Fan In A Smoker ?

lathechips

Fire Starter

Original poster

Dec 29, 2015

56

13

• May 15, 2016

• #1

I'm working on building a vertical smoker simular to or even a file cabinet size.  Question is circulating heat & smoke evenly from top to bottom.  Computer fan or fans?  Mount on top or bottom?

 

chef jimmyj

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

May 12, 2011

22,172

7,150

• May 15, 2016

• #2

I have not looked into it lately but I could not find any fans that would operate at temps over 180 to 200°F. Makes it hard to put one in a smoker. The only viable option was installing a through the wall Convection Fan used in ovens. Since I was wanting to add something simple to a MES40 for even heat, I was not going through the trouble...JJ

 

jasper7

Smoking Fanatic

Mar 14, 2013

385

32

just a little bit south of cape caution

• May 15, 2016

• #3

This may not be what you are looking for but it could work.  Its a fan mounted over the charcoal basket, made and sold by a company called Hunsaker.  I don't want to post an outside link, just google hunsaker vortex smoker, and their website will come up.  Click on bbq shop, and scroll down, near the bottom of the page is what I'm talking about.  It might not suit your needs but it is a fan that operates inside the smoker.  BTW they make one to fit the 22.5" weber smokey mountain too.  Hope this helps.

 

jhole

Newbie

Feb 12, 2016

11

10

• May 21, 2016

• #4

If I were going to add a fan to the inside of my smoker...  I would probably keep it as simple as possible and only put the components that actually HAD to be in the chamber, in there, due to heat , smoke, and kreosote.    In this case - it would be a blade and a shaft...

The general concept would just involve drilling a hole , adding some sort of heat sink or heat dissipating spacer , and a bearing - then sliding just the blade and fan inside, and turning the shaft externally with whatever method was most appropriate for the application... ( pulley / belt, DC motor, gears , etc ...)

 

rsrobins

Newbie

Dec 10, 2013

10

11

• May 27, 2016

• #5

20160215_180014.jpg

• rsrobins
• May 28, 2016

I have 3 computer fans in my smoker. One at the bottom and one at each end at the top pointing down. It really helps even the temperature in my smoker. I only use my smoker for sausage and fish so i dont get the temperature over 170° . Anymore than that the computer fans will probably fail.

 

Last edited: May 28, 2016

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jtglenn.1854

Newbie

Mar 25, 2021

1

0

• Mar 25, 2021

• #7

rsrobins said:

20160215_180014.jpg

• rsrobins
• May 28, 2016

I have 3 computer fans in my smoker. One at the bottom and one at each end at the top pointing down. It really helps even the temperature in my smoker. I only use my smoker for sausage and fish so i dont get the temperature over 170° . Anymore than that the computer fans will probably fail.

Click to expand...

Rsrobins what are you using on the wall to hold your grates? Any information would be great!

 

oldsmokerdude

Smoking Fanatic

SMF Premier Member

Jun 5, 2018

926

377

LaPorte Indiana

• Mar 26, 2021

• #8

Auber makes a couple fans the advertise for electric smokers . I haven't tried one yet but am considering one for my Smokin' It smoker.