Jonny's Rusty Old Oven Build (lots of photos)

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Hey Dave, I know you are familiar with the mailbox mod for the AMNPS system.  Are you familiar with any other commercially available boxes that would work?  I like the mailbox mod, but I'm not a fan of the look of the standard mailbox... 
 
Johnny, someone use an ammo can.... if you like ammo cans....  I do....  or a tool box....  or an electrical junction box would work also....  

How about an original Batman School lunch box...    Dave 
 
see Dave... exactly why i asked!  i must have spend days on here looking for other ideas and all i found wan the mailbox and the tool box. neither of which i liked...  a 50 cal ammo box would be perfect!  so... I will need to sand blast the interior when i get it... any ideas on how to keep it from rusting inside?  high temp paint?  oil and seasont
 
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I think the military spec paint is pretty good stuff...  The AMNS line of smoke gens, don't get too hot...   The original paint probably would be fine....   Just guessing here....     Dave
 
I dont know... i'm skeptical of any paint that i didnt put on myself... dont want any crap from china on there thats going to produce something hazardous.  i may just blast it and paint it with grill paint just in case.  
 
hi everyone!  got a lot of progress done this past weekend.  

Got the legs and caster holders back from the machine shop and got them drilled and tapped.  



got the legs all painted and they are ready mount!  


as you can see i'm using some slotted steel as the legs and I drilled and tapped an aluminum block for attachment of the casters.  

this week, I plan on mounting the legs and get an ammo can for the AMNPS.  should be up and smoking in no time!  heck ya!  
 
Oh, also... Taking suggestions for the first smoke... Brisket?  Ribs?  Turkey? ha ha!  let me know what you think!  
 
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Oh, also... Taking suggestions for the first smoke... Brisket?  Ribs?  Turkey? ha ha!  let me know what you think!  
I don't know how I missed this cool build! I really like the controller set up you made, especially since it can be removed. Opens up using it on multiple smokers!

Now for the important part break her in properly and do all of the above mentioned plus add a shoulder, some injected hot wings and a pork shoulder for good measure! Looking forward to seeing your smoker in operation!
 
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I don't know how I missed this cool build! I really like the controller set up you made, especially since it can be removed. Opens up using it on multiple smokers!

Now for the important part break her in properly and do all of the above mentioned plus add a shoulder, some injected hot wings and a pork shoulder for good measure! Looking forward to seeing your smoker in operation!
exactly my plan.  In a few years, i can find a nice old fridge and just transfer all these components over.  

Sounds like an amazing meatfest!   this years "Man Day" will be at my place!  haha
 
exactly my plan.  In a few years, i can find a nice old fridge and just transfer all these components over.  

Sounds like an amazing meatfest!   this years "Man Day" will be at my place!  haha
I am going to start an electric smoker specifically for sausage and jerky making. I am going to steal the portable control box idea for sure. Never know how many smokers a guy will end up with!
 
I am going to start an electric smoker specifically for sausage and jerky making. I am going to steal the portable control box idea for sure. Never know how many smokers a guy will end up with!
actually Alton Brown's clay pot smoker gave me the idea for the portable control box... my first smoker was a cheap electric burner in a clay pot with a removable dimmer switch built into a plastic box.  it was so nice to be able to leave the pot outside and just bring in the exposed electrical components, so, when it came time to upgrade the smoker it was the next step to update my portable control box.  
 
got my ammo box all ready to go... 


bead blasted the inside and got some stove rope to replace the rubber gasket... 



also got the holes drilled in everything... pics of it all put together soon!  


now... onto the questions... should i put a few fire bricks at the bottom here?  also should i put a heat shield in?  i have the original cover for the bottom of the oven i was thinking of drilling out and using.  i can put a bunch of holes in it for the smoke to come up through and will be a place to put the water pan on.  

Also, AMNPS came in... just waiting on a few more parts... should be ready very soon!  
 
Hey, this looks great!  I am going to do an old oven build with PID control myself in the next few months.

My opinion from studying various energy efficient home designs is that thermal mass = good.  So in my opinion, adding a layer of fire bricks would be awesome not only for ensuring nothing gets too hot on the bottom, but also for maintaining your ideal temperature. Heat shield seems unnecessary at those temperatures and the fact that it was designed to reach ~750F for self-clean cycles, or if not that then at least 550F for high band baking temperatures.

As an appliance engineer who works on ranges, adding the original oven bottom would negatively affect your heating of the cavity and add a large delay to the heat transfer from burner to oven cavity rendering your PID controller much less effective.  Case in point, the new electric hidden bake ovens... STAY AWAY.  They take forever and perform badly for baking, which is all bottom heat like your smoker.  I don't think it would affect the smoke performance, because airflow will always find a way to steady state.  

Go for a minimalist water pan design that only needs as much material to support the water pan as is necessary and leave the rest open.  Or even better, use the bottom-most rack position for the water and nothing else.
 
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Hey, this looks great!  I am going to do an old oven build with PID control myself in the next few months.

My opinion from studying various energy efficient home designs is that thermal mass = good.  So in my opinion, adding a layer of fire bricks would be awesome not only for ensuring nothing gets too hot on the bottom, but also for maintaining your ideal temperature. Heat shield seems unnecessary at those temperatures and the fact that it was designed to reach ~750F for self-clean cycles, or if not that then at least 550F for high band baking temperatures.

As an appliance engineer who works on ranges, adding the original oven bottom would negatively affect your heating of the cavity and add a large delay to the heat transfer from burner to oven cavity rendering your PID controller much less effective.  Case in point, the new electric hidden bake ovens... STAY AWAY.  They take forever and perform badly for baking, which is all bottom heat like your smoker.  I don't think it would affect the smoke performance, because airflow will always find a way to steady state.  

Go for a minimalist water pan design that only needs as much material to support the water pan as is necessary and leave the rest open.  Or even better, use the bottom-most rack position for the water and nothing else.
ok perfect!  this was my thought process also.  just wanted to make sure.  i figured these PIDs were designed for ovens/kilns so they are used to the oven itself being able to hold and radiate some heat.  I figured a few fire bricks would do the job.  Also i didnt want to put the oven bottom back in... but i want the space... I will cut the heck out of the bottom so it will hold a water pan and restrict the heat and smoke as little as possible.  or.... maybe i'll just design a plate to go in there that will hold up a water pan... hmmmm got my gears turning... I'm guessing a 9" baking pan would be plenty of water so thats all i need to support... ok back to the drawing board...
 
Hi everyone.  got some progress...  I used some old components from my clay pot smoker to make a holder for a water pan.  Also, I have in mind what i want a nice wooden handle to look like, so I designed a bracket for a wooden dowl in CAD... take a look!  now i just have to get it made at my machine shop.  

 
Well.... its a "lazy Sunday" so what better way to spend it than smoking a pork butt and brewing some home brew!  oh ya... Multi-tasking!  

Minus the handles... here is a first look at the finished product!  


I love how it turned out!  works so well!  

and here is some q-view... 


5lb pork butt.  dry rubbed overnight and now cooking till it is fall off the bone!  

and even some brew-view... 


this is going to be a Honey Jasmine Blonde Ale.   nice light and drinkable for summer!  

this was indeed a very productive sunday!  
 
Johnny, evening ...  That sure is one pretty smoker.....  and the Blonde is pretty too....  Ale that is....     
 
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