aluminum lined smoker
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kyle That looks like a beast. Since you are using wood as a fuel, is your plan to have the fire inside or to have an external fire box?
The reason I ask is because a wood fire inside can get pretty hot. You would probably want to come up with some kind of heavy metal base and grate to protect the bottom of the cabinet.
processhead said in aluminum lined smoker:
kyle That looks like a beast. Since you are using wood as a fuel, is your plan to have the fire inside or to have an external fire box?
The reason I ask is because a wood fire inside can get pretty hot. You would probably want to come up with some kind of heavy metal base and grate to protect the bottom of the cabinet.
It is going to be on 1 course of block, where the legs are, it will be filled in, and on the front will be a door to access the fire box. I have skid-plates off a kubota that will be the heat diffuser (its pretty heavy and already has slots and holes in it) between the firebox and smoke chamber. Still in the planning process, but in my head it will work great when its done

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I would have no problem using a cabinet with an aluminum lining for a smoker. Fiberglass insulation is fine too, assuming it is not exposed, which would be pretty unusual in an undamaged refrigerator.
At smoking/cooking temps, aluminum presents no problems, nor does fiberglass when it is behind/ under a metal liner.
This sounds like the basis of an excellent smoker.processhead thanks for your reply.
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kyle Please keep us up to date with how that goes. As far as aluminum goes, the only time it is an issue (that I can think of right now) is when you are trying to marinade something in an acidic solution The acidity reacts with the aluminum, how big of a deal this is I really don’t know but I know I stopped doing it within months of doing these videos as someone pointed it out to me and I looked it up. As far as just lined in the smoker it wont be a problem. I put things in aluminum pans when I am smoking/cold smoking all the time.
Jonathon It will be interesting following the build, keep us up to date.
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kyle man that thing looks awesome
. It has smoker written all over it. -
processhead said in aluminum lined smoker:
kyle That looks like a beast. Since you are using wood as a fuel, is your plan to have the fire inside or to have an external fire box?
The reason I ask is because a wood fire inside can get pretty hot. You would probably want to come up with some kind of heavy metal base and grate to protect the bottom of the cabinet.
It is going to be on 1 course of block, where the legs are, it will be filled in, and on the front will be a door to access the fire box. I have skid-plates off a kubota that will be the heat diffuser (its pretty heavy and already has slots and holes in it) between the firebox and smoke chamber. Still in the planning process, but in my head it will work great when its done

kyle congrats on a great find.
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cdavis thanks. If I didn’t take it, it was going to the scrap yard and I just couldn’t let that happen. With hunting season on now, it might be a while before its done, but its in my shop so I can monkey around with it
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cdavis thanks. If I didn’t take it, it was going to the scrap yard and I just couldn’t let that happen. With hunting season on now, it might be a while before its done, but its in my shop so I can monkey around with it
kyle wish I was closer I’d love to help you tinker with that thing.
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cdavis said in aluminum lined smoker:
kyle wish I was closer I’d love to help you tinker with that thing.
I looked it up, it would only be a 14 hour drive, 948 miles. And all this time I thought you were my friend.

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processhead said in aluminum lined smoker:
kyle That looks like a beast. Since you are using wood as a fuel, is your plan to have the fire inside or to have an external fire box?
The reason I ask is because a wood fire inside can get pretty hot. You would probably want to come up with some kind of heavy metal base and grate to protect the bottom of the cabinet.
It is going to be on 1 course of block, where the legs are, it will be filled in, and on the front will be a door to access the fire box. I have skid-plates off a kubota that will be the heat diffuser (its pretty heavy and already has slots and holes in it) between the firebox and smoke chamber. Still in the planning process, but in my head it will work great when its done

kyle said in aluminum lined smoker:
processhead said in aluminum lined smoker:
kyle That looks like a beast. Since you are using wood as a fuel, is your plan to have the fire inside or to have an external fire box?
The reason I ask is because a wood fire inside can get pretty hot. You would probably want to come up with some kind of heavy metal base and grate to protect the bottom of the cabinet.
It is going to be on 1 course of block, where the legs are, it will be filled in, and on the front will be a door to access the fire box. I have skid-plates off a kubota that will be the heat diffuser (its pretty heavy and already has slots and holes in it) between the firebox and smoke chamber. Still in the planning process, but in my head it will work great when its done

Sounds like a solid plan, kyle .
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processhead said in aluminum lined smoker:
kyle That looks like a beast. Since you are using wood as a fuel, is your plan to have the fire inside or to have an external fire box?
The reason I ask is because a wood fire inside can get pretty hot. You would probably want to come up with some kind of heavy metal base and grate to protect the bottom of the cabinet.
It is going to be on 1 course of block, where the legs are, it will be filled in, and on the front will be a door to access the fire box. I have skid-plates off a kubota that will be the heat diffuser (its pretty heavy and already has slots and holes in it) between the firebox and smoke chamber. Still in the planning process, but in my head it will work great when its done

kyle If I were you & using CMU (Cinder Block/Concrete Block, etc) for the fire box, I would make sure I lined the inside where the fire would be with fire brick before use or if you can find it, fire rated CMU. It will make it all a little larger & heavier, but I think it will do you right in the long run.
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Refractory brick will give longer service to be sure as calldoctoday says.
Since CMU’s are cheap, and easily replaced, they might be adequate for something like a smoker where the the fire is generally smaller and normally not constantly in use.I would have no problem using concrete block for testing purposes till you get the design nailed down, then maybe change to something more long lasting.
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Refractory brick will give longer service to be sure as calldoctoday says.
Since CMU’s are cheap, and easily replaced, they might be adequate for something like a smoker where the the fire is generally smaller and normally not constantly in use.I would have no problem using concrete block for testing purposes till you get the design nailed down, then maybe change to something more long lasting.
processhead If all you are doing is using an electric or perhaps even propane to provide 200-300° of heat & get wood chips or chunks smoking, you will probably be fine with the regular CMU. However, when you have everything cast in stone & are going to use a genuine stick burning fire as I had imagined (like an old time smoke house with an isolated source) & thus have a much hotter & concentrated primary heat source (not the smoke source necessarily), then I would line the fire box with fire brick or use fire rated CMU as processhead indicated. Regardless, it looks like you have found a fine smoke house frame.
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Refractory brick will give longer service to be sure as calldoctoday says.
Since CMU’s are cheap, and easily replaced, they might be adequate for something like a smoker where the the fire is generally smaller and normally not constantly in use.I would have no problem using concrete block for testing purposes till you get the design nailed down, then maybe change to something more long lasting.
processhead calldoctoday thank you both for your input. I am using the block to give me a little more room in my fire box and give it a stable foundation. I have some plate steel that I was going to make the actual firebox out of. I feel that would be easier for me to make a door and possibly vents for draft. I can weld and cut steel, not so good with block
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processhead calldoctoday thank you both for your input. I am using the block to give me a little more room in my fire box and give it a stable foundation. I have some plate steel that I was going to make the actual firebox out of. I feel that would be easier for me to make a door and possibly vents for draft. I can weld and cut steel, not so good with block
kyle That should make a very good firebox.
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processhead calldoctoday thank you both for your input. I am using the block to give me a little more room in my fire box and give it a stable foundation. I have some plate steel that I was going to make the actual firebox out of. I feel that would be easier for me to make a door and possibly vents for draft. I can weld and cut steel, not so good with block
kyle That is a great idea. I would think if you use some good, serious, heavy gauge steel for the fire box itself either below, beside, or behind the smoke box, you will have a good smoker for a very, very long time.
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processhead calldoctoday thank you both for your input. I am using the block to give me a little more room in my fire box and give it a stable foundation. I have some plate steel that I was going to make the actual firebox out of. I feel that would be easier for me to make a door and possibly vents for draft. I can weld and cut steel, not so good with block
kyle don’t forget to send pics along the way
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processhead calldoctoday thank you both for your input. I am using the block to give me a little more room in my fire box and give it a stable foundation. I have some plate steel that I was going to make the actual firebox out of. I feel that would be easier for me to make a door and possibly vents for draft. I can weld and cut steel, not so good with block
kyle Would definitely like to see pictures of your end results.
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kyle I understand, things get put on the back burner here too when it is hunting season.
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cdavis said in aluminum lined smoker:
kyle wish I was closer I’d love to help you tinker with that thing.
I looked it up, it would only be a 14 hour drive, 948 miles. And all this time I thought you were my friend.

kyle if only it was just 848 miles I’d be there my friend. Good luck with your deer season.
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