The smoker looks really cool.
Only thing missing is a beer pole!
Ryan
Cool looking smoker. I've built a few of my own but they have all been cabinet smokers.
I was reading through this and planned to suggest sloping the deflector plate from low right to high left but it appears as though you figured that out. Should make a HUGE difference getting that plate installed.
Robert....from Central Texas, USA
Cool looking smoker. I've built a few of my own but they have all been cabinet smokers.
I was reading through this and planned to suggest sloping the deflector plate from low right to high left but it appears as though you figured that out. Should make a HUGE difference getting that plate installed.
Robert....from Central Texas, USA
Welcome to the site, put another stack on the left side, that way you can adjust each stack in case you have different thickness of meats, no need to swap anything around
Follow my advice with the caveat that I am no expert...But what you posted might very well work. And at worst you out 21 pds.
Jim
Man Ryan, I wish you had not said that. Now you got me wanting to make one for him but shipping over the pond would be painful. It appears though that he could make his own. Yo Tommie...here is a thread on a beer pole I fabricated for a forum member here. It wound up going WAY further than I expected but it was a fun project and this is a fun thread....long but fun.Only thing missing is a beer pole!
If you're planning to use it as a traditional offset then yes. I'd drill a series of holes starting small closer to the fire box and getting larger the further away from the fire box you get. If you're going to use it as a reverse flow unit, then no, don't drill the holes. Another option would be to create a T-Pit. I used to have one and it was incredible!! Move the stack to the rear center. Build a heavy-duty deflector plate 4 to 5 inches shorter than the inside of the cook chamber. Place it in the center of the CC level (no slope) and you'll create a smoker that is reverse flow from both ends. Perfectly balanced temps left to right and top to bottom. Please....trust me on this. It is a simple but amazingly efficient design. You will also have the flexibility of moving the deflector plate one way or another if you want to create two different cooking zones with different temps. Damp down one end for lower temps and that will open the other end for higher temps. I was able to run 230* on one end for ribs and 275* on the other end for briskets. Pics and links available upon request.Would you suggest some small holes in the plate to allow a little heat/smoke through to the underside of the meat?
Welcome Tommie. This is what we are all about. A lot of us know each other and have for a long time so we share jokes, know about each other's families, cookers, preferences, pets, cook styles, and so on. Please don't let that lead you to think we are a bunch of elitists. We are not....not at all. We're just a bunch of friends that have gained a familiarity with one another. Please don't hesitate to jump into the fracasI’ve never had such a friendly welcome from any forum, and I’ve been on a few…so thanks to all
Uh oh Tommie. You best watch out for this guy. He is an elite member of a super secret group here called the Exalted Order Of The Enablers. In no time he'll have you spending money hand over fist loading up on all sorts of things you never thought you needed. He will however convince you that you'll not be able to function without these items so therefore MUST spend the $$ to get them. Jim is dangerous...be afraid Tommie, very afraidWell we do try to help! And you do have a good looking cooker.
Man Ryan, I wish you had not said that. Now you got me wanting to make one for him but shipping over the pond would be painful. It appears though that he could make his own. Yo Tommie...here is a thread on a beer pole I fabricated for a forum member here. It wound up going WAY further than I expected but it was a fun project and this is a fun thread....long but fun.
Hey Chris, Your New Beer Pole....Seriously (Pics)
A while back I posted some recent metal fabrication projects that I'd done. Someone (don't remember who it was) jokingly commented that I should build a new beer pole for Chris ( @gmc2003 ) As much as it may have been in jest, I thought it sounded like a pretty cool idea. Had a few minutes on...www.smokingmeatforums.com
If you're planning to use it as a traditional offset then yes. I'd drill a series of holes starting small closer to the fire box and getting larger the further away from the fire box you get. If you're going to use it as a reverse flow unit, then no, don't drill the holes. Another option would be to create a T-Pit. I used to have one and it was incredible!! Move the stack to the rear center. Build a heavy-duty deflector plate 4 to 5 inches shorter than the inside of the cook chamber. Place it in the center of the CC level (no slope) and you'll create a smoker that is reverse flow from both ends. Perfectly balanced temps left to right and top to bottom. Please....trust me on this. It is a simple but amazingly efficient design. You will also have the flexibility of moving the deflector plate one way or another if you want to create two different cooking zones with different temps. Damp down one end for lower temps and that will open the other end for higher temps. I was able to run 230* on one end for ribs and 275* on the other end for briskets. Pics and links available upon request.
Welcome Tommie. This is what we are all about. A lot of us know each other and have for a long time so we share jokes, know about each other's families, cookers, preferences, pets, cook styles, and so on. Please don't let that lead you to think we are a bunch of elitists. We are not....not at all. We're just a bunch of friends that have gained a familiarity with one another. Please don't hesitate to jump into the fracas
Uh oh Tommie. You best watch out for this guy. He is an elite member of a super secret group here called the Exalted Order Of The Enablers. In no time he'll have you spending money hand over fist loading up on all sorts of things you never thought you needed. He will however convince you that you'll not be able to function without these items so therefore MUST spend the $$ to get them. Jim is dangerous...be afraid Tommie, very afraid
Bianca's dad signing out,
Robert
By goodness fellas.... did you hear that??? This guy needs a welder!!!Haha, beer pole what a great idea, for the man that has everything right?? When the beer pole was mentioned earlier, I confess I went to google as I hadn’t heard of one, assumed it was just a bolt on the side beer holster (was wondering how that wouldn’t result in a very warm beer ). Looks awesome man!
The T pit idea sounds awesome and for my kind of firebox entry (central bottom), potentially the best idea for my set up.
I’m gonna try the reverse flow idea first with some cooking plates, (maybe even make some tuning plates) just because the stacks already where it is, and then I reckon I’ll end up moving the stack when I get some time and creating the T pit
Man I wish I was more confident with the welder, mines held together with ducting spigots (de-galvanised btw), pop rivets and fire cement… it works but learning how to weld would make things like moving the stack and blanking off the current hole so much easier… the only welding on mine is the lips on the door, which were ugly as hell but on the reverse side and after some buffing didn’t end up too bad.
I was about ready to cook on this but now i think I’m going back to the drawing board with a few things don’t wanna be out there stressing worrying about temp discrepancy for hours but i suppose that’s all part of the fun isn’t it!
Thanks again guys
If I can add my two cents with. I would just go with the “reverse” flow deflector plate and drain vs the little hook thing. That will add a lot of losses. The other thing you could add is just a water/drip pan over the hole. That chamber is small enough not much will be needed. PS I have built a reverse flow that dice before….it’s and awesome little cooler
Welding well, here are a couple things to think about….. as my son put it as I was teaching him “oh it’s just like practicing cursive writing”. Next (realize that all good welders do this) is you always practice on a similar piece prior to the actual weld session….. as a new welder get a scrap piece and “run lines” to practice and to get the welder adjusted so it’s smooth (it shouldn't sound snappy like popcorn but like a semi smooth electrical buzz). Before each line practice draw the path with the tip so your hands and muscles “know what to do”. Next CLEAN (grind, sand , or wire brush) your welding area….a rusty dirty area is difficult and results in bad welds. For a wire welder, the next trick is make sure your tip is clean and “snap” off a short section of the wire for each start. This helps with instant welding and not the wire coming out and pushing the tip funny cause it doesn’t make contact because of flux over a wire from the previous weld. Lastly is get a self darkening helmet that is adjustable for darkness…..they are a WONDER!
Oh bonus tip, don’t buy cheap welding wire…..My welder happens to love Lincoln Electric inner shield NR211MP. It is designed for thinner steel as well as up to 5/16th - 1/2” thick and in all positions…..(ie vertical and upside down)