Traulsen Commercial Refrigerator build

[nevrsummr]

Good info. So if I did 3/4 nipples for intake, would 3 per side (6 total) work for a 3" exhaust?

 

[madman mike]

Even just a good 1 1/2" opening on either side would be sufficient. Use a damper in the exhaust. You don't need to worry much about controlling the air intake.

 

[daveomak]

Good info. So if I did 3/4 nipples for intake, would 3 per side (6 total) work for a 3" exhaust?

Sounds like a combination to start with...   Performance will let you know what "may" need changing.....

 

[nevrsummr]

Thanks Dave. What should I be looking for in the performance? Pretty new to this.

 

[daveomak]

OK.....  here goes....   Whenever I built something that took tinkering to get it to work the way I thought it should, and then had MAJOR success, like you have had, pull up a patio chair, some cold beer or Kentucky, and just watch it do it's magic...  Watch the temp rise in the meat....  watch the smoke curl from between the boards...    listen to the crackle of the fire in the firebox.....  and try to figure out how to make it better....  can I get the temps perfectly even inside the smoker ??   Can I get the fire to burn a little cleaner to perfect that elusive Thin Blue Smoke everyone talks about ??  What happened to my beer... it was full 10 seconds ago...

Performance ??   I have no idea....   BUT...  It must be an important part of this smoking stuff...  I've contemplated it forever....

 

[nevrsummr]

Thanks Dave. Point taken. I remember a book as a kid that mentioned gardening as a philosophers job, looks like smoking meat can be too. Btw, you are only about 3.5 hours away. We drive through sometimes on our way up to Canada. Lived on Oroville for a job a couple years back as well. Anywho, thanks for advice. I'd really like to try that 2 inch chimney so I could use the ball valve, but it's too much work to change later.

 

[nevrsummr]

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• nevrsummr
• Jan 1, 2016

making some progress today as I took today to focus and hopefully finish it. First off with the help of my wife we scrubbed all the years of scum off all surfaces inside and out. I'm surprised at how well it shined up.

 

[nevrsummr]

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• nevrsummr
• Jan 1, 2016

mounted the main heating element

 

[nevrsummr]

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• nevrsummr
• Jan 1, 2016

cut in the burner and installed electrical wiring/ heat shield.

 

[nevrsummr]

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• nevrsummr
• Jan 1, 2016

tried to build a face plate for the control box, too flimsy. Need to repurpose some different metal

 

[nevrsummr]

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• nevrsummr
• Jan 1, 2016

that's more like it

 

[nevrsummr]

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• nevrsummr
• Jan 1, 2016

this is how it will sit. Protected from the elements

 

[nevrsummr]

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• nevrsummr
• Jan 1, 2016

control box mounted and electrical started

 

[nevrsummr]

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• nevrsummr
• Jan 1, 2016

I'm no electrical engineer but this is my attempt at a control diagram. Time to start wiring

 

[daveomak]

May I suggest and over temp circuit that sounds an alarm and cuts off the elec...  In the event of fire...   I've had it happen twice...  both times I was tending the unit...   lucky me.....

 

[nevrsummr]

I like it Dave please tell me more

 

[daveomak]

Darned if I know....   I do know I wish I had it on my smokers....  Maybe a N-O closes on overtemp situation..  I'm no electrician but at times I have an idea what I would want...

 

[nevrsummr]

Hmm. Food for thought. I think the smd has an alarm on it, but I'm not sure how I could make that work. I will look into it.

 

[nevrsummr]

12;30 am and I just quit working on the smoker. Didn't get it quite finished for burn in. Bummer. Looks like the turkey will have to go on the old smoker tomorrow. More pics to come tomorrow

 

[nevrsummr]

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• nevrsummr
• Jan 2, 2016

fortunately I have a friend who is quite skilled with the tig welder. Put this together last night.