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Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking. |
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07-08-2011, 12:12 PM | #1 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 12-14-10
Location: Orangevale California
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Aluminum Smoker Build?
Awhile ago fellow brethren Capozzoli posted this thread that got me thinking
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=108247 Is it feasible to make a smoker out of Aluminum? Then I ran across this and the price was right at Free! It is a traffic signal box and it is all aluminum. One guy loaded it in this truck by himself. Now I just got my hands on this and have not even started to think about plans, but I thought I would start here to see what say you. Ideas, Suggestions, telling me I am out of my mind, all welcomed. The Mrs. will probably take care of the last one when I tell her.
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07-08-2011, 12:29 PM | #2 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 06-26-09
Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA
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I didn't know Tesco made aluminum boxes, very interesting. I thought all their stuff was thin to medium gauge stainless steel. Either way, lots of potential there. I think one thing that comes to mind right away is that aluminum is a great conductor of heat, but, a poor holder of heat. You will probably want to consider that aspect of your build.
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07-08-2011, 12:48 PM | #3 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 04-14-04
Location: Choctaw, OK
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I can think of a couple of pit fires I had that woulda scared chit outta me if my pit had been aluminum!
I'd check the melting point and all that before going for it. YMMV
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07-08-2011, 12:59 PM | #4 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 07-01-11
Location: Arizona
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Now...if you could score some heat shield tiles off a soon to be obsolete space shuttle you'd have an out-of-this-world cooker
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07-08-2011, 01:00 PM | #5 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 06-26-09
Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA
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Chad, you thinking of using a gas burner for this one too?
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07-08-2011, 05:37 PM | #6 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 05-10-06
Location: Overland Fark, KS
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You might want to make sure it is pure aluminum and not coated with anything. OTher than that, if they make aluminum pans you put directly on a fire, I can't see any reason you can't have an aluminum smoker. Aluminum melting point is over 1200*F
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07-08-2011, 06:02 PM | #7 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 06-23-10
Location: NorCal
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If it's aluminum it will most likely be anodized. I would keep it as the outer shell of an insulated smoker and make the inner chamber out of carbon steel then either make it gravity feed or split the front door and make the bottom the fire box. Whatever you do, that's one hell of a score
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07-08-2011, 06:09 PM | #8 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 05-23-11
Location: South, Texas
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By the pic's, it looks more like thin stainless steel.
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07-08-2011, 06:31 PM | #9 | |
Found some matches.
Join Date: 07-05-11
Location: Springfield, MO
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Quote:
It looks pretty shiny in a couple of areas to be anodized but I can't imagine one guy loading it if it was indeed stainless. The hardware, handles, and support plates are probably stainless and there is visible difference between those and the outside sheeting. As far as the structural integrity goes the melting point is important of course but depending on the alloy the more important thing is what percent of it's integrity remains at the temperature required. Being that you want to make a smoker out of it you should be fine. I'd be much more worried about what surface treatment as mentioned above. The outgassing temp is something you don't want to find by mistake. |
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07-08-2011, 06:45 PM | #10 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 01-18-11
Location: Philadelphia PA.
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Wow, pretty cool.
It is most likely anodized. They put a surface on that type of aluminum equipment called "hard face anodizing", its transparent and hard to detect by looking at it. Im not sure at what temp it will burn at. You could try burning it of with a torch. Try a test are first maybe? Are you considering insulation? Im pretty sure insulation will take care of any heat dissipation issues associated with aluminum. How thick is it? Cant wait to see what you find. Im still considering the aluminum smoker build. I would like to make a large trailer smoker that any car can pull and that one man can wheel around by hand. Spicewine made a smoker for my friend that does the charity BBQ's but I am building them a large 3' x 8' Santa maria grill now. Im making it out of steel though. Wheres NWBBQ?
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07-11-2011, 02:49 PM | #12 | |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 12-14-10
Location: Orangevale California
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Quote:
I think with it being AL that insulation is a must. I like Will work for bbq's idea of the inner cabinet. Maybe reverse flow I am still in the VERY early stages of design..... But yes, I am considering it. Definitely not stainless. All TIG welded Aluminum. I am thinking of splitting it vertically and having a damper system so that if I am doing a small cook I can use only half of the cabinet. It has really nice doors on both sides, so I dont really want to weld it shut but ?
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[CENTER]Chad [/CENTER] [CENTER]Gator Pit (Holy Smokees)[/CENTER] [CENTER]Custom built Propane Offset Smoker[/CENTER] [CENTER]Rescued Red MasterTouch - 1998[/CENTER] [CENTER]Smoky Joe - 1984 (My Little Girls)[/CENTER] [CENTER]Ranch Kettle X2- 2008 With Brother Marty Leach's Handles and 1991 CL find.[/CENTER] [CENTER]SS Weber Performer X 2 [/CENTER] |
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07-11-2011, 03:53 PM | #13 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 12-28-07
Location: annville ky
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How thick is it.??You could line it with some ss flashing with some type of insulation board under the ss flashing
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07-11-2011, 04:58 PM | #14 | |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 12-14-10
Location: Orangevale California
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Quote:
Pretty sure it is 3/16. Flashing is a good idea thanks Jestridge. Where can I could get some insulation board?
__________________
[CENTER]Chad [/CENTER] [CENTER]Gator Pit (Holy Smokees)[/CENTER] [CENTER]Custom built Propane Offset Smoker[/CENTER] [CENTER]Rescued Red MasterTouch - 1998[/CENTER] [CENTER]Smoky Joe - 1984 (My Little Girls)[/CENTER] [CENTER]Ranch Kettle X2- 2008 With Brother Marty Leach's Handles and 1991 CL find.[/CENTER] [CENTER]SS Weber Performer X 2 [/CENTER] |
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