Large Pellet Grill (24x48)

[fireman_pete]

I am looking to make a large, horizontal pellet grill that is about 24"x48" for the bottom grate, with 24" of head space to allow for a 2nd shelf.

I am trying to determing if I can run a grill this large with one pellet assembly/firepot. I plan to use a pellet assembly from Smoke Daddy this is 18" to the firepot. I am not sure if the firepot is not centered, that it might cause hot spots.

I guess I could also use a 12" assembly and mount the hopper in the front or the back.

Has anyone made a pellet grill this size?

I plan to make it out of 10 gauge steel.

I would appreciate any feedback.

Thanks

Pete

[Rodcrafter]

I'm sure that someone will come along who has made something like this. I don't have any experience with that type myself. Glad to see you found us though.

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

I too don't have experience with pellet poopers. Several people here do. Check back often for responses.
Welcome aboard!!

[fireman_pete]

I am now rethinking this cooker and leaning towards a vertical, RF unit that is about 24x36 or 24x40 with 3 shelves. Will make it out of 1.5" tube and fully insulated, with a door that would open up. Any thoughts on a RF pellet feeder?

I want to eliminate the chances of a grease fire as much as possible, so with a RF unit, I can add a water pan to catch the grease.

I appreciate your thoughts and feedback.

Pete

[The Czar]

PM Frank Cox (AKA OB1).....give him a day or so to respond....I bet he can lead you to the path of enlightenment...

[fireman_pete]

Will do, thanks!

[Gizmo]

Welcome Fireman_pete!

Take a look at Eli - he's similar to what you're thinking …
I'm prolly gonna post this link wrong but I'll try…

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=2359

[Gizmo]

Forgot to mention - You could easily put a pellet drive in the service bay and FB from the right side and nobody would know - except maybe DC … and if you feed him enough samples he'll keep his mouth shut.

[fireman_pete]

Ok, I am tired (long day), but sorry Rick, I do not get this at all Help me out!

Forgot to mention - You could easily put a pellet drive in the service bay and FB from the right side and nobody would know - except maybe DC … and if you feed him enough samples he'll keep his mouth shut.

[Gizmo]

I hear you on the long day … I'm prolly not making much sense typing this…

I've converted several pellet drives to other cabinets - Edna and Easybake are a couple on this site. Once you look at those you'll see what I mean. The drive unit could be designed into the cabinet and the pellet hopper enclosed where I put the service bay to the right of the doors on Eli. Clear as mud? The key to your desing will be the thick insulated walls to make the most of the BTU's the firepot is going to put out.

[fireman_pete]

Changed my mind again. Decided I really do not think it needs to be RF, as the fan will assist with moving the heat around. Here is a pic of what I am thinking. The heat will pass along the right and left side of the water pan (about 2 inches on each side. The photo does not show it, but the door would be one piece, that would swing up. I plan to use gas assist shocks to open it and keep it open. The bottom section where the firepot is will not have a door on it, but will be all wrapped and insulated. The open space on the bottom is just that, open air space where the cooker will be mounted to my trailer.

The orange lines are what I figure the heat will do. I think if the heat is traveling along the sides, then the exhaust should be in the middle back....

Let me know what you think.

[The Czar]

Kinda looks like a center feed cooker to me....Rick is your man on this one

And because you have changed your mind again just means your right on track!!

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[Gizmo]

I would suggest your water pan go away - or you'll spend all afternoon just heating up water. Then let your grease collector be the baffle - maybe set a small water pan on it? Pull all the edges of the grease collector in about 2 inches from the side walls all the way around. The open space only needs to be about a half inch tall. Insulate all the walls/floor/ceiling. Put a digital controller/probe on the pellet drive. You should have a large enough fire to deliver the temps you want to cook at. But it is speculation because I don't know your dimensions. When I experimented with the largest version of Edna - the pellet drive and that cabinet maxed out at 310F and she was single wall 14 ga. at about 20,000 total cubic inches. Hope that helps ….

[The Czar]

Awww.....snap.......somebody just got Rickafied!!!

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[fireman_pete]

Thanks Rick for the feedback. The main intent of the water pan was to eliminate the chance for a grease fire. If the grease is going into water, then it cannot burn.

I would be concerned that if the grease tray was the heat baffle, it would get too hot, and start a fire???

The interior dimensions are 40"wx24"d and about 30" tall. Just over 28K cubic inches.

What are the suggestions for thickness of steel for the inside and outside walls? Was hoping I could use 16g for both?

Thanks, and keep the feedback coming!

Pete

I would suggest your water pan go away - or you'll spend all afternoon just heating up water. Then let your grease collector be the baffle - maybe set a small water pan on it? Pull all the edges of the grease collector in about 2 inches from the side walls all the way around. The open space only needs to be about a half inch tall. Insulate all the walls/floor/ceiling. Put a digital controller/probe on the pellet drive. You should have a large enough fire to deliver the temps you want to cook at. But it is speculation because I don't know your dimensions. When I experimented with the largest version of Edna - the pellet drive and that cabinet maxed out at 310F and she was single wall 14 ga. at about 20,000 total cubic inches. Hope that helps ….

[Smokeone]

I have seen many baffles act as the drip pan. Acts kinda like a flavorizer bar on a gas grill. I have not seen grease on the baffle catch fire, without flame contact directly to the grease.

[fireman_pete]

I know that on my traeger, if any substantial amount of grease gets on the heat deflector that is right above the firepot, it will catch fire pretty quick. The grease does not need direct flame contact to ignite, just contact with a surface above 350*.

[Gizmo]

I got a hunch it's going to take everything a single fire-pot can put out to reach a good cook temp in a cabinet that large.

Insulation would help but you're blazing a new trail here from my experience.
16ga. inner wall and 20 ga. outer wall with Roxul insulation in between rated at 2150F.
Make sure your stack has a damper too - helps pool some heat as you go.

I've been dropping grease on the baffle plate (usually covered with foil first) for years - no fires … yet…

[fireman_pete]

Well, only one way to find out if it will work, and that is to build it. Will take a few weeks, but I am going for it. Worst case is I have to either a 2nd fire pot, or remove the third shelf. I am hoping the 1.5" insulation will help alot, and go from there.......Now, I just need to finalize the plan, and get the materials list

[Smokeone]

I can't post the link, but look up the franktronic in pellet builds. It is a cabinet style but it is big and it ran off of 1 pot. He also used am angled baffle to divert grease. No fires in it that I know of.

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[fireman_pete]

Here are a few pics of another larger style cabinet pellet build that I have seen. It is based on a Traeger BBQ125 (Same Size as the traeger 075). Insulated w/1" insulation on the new cabinet. Has 3 shelves, and according to the owner, no problem with 325-350.

[Frank_Cox]

very nice indeed!

[Gizmo]

That's a good looking unit there!

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

I like the looks of that!

[lazylabs]

I built one that is 3'x6' octagon and run it mostly on 1 burner box. I can get around 300 on the side where the burner is running. I actually have two burners but only run both of them when cooking whole hogs. I usually never cook above 225 so only run one. I guess you would really need to decide what max temp your shooting for. Mine is not insulated but it's 3/16" plate.