Introduction

RouletteRun · Post by **RouletteRun** » August 4th, 2016, 9:19 pm

Hi, Everybody!

I'm a long time smoker but I'm currently working on my first smoker build and learning to weld at the same time. I've been making pretty good progress working on my 275 gallon fuel oil tank (oval) smoker, a lot of what I've learned to this point has been learned on YouTube and a little trial and error but to this point I haven't ruined any large pieces of good steel and my welds are looking pretty decent for a noob using flux-core. I'm using flux-core primarily because my build is being done outside as I don't have access to a garage or other indoor area to use as a shop. To this point, I've built my own hinges, cut the top hatch and two opposing doors on the front of the smoker welded on the 1/8" x 1 1/2" flat steel borders on all the doors, as well as welded in some reinforcing steel (3/4" angle) at the top inside of the hatch on the hinge side and a piece of 2" x 1" C-channel between the top hatch and the front doors I just did tonight.

I've only today really begun investigating this site and something that is intriguing me is a little bit of what I've read regarding firebox size because I had no clue there's a proper firebox size for a smoker, I can understand it needing to be sufficiently big enough to feed the cooking chamber and I had planned on building mine 24" h x 24" w x 29" d. I've also been reading about the throat size and the area below the baffle and other considerations I really thought would, for the most part, be controlled by the damper on the stack. I guess I've got a lot to learn before I move too much further along.

I look forward to joining in on some discussions.

forty_creek · Post by **forty_creek** » August 4th, 2016, 10:22 pm

Welcome!
Firebox size is very important for offset and RF. Enter your cooking chamber dimensions into the SmokerBuilder calculator. You want 105-115% on your FB size.
Good luck!

Drankin, Smokin and Dreamin

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Post by **Pete Mazz** » August 5th, 2016, 4:50 am

Welcome!

Post by **Rodcrafter** » August 5th, 2016, 6:05 am

Welcome to the crew.
In my experience the stack damper is the last adjustment, the air intakes in the FB are first. But the first thing really is learning fire size and control

Making memories.

Dirtytires · Post by **Dirtytires** » August 5th, 2016, 10:47 am

Welcome....the information here is real world. Most of the guys here have actual experience building pits. Ask the question so you don't make the same mistake we did!

Play with the calculator....it will give you the throat size, stack size and firebox size....all important to be of proper dimensions if you want your pit to be easy and fun to cook on. Get them wrong and plan on fighting your cooker every time you light a fire in it.

Rev.Mike · Post by **Rev.Mike** » August 5th, 2016, 6:43 pm

Post by **Big T** » August 5th, 2016, 7:56 pm

Squiggle · Post by **Squiggle** » August 6th, 2016, 4:37 am

Post by **Tom_Heath** » August 6th, 2016, 12:28 pm

Welcome to the site. Sounds like you have a good start but definitely check out the calculator for the firebox and throat sizes

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temurf · Post by **temurf** » August 7th, 2016, 7:43 pm

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » August 9th, 2016, 7:41 pm

Welcome

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Introduction

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