Smokehouse Doors

[CherokeePaul]

Hi,
I am building a smokehouse for cold and hot temp smoking. The walls are firebrick, 1" ceramic fiber and then 4" limestone. I've been looking at doors that can handle the heat, have some decent R value to hold the heat, safe for food and be exterior. I've been concerned about wood holding up to the temps and looked at fire rated steel doors and also a smokehouse stainless steel door that was awfully expensive. Am I overthinking this? I'd sure appreciate any advice you may have.
Thanks!

 

[processhead]

What are you planning to use for a heat source and where will it be in proximity to the doors and walls. Also, what is the maximum temperature you expect to see in the smoke house?
From your description of the walls, it sounds like it could stand up to temperatures that far exceed anything you would see in a normal smoker.

 

[CherokeePaul]

What are you planning to use for a heat source and where will it be in proximity to the doors and walls. Also, what is the maximum temperature you expect to see in the smoke house?
From your description of the walls, it sounds like it could stand up to temperatures that far exceed anything you would see in a normal smoker.

Thanks for the response. You are right about the walls. I prioritized R value for the walls and ceiling so they will more that handle the 100-350F temperatures for the smoking. The heat source for the high temp smoking is an external firebox piped into the smokehouse. I figure the temps could range up to 400 while it is being fired up so that’s why I was wondering about the door composition to handle that.

 

[processhead]

Is it a walk-in smoker or a chamber/cabinet design?
As far as R-value of the walls, the 1 inch ceramic insulation is decent but neither lime stone or firebrick have much R value at all.
The firebrick might be counterproductive in that the thermal mass will absorb a lot of heat on startup which could result in a long time for the internal temperature to stabilize. Ideally, you want the insulating layer close to the area you are wanting to heat, with just a thin nonflammable layer of material to separate the insulation from the heated area.

Firebrick is a good material for an external firebox if you are burning wood or charcoal fuels.

 

[CherokeePaul]

Is it a walk-in smoker or a chamber/cabinet design?
As far as R-value of the walls, the 1 inch ceramic insulation is decent but neither lime stone or firebrick have much R value at all.
The firebrick might be counterproductive in that the thermal mass will absorb a lot of heat on startup which could result in a long time for the internal temperature to stabilize. Ideally, you want the insulating layer close to the area you are wanting to heat, with just a thin nonflammable layer of material to separate the insulation from the heated area.

Firebrick is a good material for an external firebox if you are burning wood or charcoal fuels.

Thanks and I appreciate the insight. I got to the wall composition after setting wood aside due to the temps and also realizing the poor R value for cinder block or similar concrete. The firebrick seemed like a good solution for temps, providing some R and the limestone is something I have around to give the walls some added strength. The ceramic fiber gives most of the R as you said. You may be right about the wall mass startup but I figured I could learn to live with that. The interior dimensions are 4’x3’x10’ and I figured a door about 3’x4’. If you have some other wall materials recommendations or door materials I am all ears!
I think this got more complicated by having the smokehouse do both low (mostly what will be doing) and high temp smoking but I’m far enough down that road now I am fairly committed.

 

[voyager 663rd]

Sounds like you've got the equipment to do this:

 

[processhead]

Sounds like you've got the equipment to do this:

That would be an fantastic door. Not insulated, but considering the size, its not a huge heat loss.

Love watching that guy cut and shape everything with an angle grinder and cutoff wheel. What an artist.

The OP could do a basic, but fully functional version of this one.

 

[CherokeePaul]

That would be an fantastic door. Not insulated, but considering the size, its not a huge heat loss.

Love watching that guy cut and shape everything with an angle grinder and cutoff wheel. What an artist.

The OP could do a basic, but fully functional version of this one.

I really liked watching him make that door. I think it is a little above my metal working pay grade but I bet I could get someone to make it for me and maybe even insulate it.

 

[CherokeePaul]

Sounds like you've got the equipment to do this:

Thanks for sharing that video!