First vertical smoker build

[dacolson]

Nice looking setup. In the event you have airflow issues with the vent entering through the bottom, it wouldn’t be much work to cut it off, patch the hole and move your pipe to the side under your fire grate. I like the pipe idea, especially if you are going to use a fan pit temp controller. Heady to set up that way. I’m just skeptical it won’t get restricted over long burns. It will be pretty simple to change if so. I like that red/orange color. Hope you keep it.

[nick9one1]

Thanks

Unfortunately the red/orange colour will go. I've just bought a tin of black BBQ paint!

I'll see how it goes with the vent through the bottom, and as you say it shouldn't be difficult to move.
The current setup gives me about 2.5 inches of clearance before ash will start to block the inlet.

[Cole Leffert]

[Dargo]

I added the handles/door locks today.

Has some spare 8mm stainless rod and oilite bushes so though t I might as well use them!

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I also 3d printed some solid plastic feet in PETG so it doesnt scratch up the floor

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3D printing and smoker building. Two of the best things are better together. Hahaha. Nice job.


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[Rule Hard]

Nice work! Heating s ason is off to a busy start so I've not had time to finish my build but I'm hitting it hard this weekend. Keep up the good work.

[nick9one1]

I'm second guessing the vent entering the bottom now.. not sure if 2.5 inches is enough clearance for ash on a long burn.

[Cole Leffert]

Can you make it taller? How high can you go before you hit your charcoal basket? Or you could T it and bring it out to the side then up and have the air come in on either side of you basket?

[Dirtytires]

You are going to burn mostly charcoal, right? It has a pretty long heat cycle and much less ash as compared to wood. My guess is that you will be just fine with what you have but it is easily accessible and pretty simple to change if you experience problems.

[nick9one1]

Thanks for the suggestions. Its already as tall as I can make it.
Yes, I'll mostly be burning charcoal and from what I've read these smokers are pretty efficient so ash 'should' be minimal'.

[nick9one1]

I think I'll do a long test burn as soon as I can, then modify if I need to.

this is how far I've got;

I went with the weld on bullet hinges

UDS style valve

[Dargo]

You should keep that door and just clear coat it. Looks cool with a propane symbol on it. Hahaha.


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[dacolson]

You should keep that door and just clear coat it. Looks cool with a propane symbol on it. Hahaha.


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Yes. That. Love the orange


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[Dirtytires]

Good luck on the test fire!

[Cole Leffert]

I agree! Keep the orange paint! Looks great!

[nick9one1]

I trying my first cook today (with the help of a pit controller).

I'm using cocoshell briquettes to keep ash low, with the occasional hunk of oak.

The Pit controller is having to run quite hard (fan at 90%)to keep the temp at 105C (220F).
Is this a case of not enough fuel, or could it be my intake design isn't 'naturally' drawing very well?

the orange line is Pit temp, Blue area behind is how hard the fan is working.
You can see at 3:57 the fan drops to 50% and the temp also drops quite quickly.

http://84.68.39.46:9090/luci

[nick9one1]

update:

I increased the charcoal amount and its running much better. I think the fan was having to make the small amount of charcoal burn really hot to maintain temp.

The big drop in temp was me opening the door to wrap

[Cole Leffert]

Wow! That made a big difference in how hard your fan was working! What was the difference in charcoal amount between the two?

[Saskattak]

update:

I increased the charcoal amount and its running much better. I think the fan was having to make the small amount of charcoal burn really hot to maintain temp.

The big drop in temp was me opening the door to wrap

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Glad you got it figured! I just got a bag of jealous devil maxx briquettes for my cabinet. Hopefully try them out this weekend.

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[nick9one1]

Wow! That made a big difference in how hard your fan was working! What was the difference in charcoal amount between the two?

I pretty much doubled the amount. First time using a smoker, and first time using this BBQ so I didn't really have any idea how much to use!

Its been running 6 hours now on the same load of charcoal, so doing well

[Big T]

Excellent work!

[dacolson]

Very cool. Glad it worked out. How’s the ash situation around your bottom air intake?

[Dirtytires]

In theory, you should be able to completely fill your firebox with charcoal and the controller will keep it at the proper temp. If you start with too much it just gets wasted at the end of the cook but start with too little and will find out what a pain it is to have to add more during a cook.

[nick9one1]

I decided to change the design in the end and went for side entry on the air inlet.
Didn't have any issues in the test cooks but didn't want to have to change it after I'd had it painted. (just given it a quick once over with a rattle can for now). Handles aren't fitted in the pictures.

This is my first smoker build so if anyone can see any glaring problems please let me know!

I've used a 10mm steel plate (3/8 inch in old money) as a baffle with about a 1 inch or so gap around the outside.

This is a heatermeter pitcontroller (blower + vent control)

[RJB]

start with too little and will find out what a pain it is to have to add more during a cook.

Yes, yes it is.

Rick

[Big T]