This is my second build. the first one failed miserably, because I had no clue this site existed, and I was just guessing what to do. I got a 176 gallon propane tank for free, and cut it in half with the intention of building two smokers. On the first one, I built the firebox with what I had for metal, and wound up making it 1/3 the size it should be, as well as mounting it too high on the cooking chamber. I also made the exhaust too small, too close to the top of the firebox, and made the firebox to cooking chamber opening too small.
Here's how it currently sits:
For my next smoker, I have decided to go overkill on the firebox size, but have the openings the correct size for the cooking chamber, based on the reverse flow calculator here.
When doing the math for the firebox size, I figured out that I needed a 29 gallon firebox, and I searched around locally without finding anything I could use. Someone suggested a water heater, so I opened it up, and figured it would be overkill, but would work, so I started building it.
Here is the firebox in it's current state with upper, and lower vents:
Here's how it currently sits:
For my next smoker, I have decided to go overkill on the firebox size, but have the openings the correct size for the cooking chamber, based on the reverse flow calculator here.
When doing the math for the firebox size, I figured out that I needed a 29 gallon firebox, and I searched around locally without finding anything I could use. Someone suggested a water heater, so I opened it up, and figured it would be overkill, but would work, so I started building it.
Here is the firebox in it's current state with upper, and lower vents:
