Yet another backyard reverse smoker in progress

[Deleted member 995608]

I've made a couple other smokers using a veggie oil 55 gallon drum but my generous A s s keeps donating them away to different boosters clubs for fundraisers. This time, this bad boy is mine and I'm gonna chage it up a little.

I had been making them in an upright version like this http://creativesparkeng.com/rodney/blog_pics/uds/10. 5.jpg


They work pretty good but I've always had a hard time keeping the temps right for the right period of time. I think it do to a conflict between the fire box size, cook chamber and intake/exhaust ports.

I found this web site which supposedily has all the right calculators to help build a decent running smoker- http://www.feldoncentral.com/bbqcalculator.html

For my next one, It'll be horizontal version for a larger cook chamber http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/2684/img1918ib8.jpg

I burn out the barrels first by keeping a smoking hot fire burning inside the can for about two days. This burns off the liner material inside and usually takes most the exterior paint off. Even after I'm done building the smoker, I'll burn quite a bit more wood through before I attempt to smoke some meat,... ... that will hopefully be edible.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

This what I've done so far.



I've got some what of a stand built with a short 16" table to either side of the cook chamber. I've got lot's more to do.

This is the beginning of my fire box. I was going to use 1/4" steel but not knowing how this will cook yet, I'll wait and see first.

 

[GHarman]

NICE!!!!!
GregH

 

[Flying_gage]

This is pretty dang cool! I have subscribed to it, so keep the updates coming. Looking for a project to reacquaint me with long dormant welding skills.

 

[JLeake]

I have one built from a upright 55 gallon drum. Works fine, other than me doing my job. When it is cold outside some insulating or heat capturing material like firebrick might be nice. I can get 5+ hours out of one mesquite charge. Other than rust in the barrel and my error in placing the charcoal rack to close to the bottom, it works great. I used a Weber large grill lid, it works great. Some people want one, but they are not willing to pitch in to help make them. I use a pipe barrel valve to control the input air.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Haven't done much lately except for the intake for the fire box. Not sure if I like it but at least it's done.

Still have to come up with some sort of handle so I can open or close the vent.

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[Deleted member 995608]

Here's a sample of my bird I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER welds.



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[guldam]

I have been contemplating building my own smoker for quite a while now. I currently use a Little Chief for smoking Salmon and Tuna, and use my grill for smoking pork shoulders. Trouble is with the grill is it is impossible to keep a steady temperature. I have wondered about building a dual walled smoker or one with heavy duty insulation to reduce the energy required to bring it up to temp and keep it there.

Alas, time is a problem with work, kids, home chores etc.

 

[BIGNASTY]

FIL/BIL make smokers could take this to any party The wagon wheel on the left side or the back depending on picture was a grill with ability to raise and lower fire box and next to that was a propane heated flat top. On the bottom picture front of trailer was a cutting surface and a sink with running water and water tank under the counter.



Question what is a *reverse* smoker?

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Big- a reverse smoker is this. Heat and smoke enter the bottom chamber and travels all the other way to the other side before it exits into the upper chamber way the meat is. Supposedly, this version helps keep the temps steady and the bottom plate acts as a radiant heat transfer. Who knows..... If I can get this to work like I want, I'll sell this one and make an identical model out of 1/4" plate and use and old 100 gallon round water tank as a cook chamber. If I entertained more often, I'd love to build a biggin' like the one in your pics.



http://cdn.smokingmeatforums.com/8/88/88ede2dd_ReverseFlowHorizontalSmoker-Cooker_.png

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I have been contemplating building my own smoker for quite a while now. I currently use a Little Chief for smoking Salmon and Tuna, and use my grill for smoking pork shoulders. Trouble is with the grill is it is impossible to keep a steady temperature. I have wondered about building a dual walled smoker or one with heavy duty insulation to reduce the energy required to bring it up to temp and keep it there.

Keeping those temps right is the key. The upright 55 gallon smokers I've made in the past are hard to use simply because keeping the temp set is a PITA. Almost have to nurse the dang thing every minute. The insulation idea you mentioned is good. The one I'm building now will have fire brick in the bottom of the firebox and cook chamber.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Well really that is what the one on the trailer is on the bottom pic the box with the 2 handles on the right, That's the firebox the propane tank is the smoker where the meat goes then to cook the beans or whatever is the upright box toward the front of the trailer. So same principle I guess just a little different angle. On the top of the fire box is a grate to heat the coffee he runs some LOOOOOOOOOOONG COOK TIMES and need's help from the coffee.



BIG

 

[MZahn]

I have one of those Traeger pellet smoker/grills. It has a fan than puts a small amount of smoke "pressure" in the cooking chamber.

http://www.traegergrills.com/shop/grills#

I like your project, nice welds!

 

[BGlidewell]

I just went electric. So glad I did. A handful of wood chips will smoke a brisket and 2 racks of pork ribs to absolute perfection.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Last night I scabbed out a cheesy little handle for the intake. I used a torch to cut out a circle, then I used my handy dandy bandsaw to cut the design. I'll have to make another final one when I'm not drinking. Haha.



Attached the front door using a plain steel piano hinge. No reason to fully weld it but it looks goofy with the stich welds so I might grind em down then run a full length weld to clean it up. Then soap stone lines are for an idea I have but i'll have to rethink that one too since that idea came up when I had some blood in my alcohol stream.



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[BIGNASTY]

To be honest I KIND OF LIKE THE INDUSTRIAL LOOK!!!

 

[CBlack]

My BIL keeps talking about building a heavy pipe smoker.

I have a Big Green Egg and love it. It'll hold 250 degrees for 14. 5 hours without doing anything.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I have a Big Green Egg and love it. It'll hold 250 degrees for 14. 5 hours without doing anything.

Pics of your big green egg?

 

[CBlack]

It is a large BGE. I built the table myself.



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[Deleted member 995608]

Okay, plans have changed since I wasn't happy with the way the project was going.

I scrapped my fire box idea and took some 3/16" plate and made a heavy duty 18"x18"x18" fire box. Instead of using wood for heat, I've decided to add a cast iron LP burner for heat with a wood chip pan mounted above the burner to create smoke. The box is done but I need to install burner and add a shelf for my wood chip pan.

I also scrapped the 55 gallon drum for a cook chamber since I recently scored a 100 gallon LP tank. The steel is quite a bit thicker so it should retain heat considerably more than the 55 gallon drum.

I filled it up with Dawn dish soap and water two times then dumped it out. Then I added more detergent and water for a third time and let it sit overnight. This should be enough to clean out what ever fumes etc that have settled inside the tank before I start cutting it down to what I need.

This is all I have for now since life has become really busy for me lately. Going to school at night for advance EMT certs has taken a lot of my free time away and my motel business hasn't given me any breaks either.