Good deal on unfinished smoker?

bnew17

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Feb 24, 2011

116

11

• Jul 14, 2011

• #1

I found this smoker for sale the other day for $250. What you can see is as far as the build has gotton. Im fairly new at all this so i was hoping to get some input from some more experienced bbq guys in here. I have a smaller off set smoker that i really like but i would just like somethign a little bit bigger. Can this smoker be modified into a off set reverse flow?

How much money in supplies do you think im looking at to finish this project?

Thanks in advance

 

sunman76

Master of the Pit

Feb 18, 2011

1,421

20

Duncan Oklahoma

• Jul 14, 2011

• #2

looks like you got a good deal just for the trailer.  I t would take some work to make it a RF but it can be done.  Getting the RF plate in and welding it up will not be much fun thru that small door,

the stack can just be cutout and relocated to the back. 

As far as money and supplies you can spend alot or as little as possible,  buying new steel is $$$

but if you have a scrap yard near by you can go spend some time lookn around there and find some material you need, and see things that might work for what you need already built, like a tank or something for a fire box.

Do you have all the welding equipment needed or will you have someone do some welding for ya?

looking forward to your build post plenty of pics

 

daveomak

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Nov 12, 2010

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Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• Jul 14, 2011

• #3

bnew, Morning. Seem you have the makings of a new smoker .... I suggest you read about the smokers that have been built here already. There are many....many ideas about shelves, tuning plates, fire boxes, slilde in and out accessories, drains, and more. Find a design you like, extras you like, and will all that fit your skill level and equipment you have at your disposal.

Building a smoker is quite an undertaking and many hours of engineering to obtain what you desire in a final outcome is important. You do not want to build it twice.

There really are some "rocket science" smokers folks have built, listed here. They are amazing, impressive, jaw dropping, too pretty to use, etc. You can tell who put many hours of thought and engineering into their projects.

That being said, Welcome to the best smoking site on the web. Please fill out your profile with a little more info to introduce yourself to the great folks here. The folks that run this place do an outstanding job and everyone is ready to give great advice.

Dave

 

bnew17

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Thread starter

Feb 24, 2011

116

11

• Jul 14, 2011

• #4

Just spoke with the guy and  the tank is 32" wide and 7 ft long? however that equates to gallon size? He did say it was an old oil tank and it is 1/8" thick.

 

bnew17

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Thread starter

Feb 24, 2011

116

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• Jul 14, 2011

• #5

here is another picture of it.

 

alelover

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Jul 9, 2010

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Concord, NC, near Mt. Pleasant, 2 houses past the

• Jul 14, 2011

• #6

292.5 gallons.

 

bnew17

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Thread starter

Feb 24, 2011

116

11

• Jul 14, 2011

• #7

DaveOmak said:

bnew, Morning. Seem you have the makings of a new smoker .... I suggest you read about the smokers that have been built here already. There are many....many ideas about shelves, tuning plates, fire boxes, slilde in and out accessories, drains, and more. Find a design you like, extras you like, and will all that fit your skill level and equipment you have at your disposal.

Building a smoker is quite an undertaking and many hours of engineering to obtain what you desire in a final outcome is important. You do not want to build it twice.

There really are some "rocket science" smokers folks have built, listed here. They are amazing, impressive, jaw dropping, too pretty to use, etc. You can tell who put many hours of thought and engineering into their projects.

That being said, Welcome to the best smoking site on the web. Please fill out your profile with a little more info to introduce yourself to the great folks here. The folks that run this place do an outstanding job and everyone is ready to give great advice.

Dave

Click to expand...

Dave. Thanks for the information. I was kinda wanting to stay away from the smokers with tuning plates. I really like the way this smoker is set up. http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forum/thread/54542/building-an-italian-offset-smoker/20
 

 

sunman76

Master of the Pit

Feb 18, 2011

1,421

20

Duncan Oklahoma

• Jul 14, 2011

• #8

that's going to be a monster...lol

http://webpages.charter.net/tomchism/BBQ CALC Forms/timplate bbq form square fb.xls  

22507 cu in

with the tank only being .125 thk I would check for any rust out spots.

There should be some guys along to give you some good advise, but I'm thinking by the time you add a fire box the size you need to heat that dude up

and a good thick RF plate, and some grates your weight might be more than that trailer can handle safely.

 

roller

Smoking Guru

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Mar 10, 2010

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N.E. Louisiana

• Jul 14, 2011

• #9

Nice start...

 

SmokinAl

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• Jul 14, 2011

• #10

That looks like a great start.

 

bnew17

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Thread starter

Feb 24, 2011

116

11

• Jul 14, 2011

• #11

Spoke with the seller again this afternoon. He's not going to hold it for me until i can get there sunday. Its about a 3 hour drive and im taking my wife to the beach for the day saturday so sunday is the earliest i can get there. HOpefully it will still be there. Down here in south georgia  a mans word is his bond, but i guess other places you cant rely on a mans word. Thats a shame.

I asked him about the shape of the cooker and he said its in good shape. He said there are some areas with a little surface rust and on the bottom of one of the ends there are 3 small pin dot sized holes from rust. Im guessing these would be fairly easy fixes.  I will keep yal updated. In the meantime im enjoying reading yals input on this!

 

Last edited: Jul 14, 2011

oldschoolbbq

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Jul 16, 2008

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NW Ohio - outside Toledo

• Jul 14, 2011

• #12

  Bnew, YES, that would make a great RF Smoker.Cost? I'm not sure anymore(disabled and not out there much anymore).Ask a few of the younger guys and ask around the scrapyards for good prices.That way you can say you contributed to the GREEN movement!

  Have fun with the project and...

 

meateater

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Oct 17, 2009

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Hendertucky, Nv.

• Jul 14, 2011

• #13

I haven't built one yet but I would cut that pipe on the trailer next to the exhaust off and reinforce that area for a fire box. That would be a great start. 

 

bnew17

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Thread starter

Feb 24, 2011

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• Jul 18, 2011

• #14

Well i ended up getting the cooker. I have been brainstorming on where i can get some pieces for it. I have a charcoal grill at our cabin that is made of 1/4" steel that measures 32" x 19". Its cylinder shaped. Not sure if it would be big enough for the firebox though? I would perfer the basic square firebox, we will see i guess!