Big time help needed with cabinet build

[CyderPig]

Hi All
Just been given a Cres cor, which is a heating/ warmer cabinet used in catering(would post a link to their website, but no good with computers).
I want to to turn it into a cabinet type smoker along the sme style as the Backwoods.
The cabinet is insulated and has two doors and compartments, thinking of putting the firebox in the lower compartment and pos drilling lots of holes into the top of the bottom chamber to let the heat/smoke into the top chamber and line them out with iron pipe to protect the insulation from excessive heat etc.
I have only built UD's and Cold smokers in the past plus 1 Cajun Microwave, I need all the help you guys can give me!
Feedback Please
Cheers
Si

[The Czar]

...... ....

[Pete Mazz]

Is this it?

[CyderPig]

Hi Pete
Thats the Baby, thanks for helping me out by postng the pic!!!!!
Please need some input from you experts, cabinet builds few and far between in the UK, and I need all the help I can get!
Cheers
Simon

[CyderPig]

Hi Guys
Do you think this could work?
Picking it up next week.
I really need some input, is this a go?
Cheers
Si

[Gizmo]

I'd love to help you but I'm not familiar with that cabinet. I know the insulation has to be rated for the temps you'll be using. Is it all metal - in and out? Do any fittings like latches, hinges etc. have plastic parts?

It looks like a cool build but if it was a warming cabinet for holding food for serving (150F) it probably might not be designed to handle the temps associated with a smoker.

[Smokeone]

I would be leery too. But I'm not a food equip guy.

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

You may want to do some research and get the technical specs on the cabinet. The specs should tell you about the insulation used. From there you can determine if it will work.

[CyderPig]

Hi All
From what I can tell from the Cres cor website the cabinet is insulated with fibreglass, is that safe to use?
Si

[Gizmo]

Send Cres cor an email and ask them what the insulation is rated at. Maybe they'll be helpful…

The fire rope for door seals on fireplaces is fiberglass designed for high temp but just because it's "fiberglass" doesn't necessarily mean it's able to handle the heat. Smokertom, myself and some others have successfully used rock wool insulation from a home improvement store rated around 2000F. I think the flame spread rating to meet construction standards is different than an ignition temperature rating like we would want for a cooker.

$50 will buy enough rock wool insulation to completely re-insulate that cabinet - might be money well spent to not have to worry about it….. imho

Come to think of it - take a piece of the insulation out and on a steel bench hit it with a blow torch and if you can't seem to get it to light then you might be okay …. at least that's how the fire rope reacts…..

[CyderPig]

Hi All
Just picked up the cabinet.
The whole thing is made of Aluminium, how does that sound will it take the heat or do I have to just weigh it in?
The outer casing will come off easy enough, and the re insulation should be no problem.
All the electics have been stripped.
Fire rope for the door seals is no problem, hinges and latches are all good.
Do you Guys think this is a go?
I will try to get someone more computer savvy to post pic's for me.

Cheers
Si

[TuscaloosaQ]

Aluminium-not to sure that will work!!!!!