My first smoker build ever

[chvojka]

Hello new here although I have asked a few questions (thank you for the responses) and I wanted to show what I am building. Any and all suggestions are welcome. I am building a portable version or the tripple barrel design. That is two up top and the fire barrel underneath. It will be on heavy duty casters and the barrel set up hopefully will be somewhat modular so as they rust I can replace them. Luckily my father-in-law is a plant manager and they have an abundant supply of barrels for free. Anyway here's my progress so far. Enjoy.

[chvojka]

Once I fugure out how to get the photos to upload

[The Czar]

hope this helps....

viewtopic.php?f=50&t=86

[chvojka]

Ok think I got it.

[Gizmo]

Looks good!
Might be a candidate for a center-feed RF ...

[The Czar]

Wow....Rick I thought the same thing....

Was this something you thought about?

[chvojka]

Never thought of that. How does it work? Is there a build thread I can look into?

[Gizmo]

Chvojka at first glance a third barrel (also on it's side) placed underneath in the center so heat can vent out and up into the two top barrels seems reasonable. Were you thinking 6 or 8 inch round stove pipe (riser pipes) to join the cook barrels to the fire barrel? If so, that should be a fairly straightforward installation. That would also allow you to drive the barrels independently - i.e. leave them separated with the center wall and put stack louvers in both riser pipes and fixed baffles in the cook barrels. Also easier to change out if they rust.

A lot of flexibility from two different cook chambers running at different temps or simply not in use at times when you are cooking a small amount - kind of a warming cabinet beside a cooking cabinet.

Somewheres on this site the guys have posted help on laying out your cuts for round things passing through curved surfaces - it'll be your best friend for hooking these bad boys together...

Check out last fall's thread "Edgar is underway" - he's a center-feed - it's under reverse flow smokers section.

[The Czar]

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=377&hilit=edgar

Here is the link.....

[Gizmo]

Thanks DC!

[The Czar]

Thanks DC!

Your

[chvojka]

Wow thanks for the great info. I was going to join the barrels but independent control would be better. I will check out the links. Thanks.

[shipyardbecue]

cool build! cant wait to see more!

[chvojka]

Hello all,
I have some updates haven't had much time to work on it but it has to be done by this weekend so I can start seasonoing it. Have to cook 150 chickens in it in two weeks for local air show.











Finally starting to look like something.


Skinless quarted BBQ chicken with sweet baby ray's nothin special but dang good

[chvojka]

The pics are not exactly in order but don't know how to fix it. Nor will I try

[Smokeone]

Looking good!
Cant wait to see the thin blue smoke rolling out!

[The Czar]

.....and don't worry....we don't comment in correct order......wait what?

[Frank_Cox]

[inick]

wow!

[chvojka]

SO here are some final pics of the build. I did not get every step of the process as I had to hurry to get it done for the airshow we cooked at. So if there are any questions let me know and I can take additional pics to help clarify things I skipped. Also, realize I had to forgoe details like handles and grease traps due to the time constraint.

Here is the initial burn off. Got it up to about 700 degrees.

Here it is done including heat paint and if you'll notice I went to 6" stacks from 4" on the burn off. Had trouble getting heat transfer to top barrells. 6" worked much better.

Cord of seasoned sugar maple.

Started with a small fire to finish curing the paint. It said it needed 24 hours but it got maybe 16. Had to get cooking. You can also see the fire brick in the bottom.

These are the coal drawers I designed. They allow higher heat in combination with smoke for a faster cook. I figured more versatility this way I can grill or smoke or both. Plus with the barrells being seperate I can smoke on one side and grill on the other. It turned out I was able to cook at about 400 degrees on one side while I kept things warm on the other side at 150 degrees.

42 total chicken halfs! Took about 2 hours per batch. The coal drawers alowd me to add charcoal easily.

After the cook.

Here is the set up at the air show. My dad had the icecream bus in the back with hand dip and soft serve and some fair style food. I sold chicken dinners. Went pretty well. Lots of positive comments on the chicken.

You would look silly too if you cooked for 3 days straight!

[Frank_Cox]

Looks Great!
Glad everything worked out and looks like the chicken turned out great!

[Gizmo]

Nice looking rig there !

[SmokinFF]

Talk about a modified UDS!!! Good lookin build. Oh ya, and the yard bird looks good too.

[chvojka]

This thing weighs around 300 pounds so I have an old boat trailer that it will be mounted on. But that will be another build thread
Thanks for the positive comments it was alot of work but alot of fun! Let the addiction begin. The social committe at work heard about my smoker and want me to bring it to work next week to smoke about 300 wings for a football season kickoff lunch. Should be fun they are having everyone bring their favorite sauce and will have a prize for the best homade recipe. I have already been hired to cook a hog at my nephew's wedding reception next summer. Of course I have no experience with pork yet so will be smoking through the winter and plan on eating well

[Gizmo]

Congrats chvojka! Practice pork is the best!