Gravity fed charcoal offset...

[PetesMeat]

Hi Everyone,

Went to visit someone today and he had a really neat gravity fed charcoal fired smoker, similar to a fast eddy in size and shape, but with a gravity fed burner he runs on heat beads.

Ive just started welding up the cooking chamber for my smoker and im thinking, its not too late to turn that into a gravity fed. I really love the idea of the gravity fed, just fill it up and leave it. The finished unit would be smaller and by all accounts, they burn for hours and hours. My thought is I could just build the firebox assembly onto one end of the smoker, maybe as a separate unit for easy removal.

My question is, is there any disadvantage to this system? I dont see any section on the forum here for gravity fed smokers, are they not that popular?

Also all the gravity fed smokers ive seen have been an upright type design, whereas mine would be more of a traditional reverse flow type design. Would this even work, or would there not be enough heat? Im wondering how big id have to make the chute the charocoal comes down and how big the burning area would need to be.


All good questions. Whats the prognosis, what do people think about these smokers?

Pete.

[PetesMeat]

Like this

[Gizmo]

I don't think the chute capacity/fire size would be too compatible with an offset personally. That gravity fed option works great in a cabinet style that can be heated with a smaller fire core though… like a stumps … just my personal opinion….

[Frank_Cox]

I always say, it's just metal... build it and see how it works!

[Rodcrafter]

It sounds like to me it would work but it would require a FB for the burning charcoal probably about 10" square, use a 15 to 25 CFM fan system to keep the temp up, then the chute would need to taper up to about 6" with an over all height of 5'. That should hold enough fuel to burn 4 or 6 hours. I would say this CC should be thick if not insulated, and maybe under a cover so the rain wouldn't shut it down if it started. That is just guessing because I haven't done it, but from what I've learned.

jm2cw

[PetesMeat]

I was thinking id make the chute hit of 5x5 steel box or similar and run it, if it only lasts four hours il make it taller!

I'm also hoping if the draw is strong enough it wouldn't need a fan.... I might make the burner first and make it a separate item and bolt it on, so if it turns out not to work I can take it off and hide it somewhere.

Pete

[El Gato]

hide it somewhere

NOW THAT IS FUNNY!!!!