Warming Cart Smoker Build

[alaskajon]

Hello. Just gonna dump some photos of my new build. It’s using a “rolling heater cart” used by catering companies to keep food warm during events. Won two of these in a local auction for $50 each. Entire thing is stainless and meant to be upwards of 200f making this an easy conversion. Smoke generator will be a Smokai 3L magnum, with a small propane burner installed for temp control. I’m in Alaska so there will be a lot of fish at 140f ish and then moose sticks/sausage 250f ish. With the Smokai, should be able to cold smoke whatever I want as well. Thanks for the look, build is nearly complete, will post performance in the coming days/weeks as I get her dialed in.

 

[Up_In_Smoke]

Looks like those heater carts are going to work great!!

 

[chopsaw]

That's looking good . Nice work on that .

 

[JckDanls 07]

I like it... and the price can't be beat either...

Picture 10... Is that the intake air vent at the bottom of the door ? Is there an exhaust vent ?

 

[alaskajon]

Got some more work done tonight.

No, pic 10 isn’t the intended air intake, that was a gap I filled. Must have been used for something different in its previous life, but I wanted a controllable intake so I filled that void with some aluminum plate. I’m going with a 6” circular adjustable air intake on the bottom, same side as the heating element to try and induce a draft. We will see if one 6” intake will jive well with the 4” treager exhaust pipe I mounted. I’m kind of worried I won’t have enough exhaust now, but I could always add a second stack if I need too.

Also got the Smokai mounted tonight. Started cutting the hole for the intake vent, but smoked my multiple-tool blade so I will finish it up tomorrow.

Thanks for looking guys. Should be rolling smoke soon!

 

[schlotz]

Is there any concern of pulling in dirt or dust from the bottom mounted fan?

 

[SmokinEdge]

One caution I see, is the placement of the smoke generator relative to the burner. The flame from the burner will burn up the smoke, you might get buy if you place a large heat deflator over the burner like a CI skillet. I’ve seen this problem a few different times on other builds, the flame can burn the smoke “clean”

 

[JckDanls 07]

smoked my multiple-tool blade

That will happen easy if it's not rated for Stainless... SLOW and COOL is the way to drill stainless... use plenty of lubricant, also helps keep the tool/stainless cool...

 

[alaskajon]

One caution I see, is the placement of the smoke generator relative to the burner. The flame from the burner will burn up the smoke, you might get buy if you place a large heat deflator over the burner like a CI skillet. I’ve seen this problem a few different times on other builds, the flame can burn the smoke “clean”

Thanks for the input! I bought the smallest btu burner I could find, as well as installed a needle valve. I invison essentially having a very small flame because I won’t need hardly any heat to get to the 140ish I need to smoke fish. Will definitely add a heat deflector of some kind though, good thought.

 

[alaskajon]

Is there any concern of pulling in dirt or dust from the bottom mounted fan?

I don’t plan on adding a fan on the bottom, just a passive air intake.

 

[alaskajon]

That will happen easy if it's not rated for Stainless... SLOW and COOL is the way to drill stainless... use plenty of lubricant, also helps keep the tool/stainless cool...

Yes that’s for sure. Definitely have found which of my hole saws and drill bits were quality and which were not haha.

 

[alaskajon]

Got the intake vent installed this evening. Ready for a test burn this weekend and see if I need to do any air flow modifications. Still plan on adding a heat shield between the propane burner and the smoke tube, as well as a couple more temp probes.