Starting a 30 gal offset

[ruralearl]

Hello, 

Going to use a conveyor pulley 18" od x 30" long 1/4" thick around 30 gal. for the cook chamber.  Planning on making the firebox oversize and was getting ready to ask a question about sizing the firebox to cook chamber inlet size since in the calculator it is based on firebox volume, but DaveO answered my question in this recent thread:  http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/160281/vent-size#post_1163955   Thank you Dave.  The forum has been/is a big help, thank you all.

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• ruralearl
• Apr 17, 2014

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• ruralearl
• Apr 17, 2014

If there is any interest, will try to post updates on this project.  Warning: I'm not very fast.  It's a shame that work interferes with pastimes (at least it does with mine).   Regards,  Earl

 

[daveomak]

Earl, morning..... Lots of interest..... we love watching a build in progress....... you did your homework and found good info before starting on your project..... You'd be surprised how many don't take the time to do that..... Even some commercial sellers of smokers neglect that important step in designing a smoker....
You are definitely on your way to having a great smoking machine.... All of our very experienced smoker builders are available for input to help out.....

 

[smoking b]

Yup as Dave said - lots of interest. That will be a nice little smoker when you get it done! 

 

[maple sticks]

 

[ruralearl]

Hello,  Thank you for the comments.  This is my second smoker, built a UDS a few years ago that worked pretty well, but pretty limited on capacity.   Guess it could be addictive.  Anyway, made some progress the last couple of days.

Got the ends cut out.

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• ruralearl
• Apr 25, 2014

It's pretty round, hope it doesn't spring too much when the door is cut.

Got the ends patched, outlet for stack made & inside cleaned up.

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• ruralearl
• Apr 25, 2014

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• ruralearl
• Apr 25, 2014

The ends in & firebox to cook chamber opening cut.  Don't look at the welds too close, a little rusty on the welding & using up some old Louisville slugger rods we were given that nobody else wants to use.

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• ruralearl
• Apr 25, 2014

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• ruralearl
• Apr 25, 2014

Using 1/4" diamond plate scraps, it's kind of a pain but the price is right.  Regards,  Earl

 

[smokejumper]

The welds look fine for what you are building.

Nothing wrong with saving a few bucks in the process as well.

Looking really good, keep us posted.

 

[mw-smoke]

1/4" thick? any idea how much that thing weighs? 

 

 

[ruralearl]

Hello

SmokeJumper, Thanks for the comment, ought to be in a little better practice by the end of this

mw-smoke,  The cylinder weighs around 120#.  Spent some time at the UofI.

Regards,  Earl

 

[mw-smoke]

Illinois? 

 

[ruralearl]

mw, yes long time ago when it was cheap

 

[ruralearl]

Hello,  Update:

Started on the firebox

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• ruralearl
• May 5, 2014

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• ruralearl
• May 5, 2014

Door frame

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• ruralearl
• May 5, 2014

Door, laying out vents, cut with radius cutter in photo

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• ruralearl
• May 5, 2014

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• ruralearl
• May 5, 2014

Door in frame, Just used some salvaged butt hinges in the hinge drawer.  They need to be flattened.  

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• ruralearl
• May 5, 2014

That's the progress so far.  Regards,  Earl

 

[smokejumper]

Is that diamond plate galvanized?

 

[ruralearl]

Hi SmokeJumper,  No, not galvanized, just painted.  Regards,  Earl

 

[ruralearl]

Hello,  A little more progress.

Door frame welded on firebox:

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• ruralearl
• May 12, 2014

Top & bottom welded on:

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• ruralearl
• May 12, 2014

Bought the nice ss wire handles on ebay:  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=271479571430
Regards,  Earl

 

[ruralearl]

Hello,  Update cut door, the door sprung about 1/4" radially & it was out about the same lengthwise likewise the rest of the cylinder.  It finally dawned on me the being a conveyor pulley in its former life it was probably crowned in the middle. 

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• ruralearl
• May 29, 2014

Fortunately had access to a press & was able with quite a bit of fiddling the get both fairly straight.

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• ruralearl
• May 29, 2014

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• ruralearl
• May 29, 2014

Regards,  Earl

 

[ruralearl]

Hello, update

Flanges welded on, wish I had seen Dave O's post about using 14 of 16 gauge strip instead of the 1/8 used.

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• ruralearl
• Jun 6, 2014

Square tube for reverse flow plate drain

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• ruralearl
• Jun 6, 2014

Drain pipe

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• ruralearl
• Jun 6, 2014

Reverse flow plate

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• ruralearl
• Jun 6, 2014

RF plate in cook chamber

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• ruralearl
• Jun 6, 2014

Spacers for insulation & masonry nails on firebox to help hold it in place, idea from BBQengineer 

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• ruralearl
• Jun 6, 2014

On end of cook chamber

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• ruralearl
• Jun 6, 2014

All for now regards,  Earl

 

[gary s]

Can't wait to see more 

Gary S

 

[daveomak]

Looking good Earl......

Dave

 

[ruralearl]

Thanks Gary & Dave  Regards,  Earl

 

[ruralearl]

Hello,  Some more progress, put in some insulation, used Superwool Ht from here:  http://www.axner.com/superwoolfiber-1thicksoldpersqft.aspx.  $50+ for 12 sq. ft., if doing it again, think I would go with what McMaster has.

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

Covered with sheet

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

Attached firebox & cook chamber

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

Finished insulating

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

Installed pipe into firebox for possible power draft control use.

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• ruralearl
• Jun 21, 2014

Regards,  Earl