1940 GE Refrig Build

[comanchejohn]

Been stalking this site for a long time. Thank you for all the great ideas!

I lucked into a 1940 GE refrig for $50 on craigslist after months of looking.  It took me a couple of weeks of clean up, disassemble, and paint removal, and clean some more.  The unit was still cooling and had sulfur dioxide refrigerant which was tricky.  It was brown, over green, over white.  After getting down to bare metal - its is now its metallic red.    This is now nearly complete after a month of off and on work.  Put 7 shelves in.  Still looking for racks that fit properly ( & that I like).  I used Roxul insulation all the way around the smoke chamber and inside the door.  The original insulation was cardboard.  Afterburner C propane unit from Ampco in bottom.  Got it up to 350 last night and dialed it down to 225 where it stayed for 2 hours & outside shell was cool to the touch. Smoke stack borrowed from a MasterForge smoker/grill at Lowes.  Replaced plastic body and door liner with 16 gauge stainless steel.  The top of the smokechamber is new 16 gauge stainless steel.  (Got relatively cheap steel at speedymetals.com - check their firesale section and cross your fingers.)  The rest of the box is porcelained steel. Used cheap graphite stove rope together with Red RTV silicone for the seal.  5 inch rubber casters from Grainger.  For smoke I am trying the A Maze N Smoker first (simply due to price) - may get a smokedaddy at some point if I dont like the results with the Amazen - or if I get tired of using up space inside the smoke chamber.  My new thermometer is on the way - & will crank it up to season it this weekend.  I used the left over metal to build a shelf for my propane tank. Just need to mount a bottle opener and I'm set.

IMG_0428[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

The multiple layers of old paint was so thick I wasnt even sure the badge was still on the unit.

IMG_0426[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

IMG_0429[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

IMG_0430[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

IMG_0432[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

IMG_0433[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

IMG_0454[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

The afterburner is barely visible.  The heat dispersal plate is a large cookie sheet with bolts for legs. The ceramic briquettes are on a rock grate for added heat dispersal. 

IMG_0455[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

 

[lu1847]

Very nice. I love a clean build! I like the ceramic for heat distribution. Really nice job. Well done sir.

 

[themule69]

Been stalking this site for a long time. Thank you for all the great ideas!

I lucked into a 1940 GE refrig for $50 on craigslist after months of looking.  It took me a couple of weeks of clean up, disassemble, and paint removal, and clean some more.  The unit was still cooling and had sulfur dioxide refrigerant which was tricky.  It was brown, over green, over white.  After getting down to bare metal - its is now its metallic red.    This is now nearly complete after a month of off and on work.  Put 7 shelves in.  Still looking for racks that fit properly ( & that I like).  I used Roxul insulation all the way around the smoke chamber and inside the door.  The original insulation was cardboard.  Afterburner C propane unit from Ampco in bottom.  Got it up to 350 last night and dialed it down to 225 where it stayed for 2 hours & outside shell was cool to the touch. Smoke stack borrowed from a MasterForge smoker/grill at Lowes.  Replaced plastic body and door liner with 16 gauge stainless steel.  The top of the smokechamber is new 16 gauge stainless steel.  (Got relatively cheap steel at speedymetals.com - check their firesale section and cross your fingers.)  The rest of the box is porcelained steel. Used cheap graphite stove rope together with Red RTV silicone for the seal.  5 inch rubber casters from Grainger.  For smoke I am trying the A Maze N Smoker first (simply due to price) - may get a smokedaddy at some point if I dont like the results with the Amazen - or if I get tired of using up space inside the smoke chamber.  My new thermometer is on the way - & will crank it up to season it this weekend.  I used the left over metal to build a shelf for my propane tank. Just need to mount a bottle opener and I'm set.

IMG_0428[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

The multiple layers of old paint was so thick I wasnt even sure the badge was still on the unit.

IMG_0426[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

IMG_0429[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

IMG_0430[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

IMG_0432[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

IMG_0433[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

IMG_0454[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

The afterburner is barely visible.  The heat dispersal plate is a large cookie sheet with bolts for legs. The ceramic briquettes are on a rock grate for added heat dispersal. 

IMG_0455[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

the amnps will previde all the smoke you want. nice build. i can see many years of great smoke coming from your fridge.

david

 

[dirtsailor2003]

That is one slick looking smoker! I even think my fiance (she doesn't quite understand why I need the 4 smokers I already have) would let me bring that home!

Cant wait to see what comes out of it!

 

[mneeley490]

Wow, that looks really nice! Looks like a professional job. Can't wait to see some 'Q in there.

BTW, beautiful area, Falls Church. I visited some friends next door in Leesburg a few years ago in the Fall.

 

[comanchejohn]

Thanks for your comments.  My 14 yr old son and I really had fun doing this project.  I'll post pics of some Q in the near future - I cant wait to get it fired up.
 

 

[rednek-]

My 14 yr old son and I really had fun doing this project.
 

That's PRICELESS. 

Nice looking build as well.

 

[backwoods bbq]

I am very unfamiliar with electric smoker builds...where did you buy the heating element? did you just flume in propane?

 

[backwoods bbq]

ok i found accessories at gassmoker.com my two last questions are:

1. does gas make the meat taste different?

2. is there any place cheaper?

  thanks

 

[comanchejohn]

Backwoods - there is no electric heating element.  There is a propane burner in the floor of the refrigerator that I purchased at http://gassmoker.com/.  It is the Afterburner C unit - very simple install. Just used a 3" cut off tool and cut a hole through the bottom of unit & dropped it in. 

 

[comanchejohn]

I havent fired it up yet - this saturday will be my test run.  You may be able to get a cheaper burner from somewhere else. this was super easy and saved me the time from having to search for parts that fit. It is my first experiment with a gas unit ... i'll keep you posted on the results.

 

[themule69]

ok i found accessories at gassmoker.com my two last questions are:

1. does gas make the meat taste different?

2. is there any place cheaper?

  thanks

gas is just a heat source. same as electric. no taste just heat.

 

[backwoods bbq]

gas is just a heat source. same as electric. no taste just heat.

unless your flame is yellow promoting soot. or the flame goes out and your smoker fills with propane gas. Im just trying to get an idea of stuff to avoid i know you want a blue flame I have seen people drill extra holes in the brownie pan for the after burner to keep gas from fillin the smoker any other ideas?

 

[unionguynw]

Great looking build! I have the same model fridge but I think mine is a few years older as my interior and door skin were all metal. Your paint looks great too, that's what mine is missing. Here's a link to my build:

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/103852/cool-smoke-fridge-build

 

[abode45]

Really like what you've done here.
What type of control valve does the propane unit have? I like the propane option instead of the electric element with all the wiring involved. Do you think you'll be able to get low temps 120-180 (for summer sausage) with the propane option?

 

[frosty]

Looks like perfection from my viewpoint. 

 

[comanchejohn]

Union guy - yep we have the same unit. The interior & door of mine is porcelained steel. Did yours have compressed cardboard as the original insulation?

 

[unionguynw]

IMG_0432[1].jpg

• comanchejohn
• Jan 7, 2013

I have found that if my smoker sits for a week or so this latch starts to stick in the "in" position. A screwdriver gently prying around the edges seems to free it.

Union guy - yep we have the same unit. The interior & door of mine is porcelained steel. Did yours have compressed cardboard as the original insulation?

It does and I left it since I will only be doing lower temp smokes. Hasn't been an issue so far.

 

[shadybz]

Nice Build!  Mine is a 1939 G.E. that i turned into an electric smoker.  I did however replace the cardboard insulation with roxul insulation.  Now get that thing dirty!
 

 

[the smokeman]

Beautiful job on smoker, I am going to make one out of an old steel cabinet make my own shelves going to be a cold smoke and heat plate or can use with wood or charcoal