Vertical aluminum smoker build

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seguragreenwave

Fire Starter
Original poster
Oct 23, 2014
43
11
Kingwood, TX
"Up cycled" an old aluminum storage box into a vertical smoker.

Box is 5' x 3' x 2' x 0.375" thick folded aluminum with a sealed lip in the lid.

Cut holes for NG lines and air vents on sides and front and back.



4 expanded metal shelves, resting on aluminum angle.

Bayou Classic Banjo burner converted to NG.
Water pan on lowest shelf and cast iron griddle for wood.



Plenty of knowledge utilized and gleaned from this forum.

Thanks for looking. Any questions or comments welcome.

Craig
 
Where are you locating your stack ?

Gary
 
Have you done any cooking yet?

YOU KNOW WE WANT PICS
grilling_smilie.gif
 
Have you done any cooking yet?
YOU KNOW WE WANT PICS :grilling_smilie:

Oh yeah !

Pulled pork


Turkey


Brisket

Reverse sear prime rib

Crosscut beef ribs
 
I am currently in a build similar to this. Cres cor heating cabinet with a Pellet Pro hopper. hope to get it done in a couple weeks from now.... Nice build by the way.
 
Just curious, how is it at holding temps? Just having spent time as an aircraft machinist I've had the thermal properties of alum beat into my head, therefore it would be low on my choices of material.
But it looks great and the food looks even better!
On the paint, I've yet to find an "over the counter" primer that sticks worth a hoot, I'd either polish it or look into powder coating it.
 
With the pellet hopper making non-stop fire to hold temp. It will not be much different then a smoker grill. Now if its insulated then it will hold heat too well. You have to make big vents to bring in cool air.
 
Last edited:
Just curious, how is it at holding temps? Just having spent time as an aircraft machinist I've had the thermal properties of alum beat into my head, therefore it would be low on my choices of material.
But it looks great and the food looks even better!
On the paint, I've yet to find an "over the counter" primer that sticks worth a hoot, I'd either polish it or look into powder coating it.
I haven't cooked anything in it yet, but the two test runs seem to be holding temp very accurately and consistently.   I checked the calibration of the Pellet Pro with two separate digital, quick-read thermometers and the temps were within +/- 3 degrees F.

Before it was easy to hold temp with a huge burner inside with 2 control valves.   The new dampers are much better than the cheap air vents I originally used, seem to help the air and smoke flow better, and allow more precise control. The Pellet Pro seems to have no problems keeping the temp up.....in fact, it gets the entire smoker up to 300 degrees F in about 4-5 minutes.

Next will be some clean-up from the new cutting and drilling, then some Q!!!
 
I have a build similar to this and the biggest problem with holding temps is if it is in a windy location.

The wind will draw the heat right out of it. I have it in a wood storage shed... no rain or wind problems.

nice job! looks great!

SOB
 
 
I have a build similar to this and the biggest problem with holding temps is if it is in a windy location.

The wind will draw the heat right out of it. I have it in a wood storage shed... no rain or wind problems.

nice job! looks great!

SOB
Out of the first test on my build with the Cres Cor warmer I am finding that a little wind would help. The temp still is hard to keep down. It has so far been running about 200 to 220 at lowest settings.  Both the bottom vent and stack wide open. The Pellet Pro at lowest settings is providing plenty of heat.
 
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