RF Build In Slow Motion (Sinks are done!)

[solaryellow]

How big is the gap from the RF plate to the end of the curved tank end?  Thinking about building me a much smaller version.

Scott

18"

Good luck with your build!

 

[bapos]

Solar

Just wanted to say Ty for documenting this very cool build. I have been away from here for some time and I come back and I am seeing people building some 500 gal stuff so I am very excited. I think your design is very well thought out. If you dont mind can you tell me how you came to some of your numbers for it.

I am looking at doing my 500 gal also but not sure if I need as big of a warmer box but after looking at yours I may reconsider. I am not sure how your laws are there about rolling down the road with a burning fire box or not but do you think it would hurt the design any if you moved the air vents to the top of the fire box? That way coals or embers could not fall out and start any kind of a fire? Here in TX we get very dry in the summer months and dont want to start fires if it can be avoided.

I have to say your one lucky SOB when it comes to finding those materails at those prices. I have been collecting things for over a year and have yet to score things even close to those prices.

Thanks for sharing. Nice build again.

 

[solaryellow]

Hey Bapos!

My numbers came from a variety of calculators that are readily available as well as checking out some other smokers in person. I documented the build so that whoever is building one of these could use our experience to help build their own. If it weren't for the experience of others this build never would have come together such as it did.

The air intakes are below the grates because the fresh air (which is colder) comes in under the fuel to feed the fire. Putting the air intakes above would be problematic in my opinion because the smoke could choke off the oxygen supply to the fire or cause incomplete combustion. We didn't build the smoker to travel down the road with hot coals. We built it to arrive on the site, fire it up, and begin cooking. We don't leave the site until the coals have been extinguished. Part of our appeal is how the smoker works. We have only done a couple of festivals but each time we have spent a lot of time explaining how it works.

Materials are definitely a huge consideration. We got extremely lucky and I don't mind admitting it. We ended up with a little more than $3k into ours which is much less than what it would cost to buy a similar setup. All I can say is keep an eye on Craigslist and be good the yard superintendent.

Good luck with your build!

 

[solaryellow]

I have been asked more than a few times about the void between the firebox and warming box. We use it as a preheater for wood and it can also be used as a cooking surface for pans. The firebox is not directly connected to the warming box. We do have a damper between the smoke chamber and the warming box that we use to control the temp of the warming box.

This pic is from back during the construction of the smoker.

 

[bapos]

I am not sure if I am going to go with as big of a warmer as you did but then again its always better to have more than less in those cases.

If you dont mind Im going to throw some hypotheticals at you and see what you think. I would like to be able to have a live smoking fire down the road but only want to do it if it is safe. We had a terrible summer here in TX last year so its a unwanted risk.

My thinking in the air intake was... if the fire is going and it is heating air to force it up it will pull more O2 in there so the process will continue. Putting them at the top was just a way to counter act coals hopping about and spilling out.

What are your thoughts this.... I have normally used a weed burner to start my wood in my other trailer smoker. Works like a champ. Maybe I am wrong but in many cases I think after 4-5 hours of being exposed to smoke the meat probably wont take on any more smoke flavors and your more of less using it as a fuel for heat. I was thinking of sectioning off a area of the fire box inside and have a pipe burner there ran off propane?  Thats my plan but I like hearing the thoughts of others who have done or done some rethinking  of I wish I would have done this or that.

In your materails what has helped or hurt you? My plan is to use 5/16 on the fire box. I am kind of a fan of larger fire boxes. I dont like to play and tend to it constantly. Stoke it up and let it do its thing.

Yes you hit gold mines on your materails. Im very jelous I am always on the look out for such things. I have all the goodies to put it together, chop saw, hobart 625 plasma cutter, and miller 250x mig. So I am hoping it goes as well as yours.

Thanks for the reply.

Bapos

 

[solaryellow]

I personally believe trying to tow a smoker down the road with a fire in it is asking for trouble.

We use a weedburner as well. I know there are plenty of opinions surrounding does meat still take on smoke after a certain time or temperature. I am of the opinon that it does but not as much. To help us get some sleep we are considering adding a propane burner to the firebox using Boykjo's design.

Considering we are fairly efficient on wood use and the food is coming off great, I don't believe our materials have hurt us. We may spend a little more on fuel towing the trailer but that is probably negligible.

Good luck Bapos!

 

[solaryellow]

We got some work done on the handwashing sink this weekend. Here is our frame for it:

It is constructed out of mostly 1/2" square tube. With the sink sitting in the frame:

And then it was shrouded in aluminum.

And here is the metal brake my buddy Gary built out of scrap.

Next we will tackle the big sink.

 

[sunman76]

looking sweet that is a nice homebuilt brake

 

[alelover]

Nice brake Joel. A lot cheaper than buying one. Can't wait to see those improvements.

 

[beanyray]

That homemade brake is awesome!

 

[madd fox]

Joel, I read what you said about guys not believing you about what you paid for steel. I'm in the process of planning a build, kind of slow going and money is a big issue. I stopped by a steel fabrication shop to see if I could buy some  scrap from him, my build is for my church, he told me to let him know all the sizes I would need and he would cut them to size and donate them to the cause. He didn't have steel sheeting and expanded steel, his is heavy stuff, but he is sending me to another place where I can get those. A person just needs to put himself out there and ask.

Outstanding build, Joel. I especially like how you pinned the upper slides so you can remove them. Are your grates expanded stainless steel, if not how do you clean them? You have made me think about adding a third grate level. 

Mike 

 

[solaryellow]

Thanks Mike! The grates are not stainless but are very heavily seasoned.

 

[solaryellow]

We started working on building the burners for the grills we plan to mount on the trailer. For the burners we will be using LPG and boykjo's simple burner design. http://www.hobartwelders.com/weldtalk/showthread.php?28224-pipe-burner-build-instructions

We have 6 burners to build. Each will be 42" long and connect back to a central manifold on one of two 100 lbs propane tanks. Per Joe's specs, we used 1/4" wall 1" pipe. As a point of clarity, pipe is measure by inner diameter (ID) whereas tube is measured by outer diameter (OD).

Joe called for using a reciprocating saw to cut the slots. After having my fillings shook loose as well as everything on the workbench, we resorted to using the band saw and then widened the slots using a cut off wheel on angle grinder. The slots were cut 1/2" deep from the top of the pipe and spaced every 1 1/2". The end of the pipe were capped with some 1/4" scrap we had laying around that was welded on.

We then took a 1" cap and drilled 4 1/4" holes for our venturi. We also drilled another hole and tapped it for our orifice.

Yesterday we picked up the high pressure regulator and orifice. And since we couldn't resist playing with fire, we had to fire it up.

Sweet blue flame!

And then we had to test it as it would be oriented in the grills and firebox.

1 down, 5 more to go.

 

[boykjo]

Nice looking burner Joel............................................glad it worked out for ya ......were going to build one for Jerry when we get down there............

Joe

 

[solaryellow]

Joe, have you ever cut the slots closer than 1 1/2" apart?

 

[michael ark]

Looks great ! Getting to be that time of year to give that thing a workout.Thumbs Up

 

[solaryellow]

Looks great ! Getting to be that time of year to give that thing a workout.

First gig is about a month out at this point.

 

[JckDanls 07]

We have 6 burners to build. Each will be 42" long and connect back to a central manifold on one of two 100 lbs propane tanks. Per Joe's specs, we used 1/4" wall 1" pipe. As a point of clarity, pipe is measure by inner diameter (ID) whereas tube is measured by outer diameter (OD).


what is the difference between the 2 ? are you referring to Square tube ?

 

[solaryellow]

We have 6 burners to build. Each will be 42" long and connect back to a central manifold on one of two 100 lbs propane tanks. Per Joe's specs, we used 1/4" wall 1" pipe. As a point of clarity, pipe is measure by inner diameter (ID) whereas tube is measured by outer diameter (OD).


what is the difference between the 2 ? are you referring to Square tube ?

Pipe and tube are very different Keith. For example, the racecar in your avatar uses DOM tube and it is measured by the outside diameter. The cage I built for my Jeep is also DOM and is measured by the outside diameter. My full cage on the Jeep is 1.75" .120 wall DOM and has an outer diameter of 1.75" and an inner diameter of 1.5". Pipe is measured by the inner diameter. So my 1" pipe means the internal diameter is 1" regardless of the outer diameter of the pipe. This is important because the specs of Joe's pipe burner call for 1" pipe. If you were to use 1" .120 wall DOM your inner diameter is only going to be 3/4". That would reduce your overall volume inside the pipe by 25%. Does that cause a problem? I am not far enough along in my pipe burner education to say but Joe's thread at Hobart's forum shows a very successful burner. What of that 25% would you lose if you went with DOM? Would it be oxygen or propane? Would your flame be blue or yellow/orange? I can't say for certain but I do know Joe's directions worked very well for us.

 

[daveomak]

what is the difference between the 2 ? are you referring to Square tube ?          

Round tubing is measured by actual OD....   Pipe is measured by nominal ID....   Dave