60 Gallon Reverse Flow out of air compressor tank

[DBYRD254]

Hi members, I'm the new guy here from Waco, Tx. I am fairly new to smoking but I love smoked food and want to build a smoker out of this 60 gallon air tank I bought a while back.

Wants:
Easy to maintain temp
Even temp across entire CC
Multipurpose firebox(use top for griddle)
Multipupose stand(wood rack underneath for storage)

Questions:
Keep rounded end on firebox side or go flat(other end will remain rounded)?
Best way to build plenum or collector for exhaust pipe.
How do I calculate for a square firebox instead of a round one?
Are controllers/fans worth it and what is the best way to mount them? Should they push air into FB under the wood or more push it into the CC?
Damper on the firebox/cc opening or not?
1/4" or 3/8" for firebox?
Is there such thing as too many vents on the FB?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[daveomak]

Follow this and you will have a great smoker....

Standard Reverse Flow Smoker Calculator... by DaveOmak and others... Ready to use.. rev5.. 6/19/15.

Here's to "Alien BBQ" and the folks that first put the calculator together and "1728 Software Systems" for this great "Circle Calculator" and all the folks at "SmokingMeatForums", with a special shout out to Ribwizzard, that contributed their ideas and feedback while this thing was coming...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

How do I calculate for a square firebox instead of a round one?

L X W X H = volume

Here is what a few folks say about the information available on this forum for smoker builds...

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[smokin peachey]

Welcome to the forum. Looks like Dave got ya some good reading material. I look forward to watching your build.

 

[CFLJOHN512]

Ohhh. Nice! Keep us posted. I’m interested to see how this turns out.

 

[cysmoker]

Here is a link to the build that I just finished up a couple months ago. It was my first build, and I'm really happy with the results now. I also used a 60 gallon tank. Read through it and hopefully there is some info you can use in it, and then also learn from the mistakes I made before you make them.

This thing is pumping out some good meat now that I have it figured out. This past weekend was bbq chicken that was incredible, and the weekend before were competition ribs that were probably the best I've ever done.

Reverse flow build

Finally decided it's time to build my stick burner. Currently I smoke on a Green Mountain, Rec Tec, or my PK but I want something I can play with a little more. I picked up a 60 gallon air tank (20inx44in) and a 15 gallon air tank. I did all of my calculations based on DaveOmaks thread, and...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

 

[DBYRD254]

Here is a link to the build that I just finished up a couple months ago. It was my first build, and I'm really happy with the results now. I also used a 60 gallon tank. Read through it and hopefully there is some info you can use in it, and then also learn from the mistakes I made before you make them.

This thing is pumping out some good meat now that I have it figured out. This past weekend was bbq chicken that was incredible, and the weekend before were competition ribs that were probably the best I've ever done.

Reverse flow build

Finally decided it's time to build my stick burner. Currently I smoke on a Green Mountain, Rec Tec, or my PK but I want something I can play with a little more. I picked up a 60 gallon air tank (20inx44in) and a 15 gallon air tank. I did all of my calculations based on DaveOmaks thread, and...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

I will read it now! Thanks!!

 

[DBYRD254]

Well I'm finally getting back around to doing some more design work on this thing. Working on the firebox design. So far I have this drawn up. Any suggestions or tweaks you can see so far? This is an end/front view. V shaped bottom with plates welded front to back at 6" height on the sides and bottom. Voids to be filled with blow in fiberglass insulation and welded shut. Propane log lighter running side to side for easy log lighting. Heavy duty grates on top of the V shape to hold my logs.