First Charcoal smoker

handymanstan · Nov 2, 2012

Hi everyone, Just bought this smoker on GL came with a charcoal starter and a bag of charcoal. $30.00

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handymanstan
Nov 2, 2012

I don't know who made it.

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handymanstan
Nov 2, 2012

Still had ash in it. LOL It's small just right size for me to learn on.

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handymanstan
Nov 2, 2012

The extras and racks.

I am trying to figure out if I should try to RF this or just extend the stack down and block off some of the opening and add holly plates as I have seen on here. I see both as being doable.

Stan

daveomak · Nov 3, 2012

Stan, morning.... I would block off the FireBox opening to below the cooking grate and lower the exhaust with flex duct.... You already knew what to do, I'm just reinforcing it.. the FB opening can be restricted to about 2 X the size of the exhaust for starters... Seal up the cook chamber door with tin foil to make sure it draws OK.... Tuning plates can be added to even out the temperature on the grate if you think it needs it...

When all that fails, if it does, calculate all the dimensions required for a reverse flow and go for it.... In my signature line are threads/links for all the stuff you need....

Don't forget Q-Views of mods and smoking.... We can all learn from this project.... Dave

handymanstan · Nov 3, 2012

Thanks Dave, I am really pushing to go RF and move the stack to the other side. Don't know yet for sure. It will be fun no matter what.

daveomak · Nov 3, 2012

Stan, Cool.... Take pics..... you know we love pics here..... Helps others learn stuff..... Dave

handymanstan · Nov 3, 2012

For sure I will.

oldschoolbbq · Nov 3, 2012

Stan , welcome . Nice little smoker and will a great learner unit

. When you get her cleaned-up and ready for a good Seasoning , I suggest coating it with a coating of ( Oil in a sprayer , or Crisco / Lard all over the inside AND outside to help re-cure the metal -oil and water don't...) and repeating each cook (on the outside). The 'Good Ole Boy' way to protect it from further rust. No painting need...except to use one of these to "paint it on " :

holiday for 2012 023.JPG

oldschoolbbq
Oct 30, 2012

Works like a charm

.

Have fun and...

handymanstan · Nov 5, 2012

oldschoolbbq said:
Stan , welcome . Nice little smoker and will a great learner unit

. When you get her cleaned-up and ready for a good Seasoning , I suggest coating it with a coating of ( Oil in a sprayer , or Crisco / Lard all over the inside AND outside to help re-cure the metal -oil and water don't...) and repeating each cook (on the outside). The 'Good Ole Boy' way to protect it from further rust. No painting need...except to use one of these to "paint it on " :

holiday for 2012 023.JPG

oldschoolbbq

Oct 30, 2012

Works like a charm

.

Have fun and...

Stan can I use bacon fat I have lots of that. LOL When I was a kid my grandparents called me Stashu.

handymanstan · Nov 19, 2012

Update. Sunday afternoon I went to my friend Kevins garage and we did several mods to the smoke and pit.

The first thing we did was to make the coal basket.

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

Kevin cutting expanded metal. Then into the brake to be formed then weld it together.

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

Next step cut off whats not needed. Had to remove the grill brackets in the SF box to make room for the basket.

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

After that we welded the fire box to the cook chamber.

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

Then we cut out the bottom of the plates between the chambers.

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

Then we welded in a plate to block off the top.

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

Next was the tuning plate. First pic is the plate in the smoker . Other pics are the layout and cutting the plate.

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

The shelf brackets and shelf were gone so we made shelf brackets.

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

That all we got done so far. I will update when I can do more.

Stan

daveomak · Nov 19, 2012

Nice work on the smoker..... Looks professional and functional..... Good food to come....... Dave

handymanstan · Nov 19, 2012

Thanks Dave this evening I cleaned it out and mounted a shelf then put a chimney of coal in it. Got it up to 330 and it seemed pretty easy to control the temp with the damper. However when checking the tuning plate it was at 270 at hot end and 180 at the other end so I still have to work on that.

Here's a pic of the shelf. I know it looks strange but it is a piece of driftwood from lake Michigan that my mom picked up in the 60s and when I cleaned out her house I could not throw it away. Its been here and there for the last 6 years I almost burned it a few times but I think she would have liked this.

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handymanstan
Nov 19, 2012

Stan

daveomak · Nov 19, 2012

Stan, evening...... Think about an air vent above the fire grate in the firebox..... that will add air flow without adding air to the fire..... Dave

eyesrwindows · Nov 24, 2012

Great work! Always admire a craftsman. Wish I had a torch and an archwelder here so I could customize mine in a similar fashion. For now I will have to rely on backyard engineering with aluminum foil . That smoker should give years of great food. Have a safe holiday.

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