Zero Zone fridge smoker build.

[stouty109]

I got my hands on old zero zone fridge with glass doors. After diggin in to it iv noticed all the foam in the walls is paper lined and so “shouldn’t” be to horrible to remove. But the frame is build out of hard wood. Old school 2”x3” Y’all think it would still make a good build? Plannin on electric with some sort of cold smoked added. I Don’t plan on smoking over 200deg this build would b for sausages/ snack sticks and jerkey.

 

[crazzycajun]

Shouldn’t have any issues with those temps

 

[stouty109]

I have about 40cubic feet 53”x27”x57” (if I did my math right). What ya think a good electric heating element would best fit this unit.

 

[Bigtank]

In for the ride.

 

[stouty109]

Has any one tried takin the oven element and pid out of an old oven and tossed it in a smoker build?

 

[mike243]

Keep your inlet and out air small and a toaster oven element would work well, remember most oven elements are 220v.some of the toaster elements run close to 15amp and make a lot of heat

 

[crazzycajun]

A 115v element is about 1500w

 

[stouty109]

Update. Photo dump!!! I gutted it and lined it with rockwool sealed it up heats great and holds the heat like a champ.

Has anyone put a fan on the ends of the exhaust. I wanna run the smoker in my garage and I’m not sure I wanna put a hole in my garage wall just yet. I connected my 2 exhaust togather and ran them out my garage door. I don’t think it’s venting properly.

 

[02ebz06]

Nice work! Never build anything like that, so can't help with your question.

 

[stouty109]

added a dampener so I can control my heat in and out.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Has any one tried takin the oven element and pid out of an old oven and tossed it in a smoker build?

I have and still do... I used both elements (broil and bake) from an old oven... worked great in my 3x3x6 smokehouse.... Actually I think the bake element burned out the last time I used them.... There is no PID in a stove... just a rheostat ... I built my own controller with Auberns PIDs

 

[Fueling Around]

That's a beauty
Are you running 240 volts to the element? Judging by the red glow I assume yes.

 

[stouty109]

That's a beauty
Are you running 240 volts to the element? Judging by the red glow I assume yes.

Yea it plugged in to 220v

 

[chopsaw]

Has anyone put a fan on the ends of the exhaust.

You can buy inline assist fans that fit round duct . Usually 6" connection , but you could neck it down .

 

[stouty109]

You can buy inline assist fans that fit round duct . Usually 6" connection , but you could neck it down .

Yes I’m aware of that but I was wondering if anyone has done that. I think it would suck it out rather than let it flow out naturally and not allow the smoke to do what it does.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Just let nature do it's thing... The heat will create a draw ...

 

[stouty109]

I ended up venting it out the side of the garage. I can always push the smoker outside too.