aluminum lined smoker
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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 CMUās 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.
Paul
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Refractory brick will give longer service to be sure as calldoctoday says.
Since CMUās 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 200-300Ā° 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 CMUās 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
hey vegetarians, my food poops on your food!
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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 donāt 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 Iād 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 Iād be there my friend. Good luck with your deer season.
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kyle oh man that thing looks like itāll make a sweet smoker make sure to keep us posted on your process
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processhead thanks for your input. Itās a very solid old fridge. When I get it done, itās going to be another wood fired smoker like my one made out of a old vending machine, but I might make it where I can slide a propane element in if Iām feeling lazy. Thanks again for responding
kyle I would use electric element to heat with a controller for temp. control ease of use
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kyle I would use electric element to heat with a controller for temp. control ease of use
craigrice I have always done it the ol fashion way with a wood fire. I like the taste better and since Iām not in big production, Iām in no hurry. I might make it so I can put my Turkey deep fryer base in it for heat if I want, but wood fire will be my main heat
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craigrice I have always done it the ol fashion way with a wood fire. I like the taste better and since Iām not in big production, Iām in no hurry. I might make it so I can put my Turkey deep fryer base in it for heat if I want, but wood fire will be my main heat
kyle There is something about that wood when you can have it & have the right set-up for it for good temperature control, etc. that cannot be beat. It takes a lot more work, but if everything is done right, there is nothing else like it.
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you could set it up like an offset smoker and use the controller for the temp. and be able to cold smoke also
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This would be a little far fetched, but make for some great heat & smoke control. Make your fire box completely & totally separate so that the heat has to go through some sort of Pipe or something like that which connects to the meat box, like some of the old smoke houses. I am getting little ahead of myself!
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This would be a little far fetched, but make for some great heat & smoke control. Make your fire box completely & totally separate so that the heat has to go through some sort of Pipe or something like that which connects to the meat box, like some of the old smoke houses. I am getting little ahead of myself!
calldoctoday I have a smoker now that my dad built out of an old vending machine. Itās only wood fired that is nothing fancy. You just build a fire in the bottom. I made 25 pounds of snack sticks on Monday in it and turned out great. I can keep the temp at 75 all the way up to 300. Just takes a little practice. For now, Iām going to stick with my original plan. Thatās for your input tho guys. Always like hearing others opinions
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calldoctoday I have a smoker now that my dad built out of an old vending machine. Itās only wood fired that is nothing fancy. You just build a fire in the bottom. I made 25 pounds of snack sticks on Monday in it and turned out great. I can keep the temp at 75 all the way up to 300. Just takes a little practice. For now, Iām going to stick with my original plan. Thatās for your input tho guys. Always like hearing others opinions
kyle That is kind of like the real good one I used to have & it was fantastic. It takes a little extra work & time to get to know your cooker, but well worth the effort. I suppose it is sort of like shooting old time (not modern Streamlined) Black Powder, you got to get to know your Iron.
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you could set it up like an offset smoker and use the controller for the temp. and be able to cold smoke also
craigrice Iām not very smart when it comes to doing fancy wiring with elements and controllers. Iām more of the caveman type. āFire hot, fire make smoke, fire cook thingsā the way Iām going to build it, it could be converted some day
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