Going Verital

[bigjohnson]

Starting my first smoker build and already it look like I might be swimming up river. Everything I find is RF and a stick burner. With only a little over a year under my belt all I have experienced is cooking on a small propane unit I got at a box store. But WTH !

I stopped in at my local gas/welder store and talk to them about any "junk tanks" that they might have. I was told that they have a 500 gallon and 2, 120 gallon tanks that need to be sent to the scrap yard. I made a cash offer and they took it. I told them that I would take 1 maybe 2. After talking to my Dad he was in for one to make a set of twins.

Getting them home

Smoker V.JPG

• bigjohnson
• Mar 27, 2014

Cutting the 28" Door

Smoker I.JPG

• bigjohnson
• Mar 27, 2014

My helper

S.JPG

• bigjohnson
• Mar 27, 2014

I love a plasma cutter

Smoker II.JPG

• bigjohnson
• Mar 27, 2014

I want to cut the ring off the top & bottom and re-weld the bottom to the "top" then flip it over to make the bottom the new top so it will be smooth and free from the old ports.

Smoker III.JPG

• bigjohnson
• Mar 27, 2014

Thinking of using a cast iron burner something like this and an old cast iron skillet for the wood chips.

imagesCA2B7250.jpg

• bigjohnson
• Mar 27, 2014

Over that having a water pan and the racks.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Thanks

 

[newsmokeguy]

Looks like ur going 2 do a different way than most so I will watch

 

[elginplowboy]

Nice start. I will be watching........

 

[bigjohnson]

Any idea what BTU burner I should use?

 

[pork dork]

Big Johnson,

If I may weigh in. I spent well over 2 months investigating and weighing options for my smoker. I have decided to use a Wood Pellet hopper from Smoke Daddy. Sure it's expensive but you only have to spend the money once and it's yours for the rest of your life. That is if you're planning on keeping this for more than a few weeks months or dare I say years. The wood pellet hopper will allow you to set it up turn it on and walk away until it's done. No tending the coals adjusting the vents and it's super efficient. I have a line on where I can get lumber jack pellets for .40 per LB vs what others pay over $1.00 to $2.00 per LB. That works out to $16.00 for a 40 LB bag. That beats the cost of propane and it's safer than propane. Also bests electricity for long smokes even at 220V that uses half the electricity that 110V does.  

Whatever method of smoke you do decide on you may want to consider using baffles to keep from heating the whole interior of the box if you're only using half or one quarter of the space. That will save you money on fuel too. 

Spend a little now to save a fortune later. 

Just my honest opinion. 

If you're curious about my build check out my thread in other builds called "All fired up for my Wood pellet fed hopper and Smoke generator on my ECB 2 door vertical"

Brinkmann mods 056.jpg

• pork dork
• Apr 2, 2014

 

Brinkmann mods 058.jpg

• pork dork
• Apr 2, 2014

 

[pork dork]

Big Johnson,

Any relation to Giant Willy or Sizable Schmeckel?    

 

 

[bigjohnson]

No never heard of them. LOL Just a play on my name and size.