250 gallon, reverse flow trailer smoker

[scozbo]

I have been reading / lurking here for quite a while. I am building a 250 gallon, reverse flow trailer smoker. I see all of the intimidating mathematical equations for figuring out the fire box size and the size of the holes and it makes me worry. I just did what looked right to me. I got a 250 gallon propane from a local gas company here in Jacksonville, FL for $35. I bought an old jon boat trailer from a guy at work (i need new wheels and springs). I got the scrap metal for the fire box for free from work, I work at a shipyard. I have been working on it for a while. I hit it in spurts, when I have free time. I am gathering my pics and will post them soon. I have some galvanized sheet metal to put in the bottom, for the smoke chamber. should I remove the galvanization befor I use them?

 

[ribwizzard]

Yes, you should have someone down there at the shipyard doing sandblasting, But I do recomend not using galvanized at all if you can find another piece thats not.

 

[scarbelly]

Yes, you should have someone down there at the shipyard doing sandblasting, But I do recomend not using galvanized at all if you can find another piece thats not.

X2 on the galvanized - not safe for cooking 

Galvanized steel should never be used for cookware or food storage since this may lead to [color= rgb(54, 99, 136)]zinc poisoning[/color]  (aka heavy metal poisoning). Exposure to high levels of zinc can cause lethargy, dizziness, nausea, fever, diarrhea, irritability, muscular stiffness and pain, loss of appetite, and reversible pancreatic and neurological damage.

 

[bruno994]

X3 on the galvanized. 

 

[scozbo]

10-4! I appreciate the response. I will not use the galvo for the smoke plates/chamber but I do already have a piece of galvanized spiral duct welded on for the smoke stack. I imagine that will be ok because the smoke hits the galv spiral duct and then leaves the smoker, it never hits the meat. Please tell me it's ok, I sure would hate to cut it back off.

 

[daveomak]

scozbo, evening and welcome to the forum.....   The members here want you to build the best smoker possible, cure and smoke the best meats in your neighborhood and safety is our number one concern....  Cut the stack off and replace it with mild steel... You are going to be smoking food on it for a long time.... what is a little extra work to err on the side of safety... 

About the smoker calculator, post what you have calculated and someone will check your numbers...  We want it to work properly for you for generations to come....  Before you make too many cuts, draw stuff in chalk in the smoker and sit back and look and ponder what the outcome will be....  help me...  Dave

http://www.feldoncentral.com/bbqcalculator.html

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/54542/building-an-italian-offset-smoker

 

[scozbo]

I will replace the stack. Thanks for the calculator. Thank Goodness my fire box is big enough. It's 30" wide x 30" deep x 24" tall, giving me 21600 cu. in. All I need is 19250 cu. in.

 

[bluffton smoker]

X2 on the galvanized - not safe for cooking 

Galvanized steel should never be used for cookware or food storage since this may lead to [color= rgb(54, 99, 136)]zinc poisoning[/color]  (aka heavy metal poisoning). Exposure to high levels of zinc can cause lethargy, dizziness, nausea, fever, diarrhea, irritability, muscular stiffness and pain, loss of appetite, and reversible pancreatic and neurological damage.

That's what's wrong with me!!! My ex-wife called me a lazy, good for nothing, pain in the a$$ bum. And on Monday mornings, this is just how i felt. I showed her tho, I married a younger gal & retired early.

But seriously, loose the zinc...