1,000 Gallon Smoker

[sxfxz]

Well I started with a $40 kettle grill and got pretty good at that but got tired of using charcoal and smoldering wood so I upgraded to a $60 eBay offset smoker so at least I can have a clean burning fire (I say that loosely. Lol). Now wanting to really step it up I decided to build my own smoker. A deal came up on a 1,000 gallon tank that I couldn't refuse so I'm going big. lol

Anyways after about 5 hours of cutting I almost have the doors fully cut out leaving the corners in tact. This week I will make hinges and handles and add the trim and hopefully finish the doors.

Tank while I was cutting out doors:
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/SxFxZ/media/D6EE74AE-8C72-4DF6-80AD-16C4F66F103E.jpg.html

Working on my fire control on my $60 smoker:

Video:
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a125/SxFxZ/49ED373E-2043-407F-A53F-1FC332B7790C.mp4

 

[pete mazz]

In my best Elvis voice "That's huge, man"

 

[sxfxz]

My question is I was going to just to a 250 gallon tank cut in half for the fire box but according to "calculations" I "should" use a firebox that is 333.333 gallons...so even if I used a whole 250 gallon tank...who's going to crawl in to tend to the fire? lol

 

[randyhood]

Wow. Personally, I think with this ambitious of a project, you're a little out of the scope that those "calculations" are intended for. If Franklin makes the world's best BBQ using a 1000 gallon CC and half a 250 gallon tank for the FB, I'd say that's the standard you need to go by. Perhaps there is a solid theoretical or empirical basis for the 1/3 ratio, but Franklin's theory seems to be more grounded in getting a lot of airflow and good smoke through the CC than to fine tune volumes and fuss about vents.

I'm about to start an offset build too, and I'm just doing what Franklin does. I know, it sounds like teenage fandom, but you know what? He's inspiring and makes BBQ fun.

 

[sxfxz]

I have actually found a 500 gallon propane tank that is 41" in diameter for $200 so I'm going to cut that down and insulate it. I'm assuming better to be too big than too small?

 

[hardcookin]

Wow that thing will be HUGE. You probably need to put counter weights on them doors to be able to lift them.

 

[sxfxz]

Nah the doors will only be about 60lbs. Not that heavy.

 

[sxfxz]

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/SxFxZ/media/D1B7958C-3168-4EE8-8A05-6347E80FD465.jpg.html

Handles are welded up, hinges are cut and bent. Tomorrow hopefully I can get them welded up and have working doors.

 

[sxfxz]

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/SxFxZ/media/CD2E6071-8EFE-43DC-8CDA-8EADABA6DBB1.jpg.html

Starting to look like a cooker!

 

[hardcookin]

Your making nice progress. Thumbs Up

 

[chilerelleno]

Now this is worth watching
:popcorn :popcorn :popcorn :popcorn

 

[sxfxz]

Got all the doors broke free and got my fire box. Got the area cut out for the smoke stack. Slow but steady...

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/SxFxZ/media/75F22400-A620-4F1E-8CB4-5BE4367A1C86.jpg.html
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/SxFxZ/media/DBC9A91D-B6EE-48AF-91BA-06B615809747.jpg.html
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/SxFxZ/media/B2437099-92C2-424A-9EC7-8CA969AC9D87.jpg.html

Having trouble sourcing a 10" smoke stack that's 8 feet long. Any ideas?

 

[rstroup10]

Having trouble sourcing a 10" smoke stack that's 8 feet long. Any ideas?

I am using an old 6" square light pole that came from a parking lot. You could look around for a round one.

 

[socalcooker]

If you were closer I'd give you some 11 inch tube that I have.

Kyle

 

[sxfxz]

Making progress
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/SxFxZ/media/4EEB6852-4561-4B13-B486-5BFD0255F01D.jpg.html

But for now I'm building coals to try my 3rd brisket ever and first on my $60 eBay offset smoker.
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/SxFxZ/media/0DC8250C-96B9-4489-8C9C-5ACBD699D521.jpg.html
http://s10.photobucket.com/user/SxFxZ/media/D73024C0-8478-409D-8A76-2FA461EF89E3.jpg.html

 

[ahumadora]

Find a sheetmetal shop with a roller and they can roll you a chimney to your exact diemensions.  

I did that for the 9" exhaust on the 500 gallon I just finished.    I used #14 hot rolled and works great.

Figure the diameter and multiply by 3.14 to get the length of sheetmetal you need.

 

[smokin peachey]

When I made my chimney I used a piece of 8" that was 2' long so it wasn't so heavy to work with. I have a piece of 8" stove pipe that slides inside the piece 8" pipe. I don't know why you couldn't do the same with 10".

 

[sxfxz]

That is what I did...$600 for a 10" pipe with 1/8" wall thickness and a 34" pipe with 3/8" wall thickness.

 

[sxfxz]

http://s10.photobucket.com/user/SxFxZ/media/067DD0A9-41CC-4788-9409-6787313F0C6E.jpg.html

[emoji]128584[/emoji]

 

[woodyg]

Whoa that is big! Looks awesome. Can't wait to see how it turns out