New to site. Freezer build questions.

smokin geese · Dec 10, 2011

I'm new to this site! It seems to be a great site after browsing for a while. Alot of stuff here! I hope all of you out there can give some GREAT advice. This is what I picked up for my smoker project. It's a commercial 2 door stainless freezer. Here are my questions and possible concerns. Inside dimensions: 62"H x 50"W x 28" D. I would like to use propane burner/burners for my heat source. How big of a burner/burners should I use? 1 or 2 burners? BTU's an issue? I already have my venting stack with damper and 2 small diffusers for the bottom since I will be mounting the burners inside the smoker. I will mount the chip pan/s and water pan/s above the burners. If I go with 1 burner, mount it in the center? Or if I go with 2 burners mount them in the center of each door opening? I would like to cut 2 small doors into each side of the smoker near the bottom so I can add chips and/or water so I don't have to open the big doors. Does this sound good? I will be replacing the magnetic strip on the doors since they don't seal well with a wood stove rope gasket. 30 feet of gasket rope gets spendy! The white on the door panels are aluminum not plastic. I did remove the plastic seals around the inside of the door jamb and a friend is making me metal caps to cover this. Any adice will be much appreciated. Can't wait to get started! Thanks!

fpnmf · Dec 10, 2011

Welcome..

This site has tons of info.

I suggest you spend some time reading all the different forums and the WIKIs.

Ask questions and use the handy dandy search tool for specific interests!!

Take the awesome free E-Course!!!

Have a great day!!!

Craig

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/wiki/about-jeffs-5-day-ecourse

Make bacon the easy way!!

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forum/thread/109368/more-easy-made-bacon-with-q-view#post_666451

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forum/thread/82034/how-to-post-qview-to-smf

michael ark · Dec 10, 2011

Look like a great start.

mballi3011 · Dec 10, 2011

First off welcome to SMF. You'll really like this place for there are a bunch of really good folks here that would just love to help you with just about anything to do with smoking meat. Then if you have any questions you just post them here or yu can try in chat for a faster answer. If you are really new to all of this I would recommend that you look up and take the e-course. It is free and it will also give you the basics on smoking. So with all that said now go and get something to smoke.

Welcome To Your New Addiction

Now for your build I would find a gas store or something like that and ask them what your options are. I have a store just down the road from me and they carry all that stuff you would need to make your build work. I would think that you want a small burner maybe one that you could find off of a regular grill.

smokin geese · Dec 11, 2011

Thanks for all the info so far!

mossymo · Dec 11, 2011

Nice looking stainless double door, that will make a very nice smoker!

I have a similar single door fridge that I did a smoker build off of that I have running off propane and is thermostatically controlled with an auto ignite pilot light, here is a link to the thread I got my best info from while researching the project - http://www.smoked-meat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1931

smokin geese · Dec 26, 2011

I have slowly been working on the new smoker. Starting to buy parts to install later. Thanks for all the positive feedbacks. I have removed all the plastic and I'm having aluminum parts being made to cover the old plastic parts. The inside is aluminum. The big question is: should I remove the insulation? I cut a 4" hole in the top of the unit for my vent stack. There is spray insulation between the outside and inside metal layers. It's gold or yellow in color. Seems to be a dense material. I should't get above 200 degrees when smoking. I just hope I don't have to remove it, it may decide if I continue with this build. It may be too much work to remove. I can post pics of the insulation so you can see what it looks like. It's just a 4" plug from the vent stack. Thanksf or the help!

sprky · Dec 26, 2011

From what I understand from reading on builds there are 2 types of foam insulation. 1 is OK for a smoker the other is not. The names excape me at the momunt. However 1 burns extrimily fast, and the other does not. If it burns fast it is the bad 1. I'm betting someone will be along shortly to add more info.

qobsession · Dec 27, 2011

Sprky is correct. Try burning the piece you took out and see what happens?? Whcih ever insulation it is keep in mind if my temp goes too high do I want my meat to smell like this burning insulation.

mneeley490 · Dec 27, 2011

smokin geese, check out the BLOWN IN FOAM thread. I ended up tearing apart my commercial unit and scraping the foam out. It cost me a lot of time and aggrevation, but in the end I felt it was better to be safe, than sorry. Good luck with your build!

smokin geese · Dec 28, 2011

Thanks for the advise everyone! I will try to find the thread for Blown In Foam. I think I'm gonna do the same, pull the insulation out. I'm not looking forward to the work but I want to be safe. I plan on cutting panels out on the outside of the smoker so the integrity of the inside of the smoker stays intact. Sound good? What would I use to re-insulate the smoker? Insulation batting from a local do-it-yourself store? It's about 2" thick between the panels. I will try to post pics soon of my build. Gotta find my camera!

mneeley490 · Dec 29, 2011

Smokin geese, "Blown in Foam" is in the Fridge/Freezer Builds forum. You can read there how I did it. I'd try to see if your unit could be disassembled before I'd start any cutting on the outer shell.

As for insulation, I used Roxul, which a type of mineral wool used in fireplace insulations. Cost me about $8 a batt, which was about 4' x 2' x 4". I had to split the thickness in half for some areas. Got it at a True Value Hardware store.

smokin geese · Dec 31, 2011

After a few hours in the garage today, I dis-assembled the freezer to stripped the insulation. I did a test burn on the stuff and it was REAL volitile. It BURNED! Everything is apart, top, sides front, back and bottom. I now have 3 bags of insulation to get rid of. I have started scraping the left over insulation off the panels. Now I have to figure out how to re-assemble humpty dumpty. With the 2" of sprayed insulation missing now I have to make up the difference between the panels. Any ideas? Also, what are the pros and cons of re-insulation this build? Can I re-assemble it without re-insulating? More pics to follow soon.

SmokinAl · Dec 31, 2011

Holy cow, that's a lot of work!

dward51 · Dec 31, 2011

How high a temp to you plan on smoking at? I would think unfaced fiberglass would be find in that cavity since it's also protected from direct flame by the metal inner skin. Would be a lot less expensive than 2" of rock wool or high temp insulation.

I'm sure others will chime in on this soon.

mneeley490 · Dec 31, 2011

smokin geese, looks like you lucked out having those outside panels come apart so easy. Mine was more like one, solid, 3-sided piece with an inner liner that slipped into it. Took me most of the summer to get the two apart. Just remember to mark those pieces so you can get everything back together correctly. I tried to mark and document everything as I took it apart, and I still ended up with pieces left over.

I've heard regular, pink fiberglass insulation is all right, but I just have a tendency to overbuild, so that's why I went with the Roxul.

shoneyboy · Jan 1, 2012

smokin geese, First I have a question, can you move this thing ? If so, I would take it to a car wash and try to blast off the rest of the spray foam…...less work…… My smoker is un-insulated and I wish every time I run that it was insulated. It would help keep my temperature more consistent and save on fuel. If you don’t want to insulate and depending on your available access. I would get a “Z” clip fabricated…. It looks similar to what it sounds like…it will take up the excess space and allow you to have something to attach to ….I will try to fabricate one tomorrow and take a picture of it for you to see what I’m talking about…..ShoneyBoy

bigfatdaddy · Jan 1, 2012

Smokin geese, I am brand new to this site and am going to start a similar build. I found a rock wool type insulation good up to 2000 degrees at Menards. The bag I bought was only $47 and I am sure the quantity in the bag I bought would be enough for your build. Any tips you (or anyone!!) could throw my way would be greatly appreciated 1

smokin geese · Jan 1, 2012

Thanks for the advice everyone. Took today off! Wonder why? Happy New Year everyone. I'm off on Monday and will contunue then. I will check out Menards for the insulation. Thanks!

shoneyboy · Jan 1, 2012

Yes "S" or "Z" they are both the same thing in the Sheet Metal trade just different letters of the alphabets....

LOL Here is what I was talking about though. They will need to be made out of something thicker than this....It was just something that I had in the scrap pile.. I would make them out of (1st choice)stainless, (2nd)aluminum or (3rd) black iron....I do not like to have galvanized material near anything I cook on or with....(that another discussion) I would attach with rivets then have the choice to attach the out side with screws or rivets.....Just my thoughts.......Keep us posted on the build Thanks ShoneyBoy

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