Filing Cabinet Smoker

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

Hey guys, I just built a new kind of smoker (new to me at least) and I got a question. So the smoker i built was out of an old filing cabinet from my office and I installed 2 electric coil burners in the bottom drawer to provide the heat and generate the smoke....I ran it for the first time tonight (no meat) just to see if i could get the temp up. And I was easily able to hold it around 225, so thats fine. Anyways, here's my question.....What do i need to do about the paint on the cabinet. It has a very thin coating of paint, and I assume I dont want any fumes from that in my food. My two thoughts on this would be to take a blow torch to the whole inside of the cabinet to try and burn off any "bad stuff" and/or spray the inside with a heat resistant paint coating to "seal in" the existing paint. Are either/or both of these a good idea??? If not, any suggestions??? Thanks guys. Always appreciate your input.

tonyg · BBQ Pro Joined: 10 Feb 2006 Posts: 628

Get it sand blasted...

Tony

allsmokenofire · Posted: Jun 20 2006 Post subject:

I'd go with an angle grinder and some abrasive discs.
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Mike
Team Enoserv

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

I d ont really think sand blasting is an option for me right now, but the angle grinder might be a possibility...is the heat resistant paint on the inside a bad idea???

specialC · Posted: Jun 20 2006 Post subject:

mgaluzzi,

You want to get all of the finish off of the inside. Down to bare metal so you will be able to apply oil and season it. Sandblasting would be the way to go, but if thats not an option I have to agree with Mike about the grinder with abrasive discs. Make sure that they are not to agressive a disc or it will wear down that metal very thin, very quick.
I would definitely stay away from the torch. Its too much heat and to thin of metal. You'll end up with a smoker that looks like somebody put in a gigantic microwave from all of the warpage.

Good luck

~C
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High Roller Custom Pits
303-905-4224

yukondude1 · Posted: Jun 21 2006 Post subject:

Mgaluzzi,

When I built my cabinet smoker I was faced with the same problem. I ended up using a "jelly" type paint remover. I brushed the stuff on and within about 20 minutes the old paint would fall off with a little urging from a plastic putty knife. It took it down to bare metal with no problem. I then used a light sandpaper to knock down any trouble spots, and finally vacuumed and washed out the inside. When it was ready for seasoning, I coated the entire inside with with vegetable oil and let it heat for 8 or 9 hours at a pretty high temp. It seems to have worked well, and it's a lot easier than grinding or sandblasting. There's no evidence of any residual odors or fumes.

Yukondude

mgaluzzi · Newbie Joined: 23 Jan 2006 Posts: 27

Well, I think i finally got all the paint off....It took a combo of sanding, grindind, chemical stripper, and finally a blow torch! I washed up with some mineral spirits and I'm now seasoning it. Just a quiestion though....anyone know why the chemical stripper would only work in some places??? It worked perfectly on parts of the cabinet, and then it seemed like it had no effect at all on other parts (even on the same piece of metal)....anyone have any thoughts on that?

yukondude1 · Posted: Jun 27 2006 Post subject:

Glad you got the paint stripped. Will you post some photos of your new smoker?

Yukondude

BBQMAN · Posted: Jun 28 2006 Post subject:

Washed up with mineral spirits?! Shocked

(See the "cleaning a fuel oil tank" thread in this section below)

Clean it out REAL good with SOAP and WATER, and then high heat before cooking in it.
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

Tony · Posted: Jun 29 2006 Post subject:

AMEN, Mike!

Hey..any time a CAUSTIC (chemical) is used for the purpose,in this case, to remove an applied coating...it MUST be "neutralized" to remove chemical contamination from the previously treated surfaces!

I'll defer to" BBQMAN" for the details ...

As I've stated before and I'll state it again...
We should all be Happy( Very Happy

) that there are folks like BBQMAN that are willing to share thier experiencies with us so that others are not going to be directed towards a wrong end.

Best Regards, Tony Wink

bigdad · BBQ Fan Joined: 03 Apr 2006 Posts: 224 Location: W.pa

Guys your making it way to hard.... Try this out ..Best of all its free to haul away most of the times!!!!

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free is better than cheap!!

Tony · Posted: Jun 30 2006 Post subject: filing cabinet smoker

bigdad.. Hello and Yes, You are undoubtedly correct in stating that some might take things "The Other Way." Wink

Regarding the "Filing Cabinet Smoker" post, the whole context of the subject was all about the filing cabinet.

Your Pics on the Stove Smoker is sure to stir lots of interest .

Perhaps You can share with others here how You went about
creating a smoker from the stove/oven thing. Very Happy

Best Regards, Tony