Building a smoker - Any thoughts?

[lazysumo]

Anyone know of any threads/websites that talk about building a smoker from scratch? If not I may have to put one up.

A friend of mine recently replaced his water heater and gave me the old one. I'm going to pull the tank out of the shell and insulation and tear into it tomorrow. If anyone has any information they can point me to it would be greatly appreciated.

Peace!

-Lazy

 

[richtee]

A glass smoking chamber? Interesting... yet fragile.

On edit... not all are glass. But they are out there. Send me the sacrificial anode if metal tank. I have uses for magnesium :{)

 

[desertlites]

lol Rich. I'm sure u do. makes pretty colors too huh?

 

[vegansbeware]

Where are you getting a glass smoking chamber? The guy is making a Smoker out of a Water heater. I'm confused.

 

[richtee]

Some water heaters have glass tanks.

 

[richtee]

Not really. Unless you consider blinding white a color. Which it isn't ;{) It's more an audio type sensation, actually.

 

[vegansbeware]

I guess you learn something new every day! Thanks Rich.

 

[lazysumo]

It's a steel tank water heater. I'm pretty sure there will be a fiberglass liner on the inside (we'll find out tomorrow when I cut into it) but that should come down pretty easy I believe. So now that the confusion (and major fireworks!!) are out of the way...

Any leads on info about building smokers? I did find ColeySmoking's two posts describing regular horizontal and reverse-flow horizontal smokers. If I decide to lay this thing down I'll go with the reverse-flow. It sounds like it would maintain the temps a lot more evenly.

Anyone have experience with making a reverse-flow and instead of a water pan using square chunks of flagstone as a heat-mass and to direct the smoke flow?

 

[teeotee]

I'm the planning stage of a brick/rock homebuilt and found this site real interesting. All credit to WD for finding it. Explains a lot about airflow patterns. Hope it can help in some way.


http://www.wedlinydomowe.com/smokehouse-firebox.htm

 

[domn8_ion]

The firebox link teeotee gave you is really insiteful. Check it before you start cutting the tank so you have a good idea what direction you want to build. Personally, I'd say horizontal. But that's my opinion.

 

[morkdach]

built one out of a old air comp tank check out rescued thread