Please help me build my smoker in time for deer season

DDS, evening.....  Use aluminum.....   Do Not use plastic....     Dave

what's wrong with using 3" metal dryer vent ? you can go flexible or rigid pipe....

Hey DDS,

Sorry I haven't been paying attention to the Fridge builds section for a while. Your fridge looks a lot like mine (http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/105764/heres-my-fridge-build-mid-build) I opted to go the super cheap route and use scavenged oven parts to produce/control the heat. I use chunks of wood on the element, like ECB, to produce smoke. But I do use an AMPS for cold smoking bacon and cheese.

Some of the pics from my post might help you but a couple of things I know now. closest shelf needs to be minimum 12"-18" away from element. I have a shelf bracket that is only like 3 inches from the element and I intended to use a water pan to help even heat, provide moisture, and catch drippings. Three inches is way too close and it basically zapped all my heat before it can heat the rest of the chamber.

I used the same 24ga steel I used for the door to cover that back hole. People tell you that you need to use stainless so it doesn't rust, well that's hogwash. If you season your smoker with some oil you'll never see rust. As for my shelves, I used angle iron brackets and expanded metal. I apparently have a pretty good hook up on steel tho, so it might be more difficult for you to find (cheap).

Note my smoke stack; straight piece of dryer vent $1.99 at the farm store. Cut 6 inches off the non-tapered end and inserted that into the hole I cut (hole saw) then cut 1" slits and folded back the egdges and screwed it down on both the inside and outside. Then the tapered end inserts into that snug as a glove. I did seal the inside then to keep it sealed up. I kept the piece of steel I cut out of fridge exterior and made a in-tube dampener.

One thing that Dave mentioned and I learned; condensation (especially us northerners) will form in the stack and drip back into smoker. I've since build a deflector that catches the condensation and sends it down the back of the smoker.

Airflow was an issue for my smoker but I solved it by installing a muffin fan ducted into the smoke chamber. I've got this setup on a separate switch and when I add wood I flip the switch on and get plenty of air moving then shut it off and it takes over on its own. When I'm cold smoking with the AMPS the fan is on the whole time, element is never on (obviously).

As you can see I used lava rock as a barrier between my element and the bottom of my fridge. Stole that from ECB as well.

I'm subscribed now so any other questions you have ask away and I'll try to get back to you ASAP. PID is a super nice setup, I just went the cheap route cause I had all the parts. I haven't taken any pictures lately so let me know if you would like some additional pics and I can snap a few.

Enjoy!!

-Josh

Oh one other thing. I noticed your platform and wheels setup. I did a similar thing and found with the door open the fridge is very top heavy and wants to fall forward so be cautious of this. I had my whole smoker blow over one time on a gusty day. I was done smoking just letting it cool down, came out to find it on its side paint all scuffed up. Wasn't happy. \

Guess that's proof on how well it works though. I can smoke in negative degrees with wind, no problem. Actually performs better. The hot weather doesn't keep the element on enough to produce the smoke I want. I go to the AMPS then.

I'll see about getting some photos taken this evening.

As for the shelves I used angle iron for the brackets and cut expanded metal to fit. I used the "flat" expanded metal for the most of my shelves, easier to wire brush. Pay attention to the strength of the stuff prior to cutting and be sure you cut the right direction. I couple of my shelves ended up being pretty weak so I bent some sheet metal over the end to help strengthen it. Works great!

So I got those pictures taken, I realize now I didn't snap one from the inside of the cabinet where the air comes in. Sorry I can get that if needed.

What I did was use some of my left over 24ga sheet metal and bent a box and mounted the fan on the outside of the box. The box covers the 2 vent holes that were drilled (hole saw) in to the fridge cabinet. In these holes I inserted a 1" or 1.5" black iron nipple to seal the holes from the insulation. Used the retainer nuts from romex clamps for a metal electrical to secure the pipes in place. Sealed off the cabinet with some of that high temp silicone stuff. As you can see from the picture all this was done after I painted.

Also, that is an ice cream bucket lid attached around the fan. I was smoking one day and a huge rain storm blew up so I had to find some way to protect the fan (quickly). Cut square hole for fan, screwed the lid to the smoker drilled holes in the underside of the bucket then put the bucket on. Quick fix, never took it off.



Finally a shot of the shelves in my smoker. I used toggle bolt to secure the shelves because I did not want to bolt through the entire cabinet and also I did not remove the internal shell. Next time around I think I would remove the shell and bolt the angle iron to the internal shell. It was too hard to seal up the large hole I had to drill for the toggle bolt. you can also see my smoke stack condensation deflector I mentioned in a previous post.


If you get a chance DDS snap some new pics of your progress.

Thanks and happy smoking!

-Josh

thinking a masonry drill bit will get you through the enamel...

Go to a tile store and get a drill bit for tile. That should get a starter hole then you can use your bits to enlarge the hole

Yep drilling through the enamel is a pain. I just used a standard bit but I'm pretty sure I destroyed it by the time I was done. Tile or mansonary bit might work out.

Only issue with putting the vent in the door is if you do the fan idea then you will have to route the wires through the door then into the cabinet somehow (think the the wires in your car door) If you have a big enough vent you probably wont need the fan. My problem was my vents were to small so I added the fan.

As for the original shelves, I was told or read somewhere that the chrome plating used back then was known to have some substance that when heated can release toxic fumes. I've got no facts to back that up but I didn't want to even mess with it so I scrapped them and used the expanded metal for everything.

I did a nice long 17hr smoke this weekend and a buddy made a very solid suggestion to me, why didn't I place another piece of angle iron just above my shelf bracket so I could slide the shelves out without them falling out. Might be something to think about on your build. Basically creating a sandwich that the shelf slides into. Cool idea, not sure if I'll implement though.

Center punch would probably help. It will crack the enamel and allow the bit to stay in one place. Worth a shot, but I bet you'll still chew up a bit by the end of the project.

I knew there was something else I was going to comment on. I have a pipe pellet smoker like the AMPS. Use it primarily for cold smoking but it can be used with your element on. Had no issues with it. Just need to be sure it little bit above the heat.

Using galvanized metals in your smoker is a hot topic on here. Basic direction is don't do it.

A quick search I found these 2 topics:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/52524/no-galvanized-in-your-smoker-its-toxic

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/84994/will-galvanized-metal-sheets-be-bad-for-smoker

I used standard sheet metal screws which I think are zinc coated (not 100% sure) I've had no issues and I'm still alive.

Aluminum is not a problem as long as you don 't get it to hot but I don't think a smoker should be capable of getting aluminum too hot. It has to be really hot I believe. Even then I don't think its toxic I think you just run into structural issues.

Now that you mention it chromium sounds right. I know we aren't allowed to use that stuff at work. I think the chrome used in the grill grates is something different. I know my shelves did not look shiny like chrome grill or oven racks.

Also in your one photo I noticed the inside door frame like where the latch is attached appears to be the original material. Double check that this is not the same material as the inside door skin. Mine was the same crappy fiberglass like plastic stuff, that metal work was probably the toughest part of the build bending all that to fit nice and snug.

You'll definitely want to use something to seal up those holes. The problem isn't sealing them to keep the heat in its sealing them to keep the moisture out of the insulation. You might be able to use some type of pipe dope that is heat rated. I don't know if they make such a creature but I see the large gaps you have around you smoke stack and I don't know if high temp silicone will be enough.