First build

AllySallyCoop · Post by **AllySallyCoop** » April 28th, 2012, 9:57 am

My neighbors and I are building our first smoker out of a 250 gallon fuel oil tank. We are still working on the design before starting our cuts. Our first big question is how big of a firebox do we need? I read somewhere that a rule of thumb is the FB needs to be about 1/3 the volume of the smoking chamber. We were planning to use a 55 gal drum with an 11"x11" opening between the drum and the tank. Does this sound sufficient?

GvilleDave · Post by **GvilleDave** » April 28th, 2012, 10:43 am

I am also staring my first build and found the following calculator helpful:

http://www.feldoncentral.com/bbqcalculator.html

I think based on a 250 gallon cooking chamber minimum size for the firebox is more like 75 gallons.... Good luck on the build and I will look forward to following your progress and hopefully getting good ideas for mine

maccas66 · Post by **maccas66** » April 28th, 2012, 6:38 pm

looking forward to seeing both of your builds!, don`t forget the pic`s!

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » April 28th, 2012, 7:52 pm

.....

.....and remember that the feldon calculator is kinda like shooting a shot gun vs a sniper rifle.....you'll hit the target but at what cost...it will work still...

AllySallyCoop · Post by **AllySallyCoop** » April 29th, 2012, 1:25 pm

We are thinking about reducing the volume of our tank by putting in a false floor beneath the reverse flow channel. This would reduce the volume of our tank to around 180 gallons (so the 55 gal drum fire box should be sufficient). How do I calculate the proper size for the RF channel? Our tank is about 5 feet long and about 27 inches wide and will about 32 inches deep above the false floor.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » April 29th, 2012, 3:07 pm

Wow.....that is a little out of my league to answer....better contact Frank on that one.... :explode2:

gusibole · Post by **gusibole** » May 7th, 2012, 7:26 pm

GvilleDave wrote:I am also staring my first build and found the following calculator helpful:

http://www.feldoncentral.com/bbqcalculator.html

I think based on a 250 gallon cooking chamber minimum size for the firebox is more like 75 gallons.... Good luck on the build and I will look forward to following your progress and hopefully getting good ideas for mine

This is the calculator I used to build my Reverse Flow. It worked excellent!

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » May 8th, 2012, 6:59 am

....glad you got it dialed in....now cook us up some grub!!!

YouTube · Post by **Frank_Cox** » May 8th, 2012, 7:11 am

AllySallyCoop wrote:We are thinking about reducing the volume of our tank by putting in a false floor beneath the reverse flow channel. This would reduce the volume of our tank to around 180 gallons (so the 55 gal drum fire box should be sufficient). How do I calculate the proper size for the RF channel? Our tank is about 5 feet long and about 27 inches wide and will about 32 inches deep above the false floor.

I think what you are asking is how to decrease the volume of your cook chamber without changing the actual size of it by adding a false bottom in it.
you first need to figure the volume of the cook chamber as it is... pie times radius squared rimes the length or- 3.14(r2)
then you need to figure the size you want the cook chamber to be and find the volume you want to subtract from it. once you know that number you change that volume to segment area times the length. the length of the chord is the width of the plate you need to add to plate off the bottom of the cook chamber.
I hope that helps in some way... sorry if i confused anyone.

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » May 8th, 2012, 11:53 am

Have no doubt that you are spot on Frank.

Way out of my league, thats why I let you do the figuring!

gusibole · Post by **gusibole** » May 8th, 2012, 2:59 pm

dcman wrote: ....glad you got it dialed in....now cook us up some grub!!!

I have dc. Brewery, Rick and S1 came and got theirs. Didn't they give you the care package.
Dude, I think they jipped ya!

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » May 8th, 2012, 4:25 pm

Hey now, you werent supposed to tell him!

gusibole · Post by **gusibole** » May 8th, 2012, 5:29 pm

My bad!

Brewery · Post by **Brewery** » May 8th, 2012, 6:07 pm

It was delicious! Lol

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » May 8th, 2012, 6:21 pm

you guys suck.....

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » May 8th, 2012, 6:31 pm

Calm down DC... You weren't home so I left your care package out behind the doghouse ....

gusibole · Post by **gusibole** » May 8th, 2012, 7:47 pm

Sure seems like we hijacked this thread!

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » May 8th, 2012, 8:26 pm

Sorry....we did....

......now I got to go shoot that dog...

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