An organization I joined a little over a year ago - after moving to the small town where I now reside - does an Annual Teacher's Appreciation Dinner among other things in the community. At one of the meetings, someone addressed a decline in attendance over the recent years and as a solution another person suggested upping the main entrée from the usual burgers-and-dogs fare. Ideas were kicked around. Someone said "steak" but then the argument was made, "Someone is going to want theirs done well and somebody else is going to want rare." I threw out, "If you had someone with the wherewithal to build a smoker [with both thumbs pointing at myself], we could just do a bunch of ribs or something." After shooting off my mouth, I found you and started reading. 
I was intrigued by the various builds and ultimately decided on Reverse Flow. I found Daveomak's Calculator to be of immense help, a literal " ' wouldn't have done it right without it." as was the Circle Calculator probably also linked in that post (shared here for anyone stumbling across this in the future who would ask "What size should I make my [whatever]?").
It isn't done, but this is what it looks like at the moment, during it's first heating and seasoning.
(The image may appear to some that the truck is backed up to it for towing. I'm aware the wheels are too small for that I will put it on my trailer the few times I plan to move it a distance.)
The tank is 300 gal (approx 38" by 5' or something), donated to the cause.
The firebox is 26"x38" externally; 24"x36" internally after refractory and bricks.
The framework is 2"x1/4" angle or flat as needed:
The chain I used for strongbacks to keep the lid shape (before cutting it loose ) came doubled as pivots by leaving one link in each un-welded. It previously did service as a Feeder House Chain on an old Gleaner Combine and was picked up off the ground by it's previous owner before being brought to me.
The wheels are 4" sections cut from a piece of 8" oil-field pipe someone threw away with 3/8" plate for centers.
I made the firebox deflector plate 9" long with a lip to hold a row of 9"x4"x1" firebricks in case the temperature ended-up be too high on that side of the CC but they are unnecessary. (First heat without them showed a side-to-side differential of 5 - 10 degrees F.)
The the main heat/smoke deflector/drip tray system went in
and a grate. (' still scrounging for material for the upper.)
I am grateful (pun intended) for all the contributions to discussion here. The group here seems respectful. Thanks in very large part to many of you, the smoker I really never intended to build is functional, even if not quite finished (another grate, handles, tray, etc).
John
I was intrigued by the various builds and ultimately decided on Reverse Flow. I found Daveomak's Calculator to be of immense help, a literal " ' wouldn't have done it right without it." as was the Circle Calculator probably also linked in that post (shared here for anyone stumbling across this in the future who would ask "What size should I make my [whatever]?").
It isn't done, but this is what it looks like at the moment, during it's first heating and seasoning.
(The image may appear to some that the truck is backed up to it for towing. I'm aware the wheels are too small for that I will put it on my trailer the few times I plan to move it a distance.)
The tank is 300 gal (approx 38" by 5' or something), donated to the cause.
The firebox is 26"x38" externally; 24"x36" internally after refractory and bricks.
The framework is 2"x1/4" angle or flat as needed:
The chain I used for strongbacks to keep the lid shape (before cutting it loose
) came doubled as pivots by leaving one link in each un-welded. It previously did service as a Feeder House Chain on an old Gleaner Combine and was picked up off the ground by it's previous owner before being brought to me.
The wheels are 4" sections cut from a piece of 8" oil-field pipe someone threw away with 3/8" plate for centers.
I made the firebox deflector plate 9" long with a lip to hold a row of 9"x4"x1" firebricks in case the temperature ended-up be too high on that side of the CC but they are unnecessary. (First heat without them showed a side-to-side differential of 5 - 10 degrees F.)
The the main heat/smoke deflector/drip tray system went in
and a grate. (' still scrounging for material for the upper.)
I am grateful (pun intended) for all the contributions to discussion here. The group here seems respectful. Thanks in very large part to many of you, the smoker I really never intended to build is functional, even if not quite finished (another grate, handles, tray, etc).
John
