Hello Fellas:
I've been presented with a possible opportunity to purchase a used cast smoker from a local friend who's catering company went out of business a couple of years ago.
From what I understand about the smoker, it was custom built by a local welder, so I am not sure if he used food grade coatings. It stands about 7 feet high, and has two big smokestacks on the front that go about another foot taller. It is propane and has 2 100lb propane tanks on the front, as you can see by the picture below. There is an offset smokebox mounted to the back, and the unit sits on a steel trailer.
Each side of the trailer has a set up like you see in the photo below -- two big doors that open and expose room for five racks. I want to use it to smoke pork bellies for bacon, and I figure I could do about 30 bellies at a time with both sides going. The rust on the outside looks like surface rust, and the inside looks grungy but cleanable. I'm not too worried about salvaging all the shelves, since I plan on using it for a different purpose anyway.
If I don't buy it, the owner plans on taking it to a local recycling facility.
My questions:
1) Since this is home built smoker, what do you think it is worth?
2) Any suggestions on how to clean it, what solvents to use? Should I pay someone? How much would it cost?
3) How about the rust? It looks like it is only surface rust. What type of facility would help me clean this? Cost guesses?
I also figure I would need to get a new propane tank on the front due to the rust. So what do you think I should offer, and how much do you think to get it looking decent?
I've been presented with a possible opportunity to purchase a used cast smoker from a local friend who's catering company went out of business a couple of years ago.
From what I understand about the smoker, it was custom built by a local welder, so I am not sure if he used food grade coatings. It stands about 7 feet high, and has two big smokestacks on the front that go about another foot taller. It is propane and has 2 100lb propane tanks on the front, as you can see by the picture below. There is an offset smokebox mounted to the back, and the unit sits on a steel trailer.
Each side of the trailer has a set up like you see in the photo below -- two big doors that open and expose room for five racks. I want to use it to smoke pork bellies for bacon, and I figure I could do about 30 bellies at a time with both sides going. The rust on the outside looks like surface rust, and the inside looks grungy but cleanable. I'm not too worried about salvaging all the shelves, since I plan on using it for a different purpose anyway.
If I don't buy it, the owner plans on taking it to a local recycling facility.
My questions:
1) Since this is home built smoker, what do you think it is worth?
2) Any suggestions on how to clean it, what solvents to use? Should I pay someone? How much would it cost?
3) How about the rust? It looks like it is only surface rust. What type of facility would help me clean this? Cost guesses?
I also figure I would need to get a new propane tank on the front due to the rust. So what do you think I should offer, and how much do you think to get it looking decent?
