Sticks & Gas?

rudyr · Posted: Feb 17 2006 Post subject: Sticks & Gas?

I'm thinking of adding gas to my smoker. Istarted out using lump charcoal and wood chunks. That seemed spendy for my smoker. I bought a load of oak and apple and the sticks of wood work alot better. I was thinking for those long smokes, butts and briskets if i could have a gas burner in the fire box to kick on after 3 or 4 hrs. smoking. Before i built this smoker i have been using a gas vertical water smoker. I took that burner and stuck it in my fire box and turned it on full blast. I wasn't surprised to find out it would only get my temps. up to 200 degrees. I'm thinking of building my my own burner to fit the fire box. Does anyone done this? I havn't heard much on this subject but i'm sure someone has tryed it.

Thomas P. · BBQ Pro Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 596 Location: Texas

I'm, personally, a die-hard wood fan, but I did a couple of pork butts on my father-in-law's gas powered chest smoker over Christmas. I will say the food turned out well, but zero smoke ring.
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allsmokenofire · Posted: Feb 17 2006 Post subject:

BBQMAN builds the burners for his rigs, but he's a trained professional, I'll let him reply Wink

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Tony · Posted: Feb 17 2006 Post subject:

Hi ruryr!

Hey..Lemmee' see some pics of Your Cooker.

We'll Talk.

Best Regards, Tony

rudyr · Posted: Feb 17 2006 Post subject:

I'm thinking a burner out of 1 or 2 small pipes,holes drilled on the side so ashes don't plug it up. I could use some info. on how a burner works with the vent and all. I'm also wondering how regulators are numbered for vol. and pressure. I have 4" under my wood grate. I'll try and post a pic. of

my my fie box.

rudyr · Posted: Feb 17 2006 Post subject:

[IMG]

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f23/rudyr/IM000654.jpg[/IMG]

Tony · Posted: Feb 17 2006 Post subject:

L.P. (Propane) or Natural Gas?

Yes,I have done this several times but I might add that You might be better off with a few commercial burners in paralell with separate controls
plumbed into a common manifold.

I manufacture retro-fit kits for vertical water smokers,will be coming out with kits for horizontals soon,just need more input data.

Best Regards, Tony

BBQMAN · Posted: Feb 17 2006 Post subject:

Hi there Rudyr. You are on the right track with the burner you have, you might think of using it differently.

Most available smaller burners will work well for you guys with average size fireboxs. I believe Travis at diamond plate has a gas assist system available for his smokers. You may want to give him a contact and see what he has to offer.
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"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

BBQMAN · Posted: Feb 17 2006 Post subject:

Tony, sounds like there is a market for a gas assist system. How do you handle the liability issues involved?

That is the main reason I usually hesitate to help others build gas operated burners. As an experienced machine builder, there isnt much I havnt seen or done. But for others that dont know what they are doing, and all the variables that go into doing it, certain projects are just an accident waiting to happen! Shocked

I carry a $500,00 liability insurance policy for my business (although I never plan on needing it!). I have worked too long and hard to get what I own to have some idiot with a lawsuit try to take it from me! Wink

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"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
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Tony · Posted: Feb 18 2006 Post subject:

Hi BBQman!
Yes,I believe there is a small to medium market for these.
It'll be a little while yet before we are ready to market them nationally.
I maintain a product liability policy in my business(L.L.C.) and I have a sizeable "umbrella".

My former profession was as a tool and die maker in electronics...I am also a machine builder way back from the stone age...electronics processing equipment,gas fired sludge driers for environmental waste treatment,wave solder machinery....Yada,Yada.

So for me,This is more fun,and of course my love for Barbeque carried me into this.

Ya' know,I have several" charcoal burners" and two stick burners,so i'm not all about gas!
I'll post some pics soon.

Best Regards,Tony

BBQMAN · Posted: Feb 18 2006 Post subject:

Edskull has a post under general about the afterburner he just purchased- take a look! Very Happy

Looks like a ready made unit would be the ticket for most of the users here wanting a gas assist. If nothing else, take a trip to a BBQ store that has them for sale, and take a look see at how they designed thiers! Wink

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BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

Tony · Posted: Feb 18 2006 Post subject:

BBQman:

Hey Big Guy!...Thanks for the "Shout"!

Is that a new post? I don't know how the heck I missed that!

Yeah...We already have two working Prototypes for Horizontal Offsets,Both of them working out Very well.
I'ts just some of the custom "Home Brew" units that get a little strange but I guess that's just the way it goes.
Thanks Again...Best Regards, Tony

rudyr · Posted: Feb 18 2006 Post subject:

I'll let you guys know how the pipe style burners go. If you don't here from me in a while, well nevermind. I could use two of the round style burners, but i would have to build a cover to keep ashes out of the top of it and i wouldn't have my little water smoker and my fish fryer. I think its going to take a little messing around to get enough heat for it. Anyone know of any info. on internet about burners?

Tony · Posted: Feb 18 2006 Post subject:

Hi ruryr!

If You had the burner(s) in your firebox (with a heat deflector of a sort) why would you have ashes?
The burners would provide your heat temps for cooking and the smoke would come from whatever method you chose to generate it .

See the pics on the Afterburner -H on General Discussion.

Catch Ya'll on the way back...

Best Regards,Tony

rudyr · Posted: Feb 19 2006 Post subject:

Tony, i want to use sticks for the first few hrs. and then kick on the burner. The smoke i did the other day with briskets and butts, towards the end they were getting pretty black. That and the fact that you can set it and forget it seems apealing. I'd prefer to have it mounted p

ermanently under the grate and be able to use gas or wood or both at the same time. If i used 2 of the vert.water smoker burners, i would have to make a cover to keep ashes out of the top of it. With a pipe type burner you wouldn't have that problem. I'm wondering if i could get enough heat out of that style. I'm also thinking of making a new larger round style burner where the holes wouldn't be exsposed to ashes.

edskull69 · Posted: Feb 20 2006 Post subject:

http://gassmoker.com/

here is the afterburner burner. It uses wood and works great !!!! I hope this helps. This guy has several different models to chose from.Even a burner for homemade smokers. Hope this helps. Cool

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MacMitch · Posted: Feb 22 2006 Post subject:

You might give Travis at Diamond Plate a call. I think he is making his own & he might make something custom for your unit since he does do custom work.

Check out the picture of the gas inside my Fat50 below. I burned out a Maverick thermometer the first time I cranked that baby up.

[img][/img]

The gas is under what I believe is angle iron not the half pipe (brings heat from fire box). I removed the lower grill to make the internals visible. Works well, cleans out easy, no worries mate.
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OkieJay · Posted: Feb 22 2006 Post subject:

Mac is correct.
Under those two lengths of angle iron is square tubing with holes drilled at regular spaces. The angle iron keeps gunk from dripping down and covering the holes. No problems getting and holding temp with those burners, but they do use up the gas.
Jay
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rudyr · Posted: Feb 25 2006 Post subject:

I decided to use my fish cooker burner. I reamed out the jet a little, put legs on it, notched the door on the fire box and it will slide in and out as needed. I got it up to 224 degrees with a outside temp of 40. I think as it warms up outside i should be able to get to 250. When it peaked out i used my et-73 and adjusted my tuning plates for equal temps inside. It worked great for that. I also am going to use the burner when making jerky to keep a low steady temp. It looks like it will take a lot of propane for those longer smokes going full blast. I will probably use wood most the time. This way i have options.