Another Compressor build...

[jaybird302]

Ok gents,
I've finally been making some headway on my smoker. I've posted these pics in another thread, but for the sake of simplicity I'll repost them here as well.

Here are the details. It's a 60 gal air compressor that is 3/16"thick. I've cut the end bells off and will use those in other projects at a later date. So, I'm left with a 20" dia pipe at 35" long. The fire box is a piece of 3/8" pipe that it 16" dia by 19-3/4" long. I've been scrounging parts for some time and finally have most of what I need to proceed. This is a reverse flow build so one of the things I've been searching for is a sheet of 1/4" plate to use to cap the ends of the CC, FB and use for the baffle plate. Here comes a question for you expereienced guys. My father-in-law is a retired sheet metal worker that still has a good relationship with his old shop. He told me he'd go by and see if they had some 1/4" drop that he could get for me. Today he came by with all my required dimensions except it's all in 3/16". Now, I had my mind made up that I needed 1/4", and I kinda still do, but the 3/16" is here and it's cheaper than what I'd have to pay to get a full sheet of 1/4" from my local supplier. So, you guy's tell me... Should I get over it and use what I have now, or am I justified in needing 1/4"? The tank ends is not a big concern, but the FB and baffle plate are my main issues.

[jaybird302]

More pics...

[Rodcrafter]

I would say you will be fine using 3/16" for the FB since it is small. I would say if you frame the door and the door opening with angle iron it shouldn't warp too much, and you would be fine. You may want to just lay another piece of it on the BP for the first 12" away from the FB so it wouldn't have a hot spot there being the closest spot to the FB.

jm2cw

[jaybird302]

So I was looking at the pieces he brought me a bit closer. One is 3/16", the other is 1/4". So that's pretty cool. I have enough to do either the baffle plate or the FB end caps, but not both... Which do you guys think would be better? I'm leaning toward using it on the FB in order to hold the heat better. Anyway, thanks for the advice.

Jay

[Gizmo]

Having a piece of 3/16 pipe for a CC and capping it with 3/16 balances the whole thing as even heat retention everywhere.

Earl's FB is all 3/16 and I KNOW I had 800F in it yesterday with no warp indicated.

The only 2 jobs the BP has is to force smoke to travel all the way across the grate to reach the stack - adding smoke flavor as it goes. The other job is to absorb (conductive) heat and then re-radiate it to even out temps across the grate and make for a more stable cooking environment. I.E. the extra mass of the 1/4 will do your entire system more good as a BP than an end cap.

RC makes a good point about the potential hot spot - another alternative would be to put a 3/16 shadow plate UNDER the 1/4 inch BP if 3/16 is easier to come by - hardly any chance for a hot spot.

So I would recommend 3/16 on the ends and 1/4 for the BP.

but that's just me

[Rev.Mike]

[jaybird302]

Gizmo, you have a really good point. Thank you.

[Rodcrafter]

Since you have some 1/4" plate, if you have enough to also allow it to be the top of the FB as an extension of the BP (considering you will do as Gizmo said) you will be glad you did, since it gets hotter than any other place on the cooker.

[jaybird302]

Headin' over to my buddies house to get everything cut out tonight, he's got a plasma cutter. This should be fun! I'll put pics up tonight when I get home.

Jay

[Rodcrafter]

You know we are interested right?

[jaybird302]

You know we are interested right?

Glad to hear it! However, it was after midnight when I got home. I didn't even unload the 4runner.... I took a shower and went to bed. I'll put up some this evening so I can prove it happened.

[jaybird302]

Here we go.... I now have plenty of grinding to do...

[Big T]

looks like you're off to a good start

[jaybird302]

Well, as it turns out, my father-in-law did not bring me enough metal. The 3/16" yielded me enough to cut the CC ends with some left over, and the 1/4" was enough to cut the FB ends out of or the baffle plate, but not both. So, I opted for the FB ends so I could move forward with the build. I figured I can add the BP at a later time. We shall see how it goes.

Jay

[Big T]

That's sounds like the right move, you can add the BP later on.

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

[jaybird302]

Got a little more done tonight. Fitted theFB end plate that mates to the CC and welded it up. It looked like the business end of a mule, so I went after it with a grinder....... A lot of grinding... Anyway, got it all purdy'd up and then welded the stack up. This thing is going to be stupid heavy when it's done. I guess I won't have to worry about someone trying to swipe it out of my back yard. Anyway, the proof is in the pics.

Jay

[bluecatfish]

Making progress!

[bstory]

I really like the square stack don't you? I have been doing my cutting with an angle grinder and didn't this I goo get a goo round cut so I opted for square and really liked it

[bluecatfish]

That square stack will look really sharp.

[Rev.Mike]

[jaybird302]

I'm digging the square stack, the best part is that the tube was a freebie!

[Rodcrafter]

Very nice! The best part is the "Q" but the free stuff is hard to beat for sure.

[bluecatfish]

The square tube being a freebie makes it look even sharper!

[jaybird302]

Ok guys, I'm cutting my baffle plate right now and wanted to make sure that I'm not way off on my plan. My CC is 35"L and 20"D. I've cut my BP to 17" wide and am thinking 30"L. I have enough metal to toss a piece in it for tuning purposes. Am I ok going this route? Thanks guys.

Jay