80 Gallon Bid for Excellence

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 23rd, 2013, 8:21 pm

Alright guys. I picked up a tank from a car/boat pick that we did at work. the pick can be seen here
(I shot the video so I'm not seen in it LOL)

It came out of a an old chevrolet dealership and was too good of a tank to let slip away. It looks like an air tank and is probably 60-80 gallons. I turned right around and picked up a small trailer frame from the Harbor Freight and another 80 gallon air tank off craigslist. A quick trip to the steel store for some angle, box and expanded metal and here I sit the night before sparks fly. I've been reading the crap out of this site trying to stabilize my thoughts and understanding of what "needs" to happen, so that I can figure out which things I "want" to happen that I can do and still end up with a working smoker.
After a mind numbing series of studying, I "think" I'm going with the center feed reverse flow idea. It seems to fit the bill. One of the guys in the shop is helping me work on this thing, and he's a heckuva welder. The downside is that he knows nothing about cooking or more importantly smoking meat. So it comes down to him having the metal working knowledge and me needing to have memorized this entire site to answer critical questions while we work. no problem right? After being overwhelmed for most of the last two weeks and fretting over getting this right. Tomorrow we cut metal. While I still have million questions unanswered, i do feel better about the key dimension and functionality areas.
So there. We're going to try a reverse flow idea. Basically Two 80 gallon tanks and some steel to work with along with the very limited knowledge I've gathered from this great site. I know FB is 30% or more of the Cook Chamber,and the FB fresh air intake is calculated area. I think the FB>CC throat is calculated based on actual chamber sizes, I think I know that the space under the BP should closely match that throat opening but not be smaller. I think that the two BP exits should equal at least the FB>CC throat size. I think that the cooking grate should be 5-6 inches above the BP and finally that the stack is calculated.
Whew. so much stuff to remember. I hope the dang thing works LOL
Will post pictures after day one.

DUAYNE B · Post by **DUAYNE B** » August 24th, 2013, 8:39 am

Sounds like someone got the bug to build. Thats awesome shoow some pics when ya can

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » August 25th, 2013, 5:28 am

Huntfishgrill it sounds like you got most of the critical values figured out …..

Don't forget to take pics and have fun!

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 25th, 2013, 8:41 pm

Well, we put in a solid 10 hours saturday and 8 hours today. I took plenty of pics. We got the CC and FB mounted on a built trailer, rolling. We got the doors cut and that was the last thing we did. I trailered it home since i couldn't leave it at the shop during the week. It's looking pretty awesome. I have some new questions, primarily when I should burn it out or if sand blasting will cover that need? I'm going to throw some highlights of the build up in minute.

Smokeone · Post by **Smokeone** » August 25th, 2013, 9:07 pm

Sounds like your moving right along.

Sandblasting would take care of it, but I would build a fire in it just for good measure.

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 25th, 2013, 9:27 pm

: Two tanks and a dream. 80 and 60 gallon. 80/propane and 60 air tank.

: Removing brackets and welding up bungs. wayyyy more work than it looks like LOL

: Removing brackets and welding up bungs. wayyyy more work than it looks like LOL

: Removing brackets and welding up bungs. wayyyy more work than it looks like LOL

: Removing brackets and welding up bungs. wayyyy more work than it looks like LOL

: We cut down the 60 gallon to be 130% of the required firebox volume. worked like a champ.

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 25th, 2013, 9:34 pm

: We quickly realized that the small trailer in the background wasn't long enough (or awesome enough) so we layed out some tube to get a solid base.

: based on the solid designs I saw on here, we decided simple would be strong and best.

: Mocked up based on predetermined height measurements. now we scoot it around and try to get good center of gravity for trailering.

: mocked up with the firebox. now we're seeing this thing for the first time.

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 25th, 2013, 9:38 pm

: Here's where it got rowdy. My buddy (rock crawler fab experience) wanted to break out the pipe bender.

: It started with two braces on the back side to bridge to the firebox which we used fitted gussets under.

: It started with two braces on the back side to bridge to the firebox which we used fitted gussets under.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » August 25th, 2013, 9:43 pm

Good pics !!!! The Czar is pleased...

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 25th, 2013, 9:44 pm

: ... and then this happened. Why not add the same bent tube supports on the inside and leave it free-floating? I was a skeptic and he was determined to prove me wrong.

: TGIForklift. Moving this thing to the floor.

: TGIForklift. Moving this thing to the floor. another good look at it.

: Finishing the welds from the bottom.

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 25th, 2013, 10:00 pm

: We made quick work of attaching the rolling gear from the harbor freight trailer. had a slight track width issue that we will fix on the next round.

: We used the shear to make some fences and tacked them to the tank on the laid out door lines.

: Even we were surprised how good the plasma cut looked. so we stopped and snapped a shot.

: plasma cutting the door opening following our fence for a nice clean cut.

: plasma cutting the door opening following our fence for a nice clean cut.

: plasma cutting the door opening following our fence for a nice clean cut.

: wham bam... you know the rest. This very scientific door opening size (small pig guesstimate) looks awesome! That fence was easy to tack in and absolutely rocked the straight edge.

: rinse, lather and repeat for the firebox.

: rinse, lather and repeat for the firebox.

: Bolted the coupler back onto the still stock tongue channel and towed it home for the week.

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 25th, 2013, 10:12 pm

So obviously all the technical bits for cooking are yet to be done. We have solid numbers for the FB throat, BP and stack. All of that and some storage baskets will have to be another weekend. I think I will be able to get this thing sand blasted for a decent price too, so that's good. Whew.... I'm whooped. Shouldn't have any trouble sleeping tonight.

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » August 26th, 2013, 6:45 am

Dang nice work there! Looking good.

Just a thought … think about enclosing the storage on the FB side of the trailer and leaving it open (exp. steel?) on the CC side. That way you'll help with the side-to-side balance…. fwiw

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 26th, 2013, 7:46 am

Yes! We are ciphering all kinds of simple and complicated storage options. I REALLY worried over trailer balance this whole dang time, both for tongue load and center of gravity. When I towed it home last night it pulled like a champion, even with me swerving and hitting bumps etc to see what would happen. Since we moved the CC towards the center one last time before locking her down, I think it made a huge handling difference. It is high off the ground 38" to the bottom of the CC, but didn't feel at all crazy or unstable.
So far We have plans for a wood basket, a cooler tray on the rear and one other general purpose basket in the free space. Probably will just lay expanded metal and braces on whatever space is left for general work surfaces. For $85 a sheet 2nds, we are using that crap dangit!

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » August 26th, 2013, 7:49 am

Glad to hear you aren't fighting the weight arrangement. I can tell you from experience that is is nice having a little weatherproof storage on there somewhere….

Clover Ridge Smokers · Post by **Clover Ridge Smokers** » August 26th, 2013, 6:55 pm

Great looking build. Can't wait to see this one come together.

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 26th, 2013, 7:57 pm

Wrestling now trying to work a two part trip to the sandblaster arranged, so we can get back to the fab work and get this thing puffing smoke!

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 26th, 2013, 9:10 pm

ordered 1/2"nomex kit from smokerplans tonight, so that's one more thing off the list. By the way where exactly should you consider putting the thermometer? I bought a 3" dial RC-T3W a few weeks ago before finding this site, and now i need to figure out where to mount it.

mofomatic · Post by **mofomatic** » August 26th, 2013, 10:26 pm

looks good. i like the center feed.

more pics

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » August 26th, 2013, 11:19 pm

Put that 'T'-gauge right smack in the middle of the CC door

Post by **Rodcrafter** » August 27th, 2013, 7:28 am

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 27th, 2013, 8:22 pm

10.04 on right smack in the middle of the door! Now if i can get this dang thing sandblasted this week maybe we can get down to finishing it.
So on calculating the two end BP exits. you take the round measurement and for every inch you back up multiply that times the length of the bend until you get half each exit the total BP exit area you're looking for? yeah i know.... but how do you calculate that exit area?

Gizmo · Post by **Gizmo** » August 28th, 2013, 5:37 am

I forgot if you're making end plates for the main BP so you can adjust the gaps but here's a thought …

Recommended throat opening X 1.15 = total gap
Total gap/2 = each end gap.

Start about there and I bet you'll be close enough to cook with ease.
Diddle with it over the next few cooks then weld it down once you achieve "well-behaved-repeatability with all the planets in alignment" …

That advice and 4 dollars will get you one of those fancy cups of coffee….

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 28th, 2013, 3:07 pm

so the recommended FB throat times 1.15 and then cut that in half for each end exit of the BP ?
got it!
so just tack in the ends to adjust until satisfied?

huntfishgrill · Post by **huntfishgrill** » August 28th, 2013, 3:09 pm

Oh yeah, and the answer to the BP thought is: I am not planning on adjustable plates, but would like to get it locked in and roll with it if that's possible?

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