Smoker idea ???

[NOTV8]

I want to build a smoker grill and would like to ask those who built one if 14 gauge is okay to use. I have plenty of shelves (24"x48") that I got from work a while ago and would like to use it. I will proly get a 1/4" or 3/8 plate to build my fire box. I found 1/2" plate by the recycling yard but that proly over kill for a fire box. I will also insulate the whole thing. This will be just for backyard bbq but if I go crazy might put it on my 4'x6' trailer that I don't use much... TIA

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

If you use it any at all, 14 gauge will yield a pitiful level of satisfaction.
In, other words, no.
Warpage, and burn/rot out is a major concern...I've got thicker scale inside my smoker than 14 gauge.:laughing:
Look at one of these I built...Minimum thickness is 1/4" ...nothing you will want less than 11 gauge or about 3/16 for something to last.

3/8" on firebox is good.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Here's the racks on the inside of both of them:

 

[deereman75]

Those look like they are made out of old tanks. Look really good.

 

[creekbend]

If you use it any at all, 14 gauge will yield a pitiful level of satisfaction.
In, other words, no.
Warpage, and burn/rot out is a major concern...I've got thicker scale inside my smoker than 14 gauge.:laughing:
Look at one of these I built...Minimum thickness is 1/4" ...nothing you will want less than 11 gauge or about 3/16 for something to last.

3/8" on firebox is good.

Do you make your final product from used propane tanks? My friend in Florida made me a smoker very similar to yours and I still have and use it after almost 20 years. He constructed my smoker from a used propane tank and he even adapted a hole in the bottom with a cover to clean out the ashes. He constructs his cookers from various sizes of used propane tanks. Your pictures certainly reveal the excellent workmanship involved in the construction of your cookers.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Yes,
Most of them are made from old propane tanks...as a foundation, but as you can see the one with the dutch doors, it doesn't necessarily mean that its completely a tank when it gets done. This one here uses a fire box that is made out of 3/8" x24" commercial pipe...

 

[creekbend]

Yes,
Most of them are made from old propane tanks...as a foundation, but as you can see the one with the dutch doors, it doesn't necessarily mean that its completely a tank when it gets done. This one here uses a fire box that is made out of 3/8" x24" commercial pipe...

Good work and very innovative.

 

[GGB]

Yes,
Most of them are made from old propane tanks...as a foundation, but as you can see the one with the dutch doors, it doesn't necessarily mean that its completely a tank when it gets done. This one here uses a fire box that is made out of 3/8" x24" commercial pipe...

Mark, that's a nice looking rig. I like how you set the firebox in the middle on this smoker. Looks like you should be able to dial up or down the tempeture at both ends. Have you been able to get some readings at each end of the cooking chamber with one stack wide open and the other end just cracked open?

I agree with you on how thick of material to use. I'm not sure you can go too thick, but it's real easy to go too thin. Although I'm sure someone can prove me wrong, I've never seen a smoker based on a large propane tank burn out the cooking chamber, and I've often thought that the rounded ends helped circulate the smoke.

When our BBQ team built our rig with two 3 stage smokers (not based on propane tanks because we didn't think of it), we made the mistake of going with too small a thickness. Although it has served us well, what we really noticed is that we have a harder time keeping heat in the firebox in colder weather. If we were doing it today, we would look seriously at using 1/2 inch at least for the firebox.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

This one has stack dampers at both ends and one from the fire box between the fire box and the smoke box.

You can customize as you want. I haven't done a full scale reading, as you asked, but with both open, I can go up to 500 degrees....Using the dampers however, I can keep both ends within 5-10 degrees of each other.

There is a small heat/baffle scoop that comes out to spread the heat evenly sort of a reverse exhaust hood.

 

[GGB]

I like your design even better now-having a damper between the firebox and smokebox is another terrific idea. Nice!