally getting started on a smoker for a driver at work. He wanted a paint drum so got to keep the customer happy! The ends are panned out bad so I've cut a piece of 10 gauge on each end to help with the firebox and angle iron for the grate. Couple questions-on the chimney, do you guys place it at grate level or near the top. How far up should I place the firebox from the throat? The calculator says I need a FB 18x18x17(35Lx23w drum). Here is a picture of what I'm thinking about.

[Dirtytires]

I’m a fan of a top mounted chimney. I’ve used both and have had issues with stale air in the cook chamber with the lower mounted intake producing some really bad tasting meat.

A reverse flow has the top of the firebox mounted at same level as baffle plate. A traditional offset is less stringent but I like mine as low as possible. I prefer leave a grease dam of about an inch on the bottom of the cook chamber and then mount it as low as the throat will allow.

[breavis]

I'm just about ready to weld the firebox together and before I do I'm going to cut the throat out. I would like to have the grate around 11 inches from the bottom so do you recommend the throat at grate level or just below or as close to the bottom of the CC? Also how far from the top of the throat do you like the firebox to be?
BTW this is an offset smoker

[Dirtytires]

Traditional offset or reverse flo?

[breavis]

traditional offset

[tinspark]

I'm just about ready to weld the firebox together and before I do I'm going to cut the throat out. I would like to have the grate around 11 inches from the bottom so do you recommend the throat at grate level or just below or as close to the bottom of the CC? Also how far from the top of the throat do you like the firebox to be?
BTW this is an offset smoker

The attached thread may help U decide a bit. Dave's build touched this somewhat a few days ago if I recall correctly..
https://smokerbuilder.com/forums/viewto ... 6d#p114895
Also watch that video that Pete posted in there. Some good stuff about both types of cookers.
I liked the illustration Frank used about the upside down bucket with two holes in the sides to explain what happens in an offset smoker opposed to the RF smoker. Good stuff!!

[dacolson]

Haven’t cut mine yet. Frank talks about mounting the firebox on a traditional offset halfway up the CC tank. BigT said to keep the throat opening the size specified by the calculator but to keep it as close to the top of the firebox as possible. You can see in my thread that Pete Mazz suggested - like Frank - to put in a throat baffle to direct hot air from the CC up as quickly as possible. I have a pretty bad sketch in there of my thought on how I’d build it. BigT posted a pic of how Jambo builds theirs.

[breavis]

Thanks!! What are the advantages/disadvantages of the baffle plate? Also since I have more room to cut would a rectangle shaped cut be okay for the throat?

[dacolson]

Any shape is fine as long as it’s at least as large as the calc calls for.

The theory behind the throat baffle is that it directs smoke and heat upwards as quickly as possible into the tank to aid in convection. With the upward airflow from the baffle and the subsequent downward draft from the smoke collector and stack at grate level on the opposite end, you should get a convection, cooking your meat from the top down.

[breavis]

I ended up cutting a 1/2 moon shape throat. Another question-for the chimney I'm going to make a collector, similar to a Jambo with a 4 inch pipe. I'm guessing I need to cut a 4 inch hole in the CC and make the collector 4 inches square or bigger?

[dacolson]

Your restriction point will be the stack pipe itself. You can make the collector as big as you like - as long as it’s at least the same area opening as the 4” pipe.

[breavis]

Welded the firebox together and to the CC and to the stand

[dacolson]

[Big T]

[breavis]

Thanks!! Would a 45 degree angle work for a baffle plate?

[dacolson]

I can’t really say for sure. Here is a pic of the throat baffle Jambo uses (thanks BigT for digging that up):

That’s at a 45° and they are pretty popular. My bet is this would work just fine. In Frank’s blog he talks about getting the hot air up quickly so I planned on building it a bit higher.

[breavis]

Sorry for the late post but I finished the smoker and the guy is tickled with it. Here is the finished product

[dacolson]

That will work great. Did you run it first?

[Dirtytires]

Customer satisfaction is key to getting paid! Nice job.

[Big T]

[breavis]

That will work great. Did you run it first?

I didn't try it but the guy sent me a message that he was very happy with it

[breavis]

Thank you all for your help on this. I enjoyed building it and I hope to do another one sometime!