This is a report on the use of a GE wall oven used as a smoker.
I am not sure this is what you would call a build, but I did fabricate the smoke generator.
After looking at the smokers at the local BBQ eatery (they use Ole Hickey smokers) I made some observations (any clarifications, corrections, or additional info from someone more familiar with Ole Hickory smokers would be helpful)
1. They were natural gas fired with a PID temperature controller
2. There is a small fire box off to the side that has wood in it. When the unit calls for smoke a burner ignites an starts the wood smoke generation process
3. There was not that much smoke coming out of their stacks.
So with that in mind: Here are the goals I developed
1. Wanted a controlled temperature with quick recovery regardless of ambient temperature, wind, or food load
2. Wanted an insulated cabinet for stable temperature and cook time
3. Wanted the cook temperature and the amount of smoke separate and controllable
4. I wanted a unit with a very quick startup to be able to use it often
5. Wanted to use it inside the garage
6. Wanted a unit with low cost
7. Wanted something quick to convert and put into service
8. Wanted a second oven for cooking and warming
I found a GE Profile convection wall oven on CL for 50.00 it is almost like new.
I made a venturi smoke generator powered by an aquarium pump and plumbed it into the center of the bottom of the oven. There is a moisture trap as shown. No solder is used - its all just copper tubing pushed together. I am going to swap out the
last piece going into the oven with black pipe or SS
The oven plugs into my buzz box welder outlet so I did keep it 220. I set the unit up on blocks.
Observations:
1. The unit is very well insulated possibly due to the fact that it is a wall oven.
2. The unit already had a chimney of sorts, and it is vented through the front of the unit. I plan on adding an upflow pipe vent soon. I don't know if I will be able to smoke with the garage door closed (plumbing the vent thru the wall) but it might be possible.
3. The temp controller is not terribly bad (there is about an 18 degree swing) but I'm going to replace it with a PID controller and industrial thermocouple. Since the oven came with an electrical diagram I should be able to deploy the controller with the overtemp safety switches already in place in the circuit. The PID also has alarm outputs for overtemp that can sound an alarm.
4. Temperatures inside the cabinet varied greatly from the upper rack to the lower rack (like 18 degrees) until I turned on the convection fan, then they were within a few degrees of each other. Using the convection fan also seems to increase the smoke generation and flow.
5. The smoke generator itself doesn't like to stay lit for over 20-30 minutes. Still working on that.
6. I had to get a cord because being a wall oven it was hard wired in previously. The cord was 25 buck (ouch)
Other than the above issues I don't see too many huge obstacles but we are only 4 smokes in. BTW I do like the oven light.
I hope this info helps someone.
Best Regards
I am not sure this is what you would call a build, but I did fabricate the smoke generator.
After looking at the smokers at the local BBQ eatery (they use Ole Hickey smokers) I made some observations (any clarifications, corrections, or additional info from someone more familiar with Ole Hickory smokers would be helpful)
1. They were natural gas fired with a PID temperature controller
2. There is a small fire box off to the side that has wood in it. When the unit calls for smoke a burner ignites an starts the wood smoke generation process
3. There was not that much smoke coming out of their stacks.
So with that in mind: Here are the goals I developed
1. Wanted a controlled temperature with quick recovery regardless of ambient temperature, wind, or food load
2. Wanted an insulated cabinet for stable temperature and cook time
3. Wanted the cook temperature and the amount of smoke separate and controllable
4. I wanted a unit with a very quick startup to be able to use it often
5. Wanted to use it inside the garage
6. Wanted a unit with low cost
7. Wanted something quick to convert and put into service
8. Wanted a second oven for cooking and warming
I found a GE Profile convection wall oven on CL for 50.00 it is almost like new.
I made a venturi smoke generator powered by an aquarium pump and plumbed it into the center of the bottom of the oven. There is a moisture trap as shown. No solder is used - its all just copper tubing pushed together. I am going to swap out the
last piece going into the oven with black pipe or SS
The oven plugs into my buzz box welder outlet so I did keep it 220. I set the unit up on blocks.
Observations:
1. The unit is very well insulated possibly due to the fact that it is a wall oven.
2. The unit already had a chimney of sorts, and it is vented through the front of the unit. I plan on adding an upflow pipe vent soon. I don't know if I will be able to smoke with the garage door closed (plumbing the vent thru the wall) but it might be possible.
3. The temp controller is not terribly bad (there is about an 18 degree swing) but I'm going to replace it with a PID controller and industrial thermocouple. Since the oven came with an electrical diagram I should be able to deploy the controller with the overtemp safety switches already in place in the circuit. The PID also has alarm outputs for overtemp that can sound an alarm.
4. Temperatures inside the cabinet varied greatly from the upper rack to the lower rack (like 18 degrees) until I turned on the convection fan, then they were within a few degrees of each other. Using the convection fan also seems to increase the smoke generation and flow.
5. The smoke generator itself doesn't like to stay lit for over 20-30 minutes. Still working on that.
6. I had to get a cord because being a wall oven it was hard wired in previously. The cord was 25 buck (ouch)
Other than the above issues I don't see too many huge obstacles but we are only 4 smokes in. BTW I do like the oven light.
I hope this info helps someone.
Best Regards
