I’ve been wanting to build a large offset smoker for quite a while now. Been busy and distracted with life for a long time and after getting sober, I’ve finally had the time, patience, and commitment to start a project of this size.
Found a 250 gallon tank for sale from a local shop, and bought an old boat trailer with title for only $300 bucks. Quite a steal considering I got the tank for $150, so I’m only set back $450 to start.
Started by marking my cuts and then filling it with water and cutting my doors. The doors are 33 inches wide and 19 1/2 inches tall. I was going to use a torch but wanted a finer cut so used some steel cutting disks and probably burned through at least 10 before all was said and done.
Took the day off yesterday to finish the doors and mount the hinges. Used 1/2 inch pipe and rod. I know there are much more elegant and attractive ways to build hinges, but I’m a novice welder, and for this project will be choosing function over form.
Also ended up grinding off all the valves and piping that came off the top. This took hours, but I'm happy with how it looks now. I'll need to patch these somehow prior to sandblasting and painting, so I'll deal with it later.
I’ve ordered two nickel plated spring handles from Amazon that I will be mounting this weekend over some leftover bent rod as well as finishing up the doors and seals.
I'm still working on concepts for the firebox. I'm thinking about buying another tank, cutting it in half, and mounting it to the end. This 250 gallon tank is 30 inches in diameter. Would a 30 inch cook chamber with a 30 inch firebox be too big? The reason I’m doing that is to avoid having to completely fabricate a tank, plus the cost that goes along with it. Also the smoke stack, how high does it need to go? How big a diameter should I use? I have lot's of questions...
I’ll keep you all updated as I make more progress and I'd love to hear your feedback and pointers, especially as a first timer building something like this.
Found a 250 gallon tank for sale from a local shop, and bought an old boat trailer with title for only $300 bucks. Quite a steal considering I got the tank for $150, so I’m only set back $450 to start.
Started by marking my cuts and then filling it with water and cutting my doors. The doors are 33 inches wide and 19 1/2 inches tall. I was going to use a torch but wanted a finer cut so used some steel cutting disks and probably burned through at least 10 before all was said and done.
Took the day off yesterday to finish the doors and mount the hinges. Used 1/2 inch pipe and rod. I know there are much more elegant and attractive ways to build hinges, but I’m a novice welder, and for this project will be choosing function over form.
Also ended up grinding off all the valves and piping that came off the top. This took hours, but I'm happy with how it looks now. I'll need to patch these somehow prior to sandblasting and painting, so I'll deal with it later.
I’ve ordered two nickel plated spring handles from Amazon that I will be mounting this weekend over some leftover bent rod as well as finishing up the doors and seals.
I'm still working on concepts for the firebox. I'm thinking about buying another tank, cutting it in half, and mounting it to the end. This 250 gallon tank is 30 inches in diameter. Would a 30 inch cook chamber with a 30 inch firebox be too big? The reason I’m doing that is to avoid having to completely fabricate a tank, plus the cost that goes along with it. Also the smoke stack, how high does it need to go? How big a diameter should I use? I have lot's of questions...
I’ll keep you all updated as I make more progress and I'd love to hear your feedback and pointers, especially as a first timer building something like this.
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