Yellow, do you think this will work?

randycandy

Fire Starter

Original poster

May 14, 2013

60

10

Ohio

• Jun 16, 2013

• #1

Hello all, new at this so bear with me. I got this chest freezer for free. It has a bad compressor. Its a Kenmore 5.0 cu. ft. The inside

dimensions are 27" deep, 23" wide and 15" across. I was thinking of putting an electric element where the compressor compartment is and pipe the smoke into the bottom, maybe put a water pan at the bottom then add a couple of racks. The insides are Aluminum.

The lid is plastic but I planned on covering that with a piece of sheet metal (covering gasket to). Do you guys think this could be made into an adequate hot smoker? Thanks!

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• randycandy
• Jun 16, 2013

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• randycandy
• Jun 16, 2013

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• randycandy
• Jun 16, 2013

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• randycandy
• Jun 16, 2013

 

themule69

Epic Pitmaster

Oct 7, 2012

12,884

350

live north of fort smith arkansas between alma and

• Jun 17, 2013

• #2

I would make it a stand up smoker.Happy smoken.

David

 

randycandy

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

May 14, 2013

60

10

Ohio

• Jun 17, 2013

• #3

Hello Dave. What exactly do you mean by " stand up smoker" ?

 

themule69

Epic Pitmaster

Oct 7, 2012

12,884

350

live north of fort smith arkansas between alma and

• Jun 17, 2013

• #4

randycandy said:

Hello Dave. What exactly do you mean by " stand up smoker" ?

Click to expand...

Like a refridgerator. Have the door open in the front. not the top.

David

 

fwismoker

Master of the Pit

Dec 31, 2012

4,279

1,033

North East Indiana

• Jun 17, 2013

• #5

I'd keep it as a deep freezer to store your meat to smoke.  It's a good little freezer and would be easy to make a smoker out of steel, steel barrels etc... 

On the other hand i don't know if it'd be worth it to replace the compressor....check prices for the compressor, you could easily install yourself. 

 

Last edited: Jun 17, 2013

oldschoolbbq

Legendary Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Jul 16, 2008

9,359

205

NW Ohio - outside Toledo

• Jun 17, 2013

• #6

But , he said the compressor is shot

 , so why not stand it on edge and make a Verticle Smoker of it

 .  Not a bad idea , I'm in...

 , keep us posted on the build.

 

themule69

Epic Pitmaster

Oct 7, 2012

12,884

350

live north of fort smith arkansas between alma and

• Jun 17, 2013

• #7

It is not worth repairing. The compressor failed because it had a leak and ran dry. You can't get to the coils. They are in the insulation.

Make it a smoker. Buy a new freezer if you need a freezer. A new freezer will use less electric.

Happy smoken.

David

 

fwismoker

Master of the Pit

Dec 31, 2012

4,279

1,033

North East Indiana

• Jun 17, 2013

• #8

themule69 said:

It is not worth repairing. The compressor failed because it had a leak and ran dry. You can't get to the coils. They are in the insulation.

Make it a smoker. Buy a new freezer if you need a freezer. A new freezer will use less electric.

Happy smoken.

David

Click to expand...

Ugh...i was going to get one of those freezers.  I guess i'll keep looking. 

 

randycandy

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

May 14, 2013

60

10

Ohio

• Jun 18, 2013

• #9

Hello guys. I do refrigeration work among other things. The compressor is pulling Lock Rotor Amps and is shot. This units go sale sometimes at Sears for $150. Its not worth repairing. As someone said above, the coils in this thing are embedded in the walls. Even If I replaced the compressor I wouldn't feel comfortable feeling it with a bunch of meat. Another guy gave it to me after he tried to repair it so it didn't cost me anything. When I seen the inside walls were aluminum I thought this could be used as a smoker, as I have been waiting to find a discarded piece of equipment to use as one. I have heating elements and even high dollar temp controllers I can use. I like the upright idea. I can put legs on it. I was wondering if anyone ever converted one like this so they could give me some tips on where to put vent holes and such. I planned on covering the lining the the door with sheet metal. (the only exposed plastic). I was thinking of putting the heating element where the compressor used to be and cut a hole into the cavity and pipe the smoke through this way. I would set a pan of water on the floor of the inside. Am I on the right track? Thanks for the help:)
 

 

dcarch

Smoking Fanatic

Mar 19, 2013

372

21

• Jun 18, 2013

• #10

Here is my smoker, 4.5 cubic feet interior.

It is a working refrigerator also, therefore I can use it for both year round cold and hot smoke. 

Super insulation and seal.  I use it to smoke indoors. Heating is a 500 watt halogen lamp running at 300 watts, PID controlled.

dcarch

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• dcarch
• Jun 18, 2013

 

randycandy

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

May 14, 2013

60

10

Ohio

• Jun 20, 2013

• #11

Thats a nice smoker Dcarch. I guess in my case no one here has ever converted a 5.0 cu. ft. chest freezer into an electric smoker. I'll have to experiment as I go I guess.
 

 

randycandy

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

May 14, 2013

60

10

Ohio

• Jun 24, 2013

• #12

I see that Walmart has a Brinkmann and a Char-Broil Vertical Charcol smokers for about $70. Thinking now for this price not to bother converting the chest freezer. I will buy the Brinkmann and just convert it to Electric. I have heating elements and Temp controllers I can use. An electric smoker is twice this price. After a few mods, hoping this works ok.

walmart.jpg

• randycandy
• Jun 24, 2013

 

Last edited: Jun 24, 2013