So, I have been plotting how to get this thing going and have stalled out on the firebox door because I don't want to spend a small fortune on something that seems to me to be a simple thing...
The plan started out as a recycle of bricks that I took off my fireplace surround. I quickly decided that cinder blocks would be easier to use and still cheap since I only needed like 18 of em =) I am planning on building the firebox out of cinder blocks, pour a cap on top (with a hole to allow heat/smoke up to the smoke chamber), and then build a wood smoke chamber on top of that out of cedar fence boards.
Here is the dry fit to get an idea of the dimensions...
On the first day of mortaring I found out how much I sucked at getting everything plumb and level with even gaps between bricks... I thought one 60-lb bag of mortar would be plenty... hah!
Here is what I had after the first day of laying brick...
I goofed around with my air idea and decided that it will probably work out fine. There are three 3/4 inch black pipes with a homemade sliding baffle to control the air intake. I keep thinking that this will not be enough, but then on my charbroil offset I have the baffle almost totally closed when smoking. This is the first build and I should be able to dismantle and rebuild fairly easy if needed. I have an air hammer to bust out the mortar =)
Here it is after getting everything mortared in place... I probably should have put in a lintel, but I figure the door frame will do that job =)
Here is a closeup of my masterful git-r-dun air intake and baffle... hah
That's just a square sheet of flashing that I bent and drilled holes in. The slider is just a strip that I cut off and bent to fit. Works pretty well for only costing a buck =) The pipes extend in to the firebox where I will have a raised basket on some rebar so that the air is under the basket. I should have made some sort of ash cleanout because reaching in to the middle to scoop it out when it gets full is going to get old..
Top down look into the box..
Next is framing out the cap that I will be pouring. I'm going to prop up some plywood in the center and 2x4s around the top so that I can get a good 3 inch cap. I'm going to place an old chimney starter in the middle to allow heat and smoke up into the chamber above. It's 6.5 inches in diameter with holes in the bottom.
The wood chamber on top will be made out of cedar fence boards that I will probably try and cut shiplap so that they fit better. I'll put a chimney out the back and extend it up above the roof, which should be around 6 feet high when I get done. Inner dimensions should work out to be close to 2' by 2' and I'm going to have 2 shelves spaced 8" apart. I'll easily have a 2' vertical smoke chamber (almost 4' for cold smokin) in case I want to hang anything at a later point.
I think that about covers it for now.. I'll post more as I go =)
The plan started out as a recycle of bricks that I took off my fireplace surround. I quickly decided that cinder blocks would be easier to use and still cheap since I only needed like 18 of em =) I am planning on building the firebox out of cinder blocks, pour a cap on top (with a hole to allow heat/smoke up to the smoke chamber), and then build a wood smoke chamber on top of that out of cedar fence boards.
Here is the dry fit to get an idea of the dimensions...
On the first day of mortaring I found out how much I sucked at getting everything plumb and level with even gaps between bricks... I thought one 60-lb bag of mortar would be plenty... hah!
Here is what I had after the first day of laying brick...
I goofed around with my air idea and decided that it will probably work out fine. There are three 3/4 inch black pipes with a homemade sliding baffle to control the air intake. I keep thinking that this will not be enough, but then on my charbroil offset I have the baffle almost totally closed when smoking. This is the first build and I should be able to dismantle and rebuild fairly easy if needed. I have an air hammer to bust out the mortar =)
Here it is after getting everything mortared in place... I probably should have put in a lintel, but I figure the door frame will do that job =)
Here is a closeup of my masterful git-r-dun air intake and baffle... hah
That's just a square sheet of flashing that I bent and drilled holes in. The slider is just a strip that I cut off and bent to fit. Works pretty well for only costing a buck =) The pipes extend in to the firebox where I will have a raised basket on some rebar so that the air is under the basket. I should have made some sort of ash cleanout because reaching in to the middle to scoop it out when it gets full is going to get old..
Top down look into the box..
Next is framing out the cap that I will be pouring. I'm going to prop up some plywood in the center and 2x4s around the top so that I can get a good 3 inch cap. I'm going to place an old chimney starter in the middle to allow heat and smoke up into the chamber above. It's 6.5 inches in diameter with holes in the bottom.
The wood chamber on top will be made out of cedar fence boards that I will probably try and cut shiplap so that they fit better. I'll put a chimney out the back and extend it up above the roof, which should be around 6 feet high when I get done. Inner dimensions should work out to be close to 2' by 2' and I'm going to have 2 shelves spaced 8" apart. I'll easily have a 2' vertical smoke chamber (almost 4' for cold smokin) in case I want to hang anything at a later point.
I think that about covers it for now.. I'll post more as I go =)
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