275 gal fuel oil tank RF smoker

[dwwantasmoker]

Rustoleum it is thanks to all.
Another question I seen another thread on the maverick 732 is there any other one's to consider?

[Rodcrafter]

Not in my opinion, the thing is there are many to choose from, but they either have only one probe or only one unit. The 732 has 2 of both, it works well and doesn't cost a fortune. I have a couple of them, for the money I believe they are the best.

imho

[Smokeone]

[dwwantasmoker]

Here is more progress on THE SMOKE TANKER.

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[SmokinFF]

[Rev.Mike]

[dwwantasmoker]

She should have smoke rolling this after noon!

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More pics later of final product.

[dwwantasmoker]

I'm not sure how or if I can move this hole thread but I'm not sure if its in the right place? If it can be moved to RF could some on advise me on how to do this.

Thanks.

[jafo28]

[Clover Ridge Smokers]

Your wish is my command.....I moved the thread to RF Smokers.

[dwwantasmoker]

IT Will BE ! Happy new year. Smoke Tank will be rolling smoke tomorrow

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[dwwantasmoker]

O Thanks clover ridge smokers. That was easy, I now wish for some smoked Prime rib! and i'll save my third wish for later

[Puff]

So it's 3 minutes to midnight and your posting pics....cool!

[dwwantasmoker]

Yep had to hurry at midnight my princess turned 10 yrs old to her she helped me paint the tank.

[SmokinFF]

Turned out lookin sharp, now let's see some smoke and Q.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bluecatfish]

I like the finished product! I put my bet on it doing a great job of smoking!

[vizion]

Thats one nice looking smoker... I had two of these tanks once and wanted to make a smoker out of them but unfortunatly they fell victim to a tornado... Any way enjoyed watching the build... Nice work

[Rodcrafter]

Reasons to party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dwwantasmoker]

Thanks, for all the happy birthdays from Meg. We fired it up today pics later.
I used 2 lit chimneys of Kingsford blue 2 chimneys unlit with in 15 min it was at 225, in thirty min 400. that is with all the dampers wide open. at 45 min I added 2 splits of hickory and left the dampers open and it continued to climb, at 600 I shut down the dampers and brought it back down to 450 then opened the dampers up about half way and it leveled out. good news is I can control the temps easily.


Next question is when I let it burn for a while at 275 and I added 2 splits it began to roll jet black smoke for about 2 mins then cleared up. 45 mins later I added 2 more splits it did the same thing every time I added wood. The wood is cured and dry? The temp out side was 14 deg but by late after noon it was 29 deg so outside temp didn't seem to mater. The inside of the cooker is coated with black soot Any help would be greaaaatly appreciated!

[Big T]

It sounds like too much fuel and not enough air to ignite it.

[dwwantasmoker]

So should I and only one split at a time and what is the magic number on temp drop when I should add wood?

[Big T]

I'm just guessing here but you might try leaving the FB door cracked open just long enough to get your splits flaming. After they start up you should be able to close the door and not have to adjust your dampers.

[Gizmo]

Short answer:

Big T has you pointed in the right direction - allow plenty of air to the fire so the wood will ignite just as soon as it can - once ignited the temp spikes and the black smoke will clear out fast. HOW fast - comes with practice.

Long answer:

I'm going to guess the initial ignition point for hickory to be around 1100F.
Okay I agree - I don't know what I'm talking about because I've never tried to measure hickory's ignition point but it just sounds about right so bear with me.

In your example the wood must transition from 14 to 29F up to 1100F. While the wood is absorbing BTU's it's sort of just "scorching" - it's not burning yet. (the BTU reference is there for Frank's benefit)

The black smoke is a stage the new split is at and will exist for a few seconds every time you add wood. Nature is a mother. It's unavoidable but it can be minimized and here's a few observations I've made over the past 40 years:

You may have heard of pitmasters warming their wood on top of the firebox before they throw it in so it is closer to it's ignition point. ……. okay that came out wrong …. but it does help.

If I want to make MORE black smoke then I can add a new split I just pulled out of the snowbank I call my wood pile.
Instead, pull an armload out of the snowdrift a couple days before you cook and let it thaw in a trash bag in the heated mud room. I think frozen wood prolongs the black smoke so I like to at least get some of the ice out of it. One of those cheap plastic patio boxes the department stores are selling is great to keep dry wood in. Be careful around them in bitter cold - they get brittle.

Bark is great at making black smoke. When I throw in a split I always try for - BARK SIDE UP - sort of like laying sod - GREEN SIDE UP. The core wood against the fire will light and get very hot before the bark side and push the bark through the 'bad zone" quicker.

In BBQ competition it's common to cook at one temp for one cut of meat and then change to another temp for a different meat. I try to add wood when the fire is building or stabilized - not being starved and decaying. Like Big T said - let it have the air …..

That's all I got ….

[dwwantasmoker]

BigT, thanks for the input.

Gizmo, I should have stopped at your short answer its to early in the morning for me! But I see what you and BigT are saying I should have told you that the wood was kept in my shop at 63 deg. but I still under stand that it is still to cold.
So I will try to warm my splits on the firebox and leave the door open until it gets burning. I have never run an RF before or tried to smoke anything with wood in the winter so once again thanks for all the help. I will probably not be able to try again until next weekend it's snowing and we are expecting 14 in and the temps are falling. they say by Tuesday -2 deg with an wind chill of -40 deg.

[Smokeone]

I have also left my fire basket stick out of the FB after adding splits, for a bit, then it gets plenty O air.
You know I would demonstrate but I have the same weather here, so NOT!