smoker build(help appreciated)

[timmy7649]

my plan was to make this a direct heat(like the uds concept). but i'm not sure if it will work? so i come here to years and years of experience.

1. will it work
2. how big should the intake and exuast ports be
3. should i just go with a side fire box

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thanks for all the advice in advance!!

[dodgeramsst2003]

I suppose you could make it into a direct heat smoker, but it will only work well if you can get that door sealed up well enough. Personally I think it would make a better offset, but to each there own. At any rate, keep us posted on the build!

[txschutte]

In the Roadmap to Qtalk thread, there's an awesome spreadsheet for figuring firebox, intake, and exhaust sizes. Give it a try!

[hardy02ttu]

Whatever you decide to do im sure it will work great. You may want to check out Norcoredneck's trailer smoker thread for a good idea if you want to make it an offset. keep us posted on your progress.

[Jeff S.]

I built a large 42 x 60 horizontal drum smoker just this last winter. I set it up for a full fire grate just incase I wanted to cook hot and fast. The grate slide out one side, near the bottom for cleaning.

I also built a basket that would hold 20 lbs of charcoal and placed it on the fire grate near the fire grate door for when I wanted to cook low and slow.

I found that with a good seal on the doors, I could smoke low and slow for 5-6 hours on around 10 pounds of charcoal. I stole the intake from the UDS guys and used a 1 inch ball valve to fine tune my temps.

I also had a six inch adjustable inlet for the hot cooks.

I used the spread sheet that has been mentioned to size my stacks, I had one at both ends, extended down to grate level. The thing cooked like a dream after a little tweaking. For the hot cooks, I opened both stacks, and when cooking in direct, I would open the stack on the other end

I should have some pics here somewhere if your interested.

Good luck on your build!

[Chef Country]

looks like it would make a good offset to me, and you could get a lot more food space making it an offset

[timmy7649]

Originally Posted by Daddy's Butt Rub

I built a large 42 x 60 horizontal drum smoker just this last winter. I set it up for a full fire grate just incase I wanted to cook hot and fast. The grate slide out one side, near the bottom for cleaning.

I also built a basket that would hold 20 lbs of charcoal and placed it on the fire grate near the fire grate door for when I wanted to cook low and slow.

I found that with a good seal on the doors, I could smoke low and slow for 5-6 hours on around 10 pounds of charcoal. I stole the intake from the UDS guys and used a 1 inch ball valve to fine tune my temps.

I also had a six inch adjustable inlet for the hot cooks.

I used the spread sheet that has been mentioned to size my stacks, I had one at both ends, extended down to grate level. The thing cooked like a dream after a little tweaking. For the hot cooks, I opened both stacks, and when cooking in direct, I would open the stack on the other end

I should have some pics here somewhere if your interested.

Good luck on your build!

i would love to see pictures of it. thanks.

[Jeff S.]

I found a couple of the first pics, shows you how I did the full grate and the fire door

http://s968.photobucket.com/albums/a...moker%20Build/

Rounding up the later pics and the finished build. Sold this one for 2000 when it was all done. Hated to do it, but the wife told me I couldnt start another till I got this one out of the driveway.

Here is a link to a bucket album with a bunch more photos in it. Sorry for the link and not the direct post, but I have worked 24 hours in the last 30 something and am dog tired. Looks like page four has a bunch

http://s968.photobucket.com/albums/ae162/DaddysButtRub/

[Chef Country]

I made my grates in 3 sections so its easyer to handle to take out if needed, i built an angle iron frame around the inside of my smoker about 1/2 in under the door so nothing dripped out the door and just cut some expended metal for the grates, the expanded metal has to be reenforced in thirds in my smoker so i just made 3 grates instead of one big one i will try and get some pics of it also

[Southern Home Boy]

For something that big, I'd go offset too. One of the Brethren (sorry I can't remember who - maybe they'll chime in...) did a smaller, horizontal tank build with the fire box directly under the cooking chamber instead of offset. It looks kick azz, (awesome paint job helps) but the really neat thing is that it seems to make more sense from a "heat rises" perspective. You not only get heat and smoke in from the inlets, but you get radiant heat as well.

A rectangular 1/4" steel firebox directly under the cooking chamber lined with firebrick splits and sealed tighter 'n a frog's butt seems like it'd be one heck of a cooker...

[timmy7649]

Originally Posted by Daddy's Butt Rub

I found a couple of the first pics, shows you how I did the full grate and the fire door

http://s968.photobucket.com/albums/a...moker%20Build/

Rounding up the later pics and the finished build. Sold this one for 2000 when it was all done. Hated to do it, but the wife told me I couldnt start another till I got this one out of the driveway.

Here is a link to a bucket album with a bunch more photos in it. Sorry for the link and not the direct post, but I have worked 24 hours in the last 30 something and am dog tired. Looks like page four has a bunch

http://s968.photobucket.com/albums/ae162/DaddysButtRub/

thanks for the links. they look great. go drink a beer and pass out for a day. that is way too much work. but thanks again for the help.

[jestridge]

I have built several of this type smoker they really work good , You can also use them as a grill getting to 500F is no problem with this type of smoker also use very little wood/

[timmy7649]

Originally Posted by jestridge

I have built several of this type smoker they really work good , You can also use them as a grill getting to 500F is no problem with this type of smoker also use very little wood/

nice! what did you use for a fire box? how hard was it to get the door sealed?

[Southern Home Boy]

Originally Posted by jestridge

I have built several of this type smoker they really work good , You can also use them as a grill getting to 500F is no problem with this type of smoker also use very little wood/

Not the one I was thinking of, but same basic idea.

It was Porcinepirate that made this one that really got my attention:


Like I said... a snazzy paint job and a bit of chrome do wonders for an image, but that's all "lipstick and rouge". The basic concept of the firebox under the cooking chamber just seems logical to me.

[timmy7649]

me too!