Questions with 250 LP build

[JMack]

Well for the past month or so I have looking around on the ring getting some ideas for my build; you guys have some great ideas. I am new to metal fabrication and having my dad help me some with the welding part.

I have a 250 LP tank 1/4" thick; I believe it is 31" diameter. I have already laid out the doors and began to cut them with a grinder and a sawzall, kind of scary but it worked out.

My concept was to align a firebox in the center on the back of the smoker, connect the firebox to cooker with a baffle to control heat and smoke. Also a diffuser plate the length of the cooker with 6 inches on either side with a center mounted exhaust stack.

My question is what to use as a firebox I was planning to building one from scratch, but looking at the cost of plate it seems to be a little out of my price range.

The firebox was going to be 48 x 24 x 24 with a 4 x 6 opening into the cooking chamber. I know it is somewhat big for that size cooker but I have an opening in my trailer that size. Should I go with shorter dims to reduce costs? Or find a small 60 gallon LP tank to use a firebox. I also was thinking of using Old beer kegs as a firebox, they are only 18 gauge but they are free.

I know how you guys like pictures so I will post some, to help give you and idea. Thanks.

[k.a.m.]

JMack, welcome to the ring I look forward to seeing some pics of your cooks and following your cooker build.
You could reduce the firebox size down to 16'' x 16'' x 48'' and use one sheet of plate for the firebox It is smaller by calculator size but I still believe with the DP style cooker it will work if you have enough intake, firebox to cooking chamber hole size and exhaust. Or go with the LP tank.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

[Cat797]

Welcome to the ring.........

If you are willing to use scrap and/or drop pieces instead of new steel, the plate will be much cheaper. Around here a 4x8 sheet of 1/4" costs about $275, which is too steep for my blood, so I'm using drop pieces to build my firebox.

Good Luck
Ed

[JMack]

Thanks for the info guys. I think for right now I am going to focus on getting the doors and hinges welded in and keep an eye out for a firebox and or material.

Well today got some stuff done before the thunderstorm. I went ahead and attempted to make some hinges, I got one done, only four more to go.

I decided to go with the ones K.A.M made for his RF build I liked the way they looked. But I made the hinge a little too long 5 inches so I may redo it. I also may just run one solid round bar across the door and bend at either end of the door so that both hinges are aligned perfectly, Thought?

K.A.M checked out your RF build post that smoker looks really nice.

Cat797 yea I am going to look around this week for some cheaper plate I saw a posting on Craigslist for metal so I'm going to give them a call.

Now I'm going to have to figure how to get some pictures up of what I have done so far.

[JMack]

Well here's some pics...

Here's the tank all marked up for the doors



Other view.



Backside of trailer freshly decked..



Where the smoker is going, the empty place is where I am going to build a fire box.



And we have one door cut!!!!



The inside doesn't look that bad.



Well that's it for today the rain came again. I also could not get my MIG welder working right I guess 1/4" is too thick. It is a 130 amp... any suggestions

[watchado]

Here's a link to my DP styled build. Look around at my pics. It might help you with some of your design. http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40883&highlight=
_________________
Don't talk smack to me if you can't spell.

Large Big Green Egg
Weber Kettle
250 gallon offset smoker, LP tank
Charmglow gasser
http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40883

[morick]

Whatever you deside on your firebox i would go with something with some thickness to it. Your firebox is what takes the most brunt of damage and corrosion. You might look for a smaller lp tank or some used pipe. Great start .
_________________
The best exercise is stooping down and lifting up another.

[Jon D. Q.]

Hello, and welcome to the Forum. I do not usually comment on the somewhat DP style builds. However I did not see anyone else point out to you that a 4 x 6 heat and smoke transfer tube is going to make it very hard if not impossible to get this pit up to temp. It will need to be considerably larger. I hope that others on here with more experience on these DP style builds will chime in with some actual size suggestions. Good luck to you on your build. I will look forward to seeing it come together.

[JMack]

Watchado I really like your DP build, I liked the door sizes you went with. Also with two 6" intake pipes how hot can your cooker it?? Can you take it up to 350, just curious I sometimes cook my chicken around 275 300. Also when adding wood to your fire box is it somewhat difficult??

Morick thanks for the insight I'm still looking around for some plate so will see what I can come up with.

Jon D. Q. yea after thinking about it I am certainly going to increase the size of the heat transfer tube.

Well I've got a BBQ competition in Madison, IN this weekend so I guess no working on the smoker this weekend but the comp should be good!!!

[watchado]

JMack I have had it up to 350 although it wasn't intentional! I don't think it would be any problem keeping it there tho. I am going to increase the exhaust to 5". I had planned that all along but at the time I needed to use it I had not found suitable material so I just welded in what I had laying around. As for adding wood to the firebox it's really not a problem. I have a door on both sides and on the last cook I would just throw one log in on each side and it seemed to work fine.
_________________
Don't talk smack to me if you can't spell.

Large Big Green Egg
Weber Kettle
250 gallon offset smoker, LP tank
Charmglow gasser
http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40883

[JMack]

Well I have make some progress it's starting to look like a smoker. I have the doors mounted and handles attached. I scored a firebox on craigslist and will done with it soon. Here are some pics of the progress.

Fire Box old air tank should work good.


Both doors cut out and hinges


Where the fittings used to be.


Both handles attached and door straping tacked in.


Up close of handle


Firebox cut. 20" in diameter by 47" long.


I left the base on where the compessor used to sit makes a nice base to mount to trailer.


I'm working on the fire box now building a grate and doors I will update with more pic as they come.

[lanltowing]

Here is one I built

[JMack]

Nice smoker lanltowing!!!!

Here some updates I got the firebox almost done.









I should have everything mounted up to the cooker this week.

[watchado]

Two concerns. 1, looks to me like you have left to much space under your fire grate and you're trading valuable wood space for ash space. I think my grate is about 3 inches off the bottom. 2 I'm a little worried about the firebox sitting on a wooden floor trailer even with the base that's left on it. It's going to produce a lot of heat and most likely will start a fire. I have caught logs on fire preheating them close to the firebox. Just something you should consider.
_________________
Don't talk smack to me if you can't spell.

Large Big Green Egg
Weber Kettle
250 gallon offset smoker, LP tank
Charmglow gasser
http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=40883

[JMack]

Watchado Yea I thought the grate was high but I'm going to try it out and see how it works. I went ahead and put 4" I beam to set the firebox off the trailer.

Well I got the cooker mounted and painted, cooked on it this past weekend for a party it worked great. He are some pics of the build finished.


A little smoke during seasoning

Watchado yea you were right I had to take the grate out, I'm going to lower the grate where it is 3in high.

I went with round bar grates instead of expanded, worked well.

Scored a old job box from my dad.

Now there's the smoke!


Well I still have some changes and add on's. I have two top grates left to build and a counter across the back of the trailer with beer tap and sink, updates coming.

[patruns]

Sweet! Where's the firebox? I don't think I see it in these pics.....
_________________
Pat

Char-Griller Outlaw with SFB
Weber Smokey Joe
Weber Q 220
LIAR#49

[JMack]

Patruns Thanks yea the wood box hides the firebox I will have to get some more picutres.