firebox thickness

[1basenji]

i'm also building a 250 gal smoker. wondering what thickness of steel to use for the firebox. do most use 1/4 ? how about 5/16 or 3/8 ? i've got access to all. besides the weight issue, i didn't know if thicker is better in this case or just over kill. anyone??

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

In my opinion 1/4 is the best bang for the buck.

[Rodcrafter]

If it is free I would use the 3/8" but I always tend to build things that are very heavy. But I only build them once.

[Puff]

My Glacier bay wood stove is about 24" square and except for the cast iron doors is 1/4". The stove is over 27 years old and has had some long long hot fires it it. It is firebrick lined in the floor and 4" of each side but shows no sign of any deterioration or extreme wear...for what it's worth

[1basenji]

thanks for the input, i probably will go with 1/4, possibly a little heavier for the floor. havent decided just yet.

[noXcuse]

Just a little note to think about. You said thicker than 1/4" for the floor. I'm sure all of us on here have some sort of wood rack inside the firebox. I actually bought a wood rack that goes into a fireplace. Heat rises, and outside fresh air gets pulled in and under the fire. The bottom plate on my firebox is 1/8", and I can almost put my hand on it. It gets very warm, but not hot enough to scald you.

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[Frank_Cox]

I build it all out of 1/4" and have never had any issues