MisterChrister
Quintessential Chatty Farker
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2012
- Location
- Wis-con-sin
I scored this puppy for free yesterday. It's a double walled, insulated vessel originally for holding liquid nitrogen. The outer vessel is regular steel, and the inner vessel is stainless (inner dimensions appx 21-3/4" x 40" ID, appx 60 gallons). Due to its age and build specs, it can no longer be retested and certified, and had to be taken out of service, and I saved it from the scrap heap.
The Brethren in me sees a killer insulated smoker. I'll switch the insulation for Roxul/rock wool etc. Basically a simple UDS, top access, no doors etc. It will even take regular Weber kettle grates perfectly! I don't have a UDS anymore, and have been smoking on my kettle, sometimes with my insert for extra capacity (think two rack Cajun Bandit insert). I'd like to have something insulated to save on charcoal, extend burn time, and hold more steady temps; especially during Wisconsin winter months and cold windy days. The capacity would be great for bacon and cold smoking sausage batches etc. I do have another insulated smoker project in my future, but it will be larger, not very portable (I like to smoke out and about with friends/family), and that cooker is longer down the road due to complexity and my limited metal fab abilities. In the meanwhile, this little guy would fill the gap nicely. So what's the problem, you ask?
Brewing. I know that when time is more available I'm going to be interested in brewing. Will I later regret hacking this up to make a smoker once I get into brewing? I've been texting with fantomlord/Matt who does a fair amount of brewing and knows his chit. He pointed out that most home brewers do 5 gallon vessels, with occasional 15s for the big boys, and that this is likely overkill for most people. I think he's right, although a part of me would love to brew huge batches so I'm not constantly having to start a new one (I DO like beer!).
What say ye, brethren?
The Brethren in me sees a killer insulated smoker. I'll switch the insulation for Roxul/rock wool etc. Basically a simple UDS, top access, no doors etc. It will even take regular Weber kettle grates perfectly! I don't have a UDS anymore, and have been smoking on my kettle, sometimes with my insert for extra capacity (think two rack Cajun Bandit insert). I'd like to have something insulated to save on charcoal, extend burn time, and hold more steady temps; especially during Wisconsin winter months and cold windy days. The capacity would be great for bacon and cold smoking sausage batches etc. I do have another insulated smoker project in my future, but it will be larger, not very portable (I like to smoke out and about with friends/family), and that cooker is longer down the road due to complexity and my limited metal fab abilities. In the meanwhile, this little guy would fill the gap nicely. So what's the problem, you ask?
Brewing. I know that when time is more available I'm going to be interested in brewing. Will I later regret hacking this up to make a smoker once I get into brewing? I've been texting with fantomlord/Matt who does a fair amount of brewing and knows his chit. He pointed out that most home brewers do 5 gallon vessels, with occasional 15s for the big boys, and that this is likely overkill for most people. I think he's right, although a part of me would love to brew huge batches so I'm not constantly having to start a new one (I DO like beer!).
What say ye, brethren?