Newb From Santa Cruz CA

Thanks for the welcomes and replies.

I have a mig welder and a shop to weld it all up in but I also have a buddy who does large steel structures and such with a much bigger welder so he and I may tackle it together and build two.

As for the type of smoker to build.

I have always liked the offset but have not cooked on anything else so I have no idea.

I at one point tired to call a localish to me builder and see if he would rent me smokers for a few days at a time so I could try out the different styles.

I would say I don't mind babysitting my smoker but one I could set and forget would be cool.

I prefer to cook around 250-275 but the temps fluctuate lots on my COS even with baffles added. 

(its cheap and thin)

I have always used charcoal with fruit wood chunks  

I am a small volume kinda guy but the ability to do more at a time would be nice.

for instance. I can only fit 6 ribs on mine if I squeeze and shuffle them around

would be cool if I could get say 10 racks and have space for brisket, shoulder, or chicken.

If I could build or buy one that would fit whole hog that would be kinda nice too

I will get to some more reading and poking around on here.

Here are a few pork snacks I have done on my smoker

Thanks Toby,
I just saw the propane tank you are building...looks like it will be great.