Hello from Wisconsin!
I'm new to the forum and planning my first RF smoker build. I have a couple questions to get me headed in the right direction. I couldn't find an old propane tank, so I acquired some old rusty 20" X 1/4" pipe from a local steel supplier. I had them cut a 4' and 2' piece which turned out to be more like 55" and 26" pieces. I'm building a backyard smoker, so I don't intend of competing and since it's just my wife and I in the house, I would rarely have the need to cook a lot of meat at once except for an occasional party. I don't plan on putting it on a trailer, but do plan on attaching 4 old steel tractor wheels (2 large at the FB & 2 small under the end of the CC) to make it kinda look like an old tractor. That way, I can at least roll it around if I need to and if it doesn't work, I can let it rust in the yard like yard art :-). The pipe is pretty heavy so:
1. Should I take advantage of the whole 55" for the CC, or would a pipe that size work better on a 48" or even a 36" smoker?
2. I've read somewhere that round ends are better opposite the FB to promote a more fluid path for smoke and heat as opposed to a flat or square end. So my plan was to cut the smaller pipe in half longways then cut it and the end of the CC to create somewhat of a round end. Sorta like a reverse Saddle Cut. I realize I'll probably end up doing a lot of grinding to get them to fit properly, so I'm wondering if it's really worth the effort or should I just weld on a flat end?
More questions and pictures to come.
Thanks for any advice.
George
I'm new to the forum and planning my first RF smoker build. I have a couple questions to get me headed in the right direction. I couldn't find an old propane tank, so I acquired some old rusty 20" X 1/4" pipe from a local steel supplier. I had them cut a 4' and 2' piece which turned out to be more like 55" and 26" pieces. I'm building a backyard smoker, so I don't intend of competing and since it's just my wife and I in the house, I would rarely have the need to cook a lot of meat at once except for an occasional party. I don't plan on putting it on a trailer, but do plan on attaching 4 old steel tractor wheels (2 large at the FB & 2 small under the end of the CC) to make it kinda look like an old tractor. That way, I can at least roll it around if I need to and if it doesn't work, I can let it rust in the yard like yard art :-). The pipe is pretty heavy so:
1. Should I take advantage of the whole 55" for the CC, or would a pipe that size work better on a 48" or even a 36" smoker?
2. I've read somewhere that round ends are better opposite the FB to promote a more fluid path for smoke and heat as opposed to a flat or square end. So my plan was to cut the smaller pipe in half longways then cut it and the end of the CC to create somewhat of a round end. Sorta like a reverse Saddle Cut. I realize I'll probably end up doing a lot of grinding to get them to fit properly, so I'm wondering if it's really worth the effort or should I just weld on a flat end?
More questions and pictures to come.
Thanks for any advice.
George
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