The saga. k.a.m.'s cooker build.

[k.a.m.]

riseabove50, my cooker has a slide damper between the main chamber and the warming chamber. This allows me to use the warmer for a cooking chamber.
Here are some pics that may help.





_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[riseabove50]

and just for my own clarification: when you open that dampener, that's when you can get the warming box up to 150-175? or can it get even hotter?

Also, the sacrificial plate you mentioned: does that serve basically as a heat filter between the fire box and warmer so it doesn't get hotter? could that be removable in case you did want more heat in the warming box? I'm not sure I understand exactly what that would be for otherwise. sorry, just trying to get familiar with the "technology" behind a smoker build.

thanks again for the education.
Mark

[k.a.m.]

[riseabove50]

excellent. makes perfect sense. what a great idea. thanks again KAM. getting a really good idea of what I want in my smoker. now I just need to find someone that can build it for me on the cheap but not skimp on quality.

[GreenSmoker]

Sir!
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GreenSmoker / Steve C.
Little Johnny says "I like the way you're thinkin'."

Homemade Offset 30 x 30
UDS
Rocket Stove
Liar #92 or is that my age or my IQ or my shoe size or the sum total for all of them?

[k.a.m.]

Thank You Steve.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[Rayzer]

What a journey this post has been.. Absolutely amazing. I couldn't stop looking. Watching the build come together from rough steel to finished build was a treat.

Great job K.A.M.!
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Brinkman Upright
Brinkman Offset
Masterbuilt Electric Smoker
Weber Kettle
Liar #34. Honest!

[k.a.m.]

Thank You Rayzer.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[Camper Bob]

Mere words fail me. What a fantastic journey. I guess I should have paid more attention in Metal Shop in high school. I have trouble drawing a straight line with a ruler. I am sure you are enjoying the fruits of your labor. Bravo!! I am curious on how you use it. Do you use it commercially, or just for large family gatherings? After using it for a while, would you change anything? I can only add, use it in good health.
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Brinkman Cimarron Offset
Rocks Stoker Kit
LEM #5 Meat Grinder
LEM 5# Vertical Sausage Stuffer
Cookshack Model SM025 Electric Smoker

[k.a.m.]

Thank You Camper Bob.
We compete mostly with her. We also do some catering and benefits.
I am very happy with her as is, but at times I do wish I had gone with a slightly larger trailer.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[Bkndsdl]

KAM, I scanned your post but I didn't come across if you had posted the size of the cc? I just bought a 120 gallon, it looks close the the size of your cc.

Awesome build!
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-Mike in Alabama

K.I.S.S. U.D.S.
My DBS
My Hybrid Build

[k.a.m.]

Thank You Bkndsdl. The cooker started as a 250 gallon propane tank. I removed one elliptical and added my coffin door.
Actual cooking area is 50" wide x 30" deep on the bottom grate.
I hope this helps.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[Bkndsdl]

[k.a.m.]

[Bkndsdl]

I gotcha.

May I ask why you did a hybrid? Which do you feel you use the most, the tuning plates or RF? Trying to decide which way to go with mine, I for sure want tuning plates and a warmer/cooker box above the firebox, just don't know if I would use a RF for anything. I know that I've heard RF will eat up a lot more wood, do you find this to be true?

Thank you sir for your time.
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-Mike in Alabama

K.I.S.S. U.D.S.
My DBS
My Hybrid Build

[k.a.m.]

Mike, I started the Hybrid idea back around '08 when a member couldn't decide which way to go so I said just build one that will cook both ways. The idea kinda took off and a lot of members have put their own twist to it. Trailerbuilder and Wreckless build them and they use both exhausts with the plates open, they have learned their cookers and know how to work them this way.

When I built Bahama Mama I wanted the option to cook both ways knowing that I would most likely only cook with my tuning plates.
I designed my plates to lock together creating a tight seal when in the R/F mode.

When I finished Bahama Mama I cooked R/F only to learn how she would cook, this took about 3 cooks to get accustomed to her.
Once I learned the R/F mode I switched to tuning plates and have never looked back, I prefer cooking with plates.
In my opinion a well built R/F does not use much more wood than any other cooker of equal size.

My son-in-law burns about as much as I do during a cook off. They do require a bit more time to heat up and that relates to maybe one or two extra splits, after that they are about even on splits.
I hope this helps.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[Bkndsdl]

That helps a lot, KAM. I think I'll stick with the tuning plates after hearing your take.

Speaking of splits - I noticed your warmer is a bit smaller than your firebox, which creates a small ledge on top of the firebox. Is that to warm up splits before they go into the fire?
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-Mike in Alabama

K.I.S.S. U.D.S.
My DBS
My Hybrid Build

[k.a.m.]

In a perfect world Mike the warmer would have been the same width as my firebox. The warmer dimensions are what I had left from my plate supply after giving Whiteboycustom a piece for his deflector plate on his DP clone.
I am just short for placing a full pan in sideways which would have allowed me to hold six pans instead of just three.

As it is I have never missed going wider and the warmer holds a perfect temp of 140° to 160° when I am cooking.
I place my splits below the first shelf in the warmer, I can keep six splits warm in there.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[Smokedup]

Truly amazing build.

[k.a.m.]

Thank You Smokedup. It was a fun build and I truly enjoy cooking on her.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker