IT'S TIIIIIIMMME!!!!!!! FINALLY BUILDING MY REVERSE FLOW!!

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smokingohiobutcher

Master of the Pit
Original poster
OTBS Member
Jun 21, 2009
1,185
34
The North Coast of Ohio
So, many of you probably don't know me. I used to be a regular around here...The founder of SOB-QTV!

Been pretty busy lately but now I am finally getting to start my reverse flow patio sized smoker. I've been picking up pieces and parts for many years

for this idea and now its GO TIME!!

Here we start with a simple drawing to get thoughts on paper.


2 air compressor tanks joined at 90* to form a cooking chamber/ vertical warming box-firebox.

Not your usual design, But I am not your usual individual.

After working with Dave Omak on some numbers I asked my older brother for some help. He is a heavy equipment mechanic with lots of

ingenuity and knowledge. thank goodness he said yes!

Well here's some pics to get things started. Holler if ya have any suggestions...I would love some feedback.








My nephew also got into the build also. The frame for the smoker is from an auction I was at, got it cheap. The axel I got from a friend for $50...Had to shorten it , but its just the right size.

Here my brother is making the first cut on the end of the horizontal cook chamber to start the process of scribing the tank to match the vertical tank.





Starting the first scribed cuts...It took several times of scribing and cutting and fitting the tanks together to get them to fit tight.









Finally starting to look like the vision in my head.



this is where we are at so far...looking good I'd say.
 
So here's a question...I am going to use the vertical tank as the stack for the horizontal cook chamber. What size hole do I need to put in the side if the vertical tank to allow the smoke and heat to exhaust out through the vertical tanks stack? Should it be the same size as the stack? Or the same size as the fb/cc opening? I don't want to create a choke point that won't allow the smoke to draft adequately. I have a thought to use this design as a damper inside to be able to control the flow , but not sure that it will allow enough flow.
Then again, do I really need a damper inside? Help......
 
This is what I would do, in response to your question... 




So, open it up. How will that affect my stack height? Do I need just a short stack or will I still need a certain length of stack? Thanks for the help. Picking up the rest of my steel order today so things should start to move along now.
 
The vertical chamber is the stack...  You just need opening(s) in the top or on the side of the vert. chamber...  I recommend the sides so condensate does not drip back on the food....
 
So yesterday I picked up a load of stainless steel rod,for the cooking grates, and a 1/2" steel plate for the top of the firebox. Now we can make some progress so I should have some pics soon.
 
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Moving right along...

This is my fire grate for the firebox. made of 1/2" steel round bar with 1" spacing.



This is the start of the air intakes for the firebox and one for the stack stub on the top of the vertical cooking chamber.



Yeah I know the welding is a bit rough, but a guy has to start somewhere. Besides it held up to some "re-adjusting" when we were fitting the caps on.



Here is the start of the firebox that we are adding onto the bottom of the vertical cook chamber.


My brother is the man with the skills...cutting the circles for the caps for the intakes.





And here are the flow controls. they still need a little clean up,  but they're ready for install.




Next is to work some more on the firebox....
 
Suggestion, did you consider putting a damper on the bottom of the vertical chamber? My friend has a Lang with an adjustable opening. Close it for use as a warmer or adjust it to allow more heat smoke. We use it all the time to cook beans, taters.

I'm in and watching...have fun...don't let the sparks bite!

RG
 
So here's a question...I am going to use the vertical tank as the stack for the horizontal cook chamber. What size hole do I need to put in the side if the vertical tank to allow the smoke and heat to exhaust out through the vertical tanks stack? Should it be the same size as the stack? Or the same size as the fb/cc opening? I don't want to create a choke point that won't allow the smoke to draft adequately. I have a thought to use this design as a damper inside to be able to control the flow , but not sure that it will allow enough flow.
Then again, do I really need a damper inside? Help......
Hey, thats my picture!  :)  Gonna say though, I think yours turned out better than mine!  I like how you used the round bar to hold the nut inside, it would have made my life a lot easier when I made mine.  Those little pieces of flat steel were hard to hold in there and weld.  Nice job on the smoker!
 
Really cool design and good build. You have some real talent on your team.

I agree with RadioGuy on the damper between the CC and the vertical warming/cooking chamber. I would size the opening the same as the Firebox/CC opening and add a damper so you can close it off if need be.
 
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This should be quite the smoker when finished! I'm guessing the finished color maybe maize and blue?:biggrin:
 
Yeah, I've been working on this in my head for along time. It's finally all coming together. Also, if I had some...I'd smoke some buckeyes on it when it's done! [emoji]128513[/emoji]
 
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