The micro smoker

[McBroom]

I'm planning to build a micro RF. I'm gonna make it out of 2- 2 gallon air tanks welded end to end.
2 doors one on each tank.
Square firebox 8x6x6
1×1 sq air inlet
2x5 rd chimney
2.5 sq" 1/2 moon/trapizoid fb/cc opening.
1/4" grease drain
I'm making it tiny for something to do while it's cold. I'm thinking a 1/2 pork loin,4 burgers, 2 strip steaks,hot links/hotdogs...
It's small enough to throw in the toolbox of the truck and make lunch while I'm out fishing.
Probably only use 4-5 charcoal briquettes and a small piece of chunk wood for flavor.
It should weigh less than 15#

Any additional advice is appreciated!

Claud

[Big T]

It sounds like you've got it figured out.

[towtruck]

Plan on a bigger fire box. I made a tiny off set smoker and I had to bump up the fire box to hold 7-8 briquettes. You have to have enough heat in the fire to make things work.....This thing smokes two brats in two hours and needs at least 7-8 briquettes to get it done otherwise it does not make any heat.

[McBroom]

@towtruck yours is why I'm gonna try building this one.
I'm curious if a heat transfer tube from the back of the firebox to the center of the cc would help it'd look kinda like a gusset.


Claud

[McBroom]

It's a top loading fb too right?

Claud

[towtruck]

Top loader, yes. I found you cannot build any heat with less than 7-8 briquettes. I also have a 1" intake and it runs wide open. The temp gauge on the far end never gets up to temp. The thing works great for two brats. It's truly a smoker and not a bbq.

[McBroom]

What would you do differently if you could do it over again?

Claud

[towtruck]

Slightly bigger stack is all I would change but it works so I'm not changing it.

[McBroom]

Thanks for the info. I look forward to your advice on this little novelty smoker.
I have much respect for you and all the members here. Everyone is always willing to lend a hand and share their knowledge.

Claud

[Fedostas]

Super design! I really like it! This is the pinnacle of minimalistic design!

[McBroom]

This is a rough draft of what this micro smoker will look like. Dont pay any attention to the numbers on these drawings.
I drew this up while my Ram was at the dealer for an oil change.
I cut the 2 tanks apart today and started laying out the FB. I'll work on it more tomorrow afternoon.

Claud

[McBroom]

A little progress on the micro smoker cooker.
No making fun of the welds they'll clean up with the grinder.
Dont have an I door shop so everything I do is outside. Is was cold today when I started on the firebox. It might be a lil too big but that can be adjusted later.


Claud

[Big T]

[Overspray]

Looking good!

[McBroom]

Today's progress.
Now comes the hard part... figuring out the baffle plate and thickness needed. Placement may be tricky too. The throat is approximately 2.5 sq in. in each C/C. It's also football shaped.
The plan is a RF with 1.5" sq tubing. Height is around 6"

Claud

[towtruck]

One more thing to think about.....with one fire and two cook chambers you are going to play hell keeping temps where you want them. Air flow has to be perfectly even from one side to the other......friction as the air moves will cause the smoke to travel the path of least resistance and your heat will go to the easier side to flow through. I ran into this issue with my tube smoker and had to split it into two completely separate smokers in order to control it. You will need to split that fire box into two in order to make it work I'm afraid........

I like the idea so far though.

[McBroom]

Thanks @towtruck
That's another thing I hadn't thought about.
Both chambers are identical in size and throat. I put 2 crossover tubes in to help control the heat balance. I hope these cross tubes will work.
I'm hoping that I dont have to separate these conjoined smokers.

Claud

[Dirtytires]

I’ll donate a hamburger for the experiment stage!

[towtruck]

I had my smoker halves built identical too.....it's the food you put in that changes the air flow. Running two fire box's will solve the issue.

[McBroom]

I had my smoker halves built identical too.....it's the food you put in that changes the air flow. Running two fire box's will solve the issue.

Ahh now I understand. I'll add a divider plate in there. Thanks

Claud

[McBroom]

A little more progress on it yesterday.
I got the FB door welded on and started on the C/C doors.
I hate doing the flanges on doors it's so easy for them to flatten out from the heat of the welds.

Claud

[McBroom]

Ok now I need some help! Please!!
I've almost got it finished and ready to season. My current problem is making the c/c door latches. I can't figure it out.
Here's some pictures of it.
NO laughing at my welds. Yeah they're ugly but the dont break.


Claud

[McBroom]

More pictures of the latch area.
The red lines are where I was thinking about putting them. But I have no idea because it's so small and thin material.

Claud

[McBroom]

Added: remember it's a 2gal tank on each side

Claud

[Overspray]

If it was me, I’d weld a type of hoop on each door near the top. It can double as a stop when the door is open (touching the other doors handle) I’d assume you won’t have both doors open at the same time.

Once latched, they’d also be used as handles to carry the smoker.

Just my .02.

I built my own micro smoker last week and can’t get the damn thing to draw heat. At least it looks cool lol