SOB lookin for some help

[SmokingOhioButcher]

So I am finally going to build my back yard patio smoker. I have always liked the design that real57vetteguy built and since i have virtually the same tank I am going to see if I can duplicate his success. http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/1017 ... ng-started

Here is a crude drawing of my idea of what I want. I have done the calcuations for a 100gallon tank, and will be making a 20" firebox.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

SOB

[Gizmo]

Welcome SOB!
Looks like a slick centerfeed design - propane bottle that close to the firebox has me nervous though - some gas experts on here might weigh in ... ?

[The Czar]

......did you just call him a S O B?

[Gizmo]

He started it!

[SmokingOhioButcher]

Hey guys,
yep I'm SOB.... Smoking Ohio Butcher....been on smf for years and here when it first started.
Followed smoker tom over here. He still around? was finanlly gettin around to this project.
As far as the propane bottle goes...would it be ok if i placed a steel firewall a few inches from the firebox to block the heat from reaching the bottle?
SOB

[Rodcrafter]

That looks like an awesome cooker that guy made, the burner is nice too but, it is going at this the hard/expensive way. I used an adjustable 160,000 BTU cast iron burner.

http://www.cajunshoppe.com/cast2.htm

It is not alot of money and I put a cover over it and never take it out or experience any clog issues. These are easy to install, but there are some good articles to read about gas on this web site. Safety is everything when gas is involved.

http://www.smokerbuilder.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=31

IMHO

[Frank_Cox]

Hi SOB! been a while!
I remember that build.... slick build! anyway from what I can see looks like you got all the bases covered. I would recommend putting a small BP between the opening of the firebox and the bottom of the Baffle plate to discourage direct flame contact with the bottom of the main BP. also SmokerTom is still around!

[Smokeone]

SOB!
Looks like a sweet build.

[SmokingOhioButcher]

He

y what do you guys think of this idea to control the amount and direction of the smoke and heat?

[Rodcrafter]

I like it, I'm a control freak and I know it. I like to be able to make the thing do all sorts of stuff, and that would be one more way to do that.

[Gizmo]

I tried an adjustable baffle very close to that but I found that convective heat transfer is only part of the source - radiant/conductive does a lot too. Since the hot air is free to move about the cabinet it will find a point of equilibrium that's only a slight difference from end to end - 10 degrees in the one I built. I didn't think it was worth it.

I also found that the stack dropping down much below the top of the tank didn't do much either - I'd cut it off high and gain some grate space - imho

[SmokingOhioButcher]

So what you're saying is that if I take out the adjustable damper and use just the angle iron divider it will work the same?
SOB

[Gizmo]

I don't know exactly what you mean by "angle iron divider".

I could only get about a 10 degree shift in temp from end to end using a very similar adjustment on a design of mine about 3 years ago and I really needed about a 50 degree difference to accomplish the 2 different cook zones I wanted.

Frank makes a good point on the diffuser plate because it will help stabilize your temps better. You can see one if you go to the Reverse flow smokers section on here and into the "Edgar is Underway..." thread. Then look at the bottom of page 1 and you'll see his diffuser in both of the last 2 pics. His main baffle sits in the top half (red half) directly above what you see there.

I hope this helps explain it. IMHO I would send your drawing with dimensions to Frank and have him calc them so you know all your critical numbers. He did Edgar and it's spooky stable on temps...

[SmokingOhioButcher]

Cool he would do that for me? that would be great. I have used a build calc. on another site but am not sure i got the tank volume figured out right. thzanks for the help.
SOB

[Gizmo]

The proceeds from the custom calcs that Frank does help pay for this site - I think it's a win - win situation. I always thought it was pretty cheap insurance to make sure it works when you're all done building it...

[SmokingOhioButcher]

Sweeet!!! Thanks again for the help!
SOB

[Tom_Heath]

Hey there SOB How the heck ya been, let me look, I have a cool cad drawing of a center feed of my dreams. Always wanted one of these babies.



This is a shot of what i was playing with. If your interested in playing with it in sketch up I can share the full file.

[SmokingOhioButcher]

Hey Tom! Been busy,,,I guess thats good! Yup tryin to get supplies around for this smoker...any help would be great. What do you think about an adjustable baffle?? neccessary or overkill????Never heard of sketch up??? But that sounds cool!
Thanks
SOB

[Tom_Heath]

Sketch up is a way cool 3-D program that has pretty amazing ability for a free program.

I hadnt really thought about the baffle on this type smoker but control is always the key to success .

[TuscaloosaQ]

I really like that design, it just gives me something else to want to build

[SmokingOhioButcher]

Looking to revisit this design but with a 20" steel pipe. Probably gonna need a lot of help.
SOB

[Pete Mazz]

Looks like a nice design. Ask away!

[Rodcrafter]

Let's do it!

[SmokingOhioButcher]

So my brother is helping me get this build started. He told me that he has a 20" x 60" piece of 3/8" pipe for the cooking chamber to use. he is able to get all the metal I need for the fire box and the rest of the build out of the scrap pile at work. Will 60" be long enough for the cooking racks to be 48" and still have enough room on the ends for the heat and smoke to flow around the ends?

[forty_creek]

I would think so. I do not have access to the pit calculator. 48 leaves you 12 so I would be surprised if your BP gap was over 8...just off the top of my head.
What's you throat calc size? Divide that by 20 and you will have your max BP gap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk