Aluminum Smoker

[Capozzoli]

Why not?

Im thinking of making the cabinet for that trailer smoker out of 1/4" aluminum plate.

[CarolinaQue]

How are you going to connect the 2? The thing I don't like about the aluminum concept is that it's much more likely to warp because of the expansion and contraction of heat.

[Capozzoli]

Weld the sheared plates together with high frequency TIG welding.

I would make the fire box out of steel. Grates out of SS. cabinet and doors all out of aluminum.

With steel so high I think it is actually less then steel plate. If not it is not that much more being that the price is weight based.

I just want to fit a lot of smoker on a 1700 lb trailer.

I think the warpage factor may be controllable. Aluminum doesn't warp that much anyways.

[NorthwestBBQ]

Why not? Thermal dynamics - the Al will dissipate the heat too fast. If it worked everyone would be doing it.

[Capozzoli]

Really?

Cant be much more than steel. Aluminum conducts the heat so well. It actually holds heat when I work with it. Holds it much longer then steel.

You can get burnt with a hot piece of aluminum twenty mins. later.

[NorthwestBBQ]

OK, I think you should try it. However, in my mind Al gets cooler much faster than steel. There must be a reason for it or all of the big pit guys (backwoods, stumps, spicewine, superior, etc.) would be doing it and smokers would weigh 100 pounds instead of 600.

[HeSmellsLikeSmoke]

I used a PK (Ozark Oven) cast aluminum smoker/grill for many years as did my dad and FIL. There was some warpage from very high heat grilling, but no overall problems.

Seems to me that you have a good idea.

[CarolinaQue]

Originally Posted by Capozzoli

Weld the sheared plates together with high frequency TIG welding.

I would make the fire box out of steel. Grates out of SS. cabinet and doors all out of aluminum.

With steel so high I think it is actually less then steel plate. If not it is not that much more being that the price is weight based.

I just want to fit a lot of smoker on a 1700 lb trailer.

I think the warpage factor may be controllable. Aluminum doesn't warp that much anyways.

So the whole thing is going to be aluminum? I was thinking that you were going to add aluminum to an existing mild steel cooker, which requires a high impact welding process and one not very easy or cheap to do.

[NorthwestBBQ]

Originally Posted by CarolinaQue

So the whole thing is going to be aluminum? I was thinking that you were going to add aluminum to an existing mild steel cooker, which requires a high impact welding process and one not very easy or cheap to do.

You cannot do this on a small, cheap scale, but it can be bolted together.

[Capozzoli]

OOOOh yeah, that would be explosion welding. Awesome. Thats how they make the clad metal for the bottom of pans.

Im gonna build a smoker on one of those little 4'x8' utility trailers. Those trailers only have a 1700 lb capacity.

I want to make an aluminum cabinet to serve as a smoking chamber. Picture a 30" deep 96" long 48" high cabinet with double doors. A steel fire box along the back of the cabinet made form 1/4 steel plate. then three or four smoke pipes and dampers attaching the two boxes between.

[RevZiLLa]

This could work!

[Capozzoli]

I dont know why they dont do it. I have been doing some figuring. You are right, there is a much greater diffusivity from aluminum compared to steel. But the conductivity is much greater too. so If there is a fire in the box the aluminum will stay readily hot as it conducts the heat from the fire.

I think any heat loss would be negligible. Also,insulating isn't out of the question though I would like to avoid it.

There are some aluminum smoker sout there there is one that is a trailer and it is electric with a pan to smolder wood. I cant remeber the name of it though. Its pretty cool, but I am a wood only guy.

Im not sure why all the big guys dont so some aluminum. Maybe because its real hard to find a good aluminum welder, and if you can find one they want a lot of money. Maybe there is another reason.

[NorthwestBBQ]

OK, I have been scouring the Internet for answers, and the consensus is that Steel holds the heat while Aluminum dissipates it.

[Capozzoli]

Ive been looking too. Im finding the jury is still out.

I could always go 3/8" aluminum and still be lighter then 1/8" steel. No way 3/8" aluminum dissipates heat more then 1/8" steel.

Plus with the aluminum having so much thermal conductivity it will transfer heat evenly. Thats why they make pots and other types of cookware out of aluminum.

If dissipation is a problem it will most likely just increase fuel consumption. Not really effect the cooking.

[NorthwestBBQ]

Something else to consider, Aluminum is approximately 1/3 the molecular density of steel.