Need advice on a smoker build, Please

[arfcommer]

I have a keg that I built in to a grill/smoker. The top is cut off about 1/4 of the way down to make the lid and it has bolts around top of the bottom part of the keg to hold the rack I built. I have another rack at the bottom that I put my charcoal and wood chunks on and it works pretty good but, I am tired of removing the rack to add more charcoal/wood.  I am thinking of putting a firebox under the keg and adding another rack in the smoke chamber  for meat. Here is where the questions start. I have used the calculator from a link on this site but does that calculator work for vertical smokers? By those numbers a small propane tank is almost perfect for a fire box.

To give you a better vision of what I am doing......starting from bottom......Small propane tank with a door in the side with vent and a pipe welded in the top(I believe the calculator said around 4in pipe),then the upright keg will sit on top of the pipe. I will build it so the keg will slide off and on to make it more portable.

So I guess my questions are....

1....Does this sound like it will work good?

2....Does the calculator work with a vertical smoker?

3....It has a 1 3/4 hole in the top and the calculator says 27in lenght.....does that sound right?

Hopefully I have decribed enough for yall to know what I am trying to do and if not just ask and I will tell yall what you need to know...

Thanks in advance for any and all advice.....Arfcommer

 

[bkleinsmid]

In my minds eye, it sounds like you are trying to build a UDS......only shorter and better looking. With those units, many of them use fire baskets in the bottom.....with and/or without diffuser plates. So my thought is that the tank underneath for the fire box should work. I'm not sure about the hole size........and I would worry about how stable that unit would be if stacked together.

Brad

 

[arfcommer]

In my minds eye, it sounds like you are trying to build a UDS......only shorter and better looking. With those units, many of them use fire baskets in the bottom.....with and/or without diffuser plates. So my thought is that the tank underneath for the fire box should work. I'm not sure about the hole size........and I would worry about how stable that unit would be if stacked together.

Brad

Good point, I think I will build a larger base on the bottom of the firebox to keep it from falling over.

 

[arfcommer]

Anyone else?

 

[daveomak]

Arf, evening..   The exhaust stack would be the keg.....  It will draw the necessary air flow through the firebox....  You may need a few more holes besides the one, 1 3/4" hole...  maybe several 1" holes would be enough.... 

 

[arfcommer]

Thanks dave

 

[smokin-aces]

Sounds pretty cool! What if you used a stainless steel water tank for the fire box? It may match the look of the keg better. 

Stainless Steel tank.jpg

• smokin-aces
• Jan 6, 2013

Or you could use a mini keg from wal mart. Of course you would have to empty it first....

mini keg.jpg

• smokin-aces
• Jan 6, 2013