Smoker Upgrade!
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Just finished my large smoker using retired commercial refrigerator. Added an Auber PID controller, smoke Chief smoke generator, Internal convection fan and 1800 electric element in bottom. Ran a test cycle yesterday heats up quickly, holds heat great , good air flow and even heat throughout. Time to load it up to run a few batches of snack sticks. If I figured correctly should be able to hang 75 lbs at once.mfrievalt
I will be interested to see your results with 75 lbs of sticks.I have experienced temperature stalls with large batches in a similar sized smoker with a 2400 watt element.
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Retired157 said in Smoker Upgrade!:
Now the first thing I should explain is that some… many… ok, maybe all of my friends say that I have a case of OCD; something I vehemently deny!
Get it right. It’s CDO. They HAVE to be in alphabetical order. lol.
Nothing wrong with a written work plan. Following a written plan can help get consistent results and even the big meat processors do this. Actually, they are required to.
I’m sure ‘those’ folks out there with OCD do believe that CDO is more appropriate; present company excluded! lol
A ‘written work plan’… I like it.
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Just finished my large smoker using retired commercial refrigerator. Added an Auber PID controller, smoke Chief smoke generator, Internal convection fan and 1800 electric element in bottom. Ran a test cycle yesterday heats up quickly, holds heat great , good air flow and even heat throughout. Time to load it up to run a few batches of snack sticks. If I figured correctly should be able to hang 75 lbs at once.
You must have a bit of Michelangelo somewhere in your DNA!
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Just finished my large smoker using retired commercial refrigerator. Added an Auber PID controller, smoke Chief smoke generator, Internal convection fan and 1800 electric element in bottom. Ran a test cycle yesterday heats up quickly, holds heat great , good air flow and even heat throughout. Time to load it up to run a few batches of snack sticks. If I figured correctly should be able to hang 75 lbs at once.
mfrievalt Looks very nice, from the picture, it looks like you have all the smoker requirements covered.
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Just finished my large smoker using retired commercial refrigerator. Added an Auber PID controller, smoke Chief smoke generator, Internal convection fan and 1800 electric element in bottom. Ran a test cycle yesterday heats up quickly, holds heat great , good air flow and even heat throughout. Time to load it up to run a few batches of snack sticks. If I figured correctly should be able to hang 75 lbs at once.
Do you have some openings cut in bottom and top of the cabinet for air flow? Its kind of hard to tell from the photo.
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Quick little update… As I was telling everyone earlier, I did find a place to obtain the real thing; Fat Back (pork). Well, they, DeBragga, shipped my order yesterday overnight and guess what, it was delivered this morning before 9:00am! I can’t be happier. Their product look exquisite! So, those of you who are looking… give these folks a try. Here are a couple of pics:
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/Users/Ron/Pictures/Ron’s Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/derivatives/5/551F2646-6A3A-4DC1-9D90-8DA10D1A9D43_1_102_a.jpeg -
Hey no problem. First, I went with the Anova - 1000w - Sous Vide… so all my ‘measurements’ are specific for it. I bought cooker/cooler from Home Depot… 48quart Coleman. I also bought my Schedule 40 PVC from HD which I used to make/modify my cooler’s lid to hold the Anova. So, here goes…
First, I used 3" PVC for this modification. I bought one (2ft) section of 3"… they sell 2ft sections so you don’t have to buy a full length. Then, the only other thing I needed was a 3" cap… easy enough.
Next, thing I needed to do was ‘mark’ dead center (bottom) of my 3" cap. Then, using a 2-3/8" hole saw, I drilled out the cap… this hole now allows my Anova to slide in… nice & secure. After drilling this hole, I cleaned it up nicely with a rattail file.
With the hole done, I glued my 2ft length of 3" pipe in… all the way - bottom it out. You will note in the pic that in addition to gluing these parts together, I also used two sheet metal screws (small @1/2" - 180degrees out from each other) to ensure my two ‘pieces’ never come apart.
Then, I had to decide where I wanted to locate my Anova (its home) on the cooler/cooker lid… I went for that upper left location. This allows me to open & close the lid even with the Anova ‘in place’. A word of caution here… NEVER allow your Anova to be ‘ON’ and ‘removed’ (out) of the water. Apparently this is a sure fire way to burn up a Sous Vide cooker… so don’t open your lid with your Anova ‘On’.
Using a 3-5/8" hole saw (which I did have to buy @HD), I slowly & carefully cut the hole in the lid… it actually went/cut without any issues. Now, you are able to ‘feed’ the 3" pipe in from the side of the lid… be sure to bottom out the cap to the underside of the lid… NO Gap. From here, I had to decide just how much of the 3" pipe I actually was going to need ‘above’ the top side of the lid. I marked the pipe ‘flush’ to the lid and decided on I think… 1" higher. Now I marked & cut the pipe to length.
From here, I did not want my ‘creation’ to fall back into the cooler, so, with it fitted tight to the underside, I marked three spots on the pipe… @ ‘12’, ‘4’, and ‘8’. Then again using some small metal screws, 1/2" again, I screwed them in deep enough to hold but out enough to rest on top of the lid… now, the PVC ‘holder’ can’t be pulled up or pushed down… it’s secure!
Almost forgot… Pilot Holes are required to screw into the PVC
Now, you can see in the pic, I have a ‘slot’ cut in the back of the PVC pipe sticking out above the lid. This allows the Anova power cord to slide down to allow the Anova to be as low (down) as possible in the cooler/cooker. I wanted to make SURE that the Anova was always IN water and that it hung plenty ‘deep’… and it does!
From here, I used epoxy to seal/secure everything… top & bottom. Then I used silicon to ‘pretty’ things up.
You know that ‘black’ pipe insulation they sell for going around copper pipe (water heaters)… I had a piece of that laying around… 2". I cut a 1" piece off and it is a perfect fit/way to secure the Anova when in place… NO shake, rattle, or roll!
Done. Hope all that makes sense. I hope you have the pics you need. I tried ‘foaming’ the inside of the lid (spray can) for added insulation value as per a You Tube video. I found this to be a total waste of effort and NOT worth it… don’t do it. So yes, I had some additional holes to ‘seal’… wish I could do that over (or NOT OVER!)
/Users/Ron/Pictures/Ron’s Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/derivatives/0/0A6A59D0-2A39-4CF6-ACD8-423555CDAB45_1_102_o.jpeg
/Users/Ron/Pictures/Ron’s Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/derivatives/A/A4CCBBA2-4185-4128-B29E-CA7D10D117A7_1_102_o.jpegRetired157 I have a similar cooler and drilled a hole in lid for Anova. Definitely like what you did to lower it even further as on mine the Min water level to heat it all up will lead to an overflow once 25lb of sausage is added. I ended up simply clamping the Anova to the cooler sidewall to get it a bit lower and left lid open while cooking. Figured for only an hour or so there wouldn’t be much lost without sealed lid.
Am curious on yours: When loaded with sausage will the lid with Anova in it open close easily or will it get block by floating sausage? It may be worth cutting lid so that the smaller part with Anova can remain closed and running while you lift larger half to check temps and add or remove product. Hope that makes sense.
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Retired157 I have a similar cooler and drilled a hole in lid for Anova. Definitely like what you did to lower it even further as on mine the Min water level to heat it all up will lead to an overflow once 25lb of sausage is added. I ended up simply clamping the Anova to the cooler sidewall to get it a bit lower and left lid open while cooking. Figured for only an hour or so there wouldn’t be much lost without sealed lid.
Am curious on yours: When loaded with sausage will the lid with Anova in it open close easily or will it get block by floating sausage? It may be worth cutting lid so that the smaller part with Anova can remain closed and running while you lift larger half to check temps and add or remove product. Hope that makes sense.
So, I haven’t ‘used’ my cooler cooker yet… but getting close to it now! When I do, I’ll be sure to take some pics and ‘see’ if I get any issues. I am only doing 10 lbs… (5 - 2 lb) sticks at a time. I made a ‘Fake’ stick to check out how things will fit and I believe I am going to be well within the room of the cooler. Also, I made my own system to ‘rack’ the summer sausage in the cooler… again out of PVC (1/2"). Even filled with sand and ‘capped’. I don’t think I will have a problem with floating/runaway Summer Sausage.
I know that I can fill my cooler with water up to the bottom of that PVC cap that the Anova fits into and I will still have about an inch more of ‘cooler’ space without overflowing. Also, with the water at this level, the Anova fits low enough, almost to the ‘max’ line, that I do not have to worry about it starving for water.
Guess we’ll see…
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Retired157 If the wait becomes to long for the Sure Gel and you find that you need it, I have a pound here in Washington and could send you what you need to make your sausage via the postal service.
Hey John… I just contacted Walton’s and they are not able to give me an ETA on their ‘restocking’ of Sure Gel Meat Binder. So, if you are still willing to part ways with a bit for me, I’d love to get say anywhere from 3-1/2 ounces to 6 ounces. You tell me what you need to make this happen, $$$, and I’ll make that happen.
As you can see, I got my Fat Back pork order this morning and my final ‘spices’ order from Walton’s is being delivered today… just need some SGMB and I’m off to the races!
Later
Ron -
Hey John… I just contacted Walton’s and they are not able to give me an ETA on their ‘restocking’ of Sure Gel Meat Binder. So, if you are still willing to part ways with a bit for me, I’d love to get say anywhere from 3-1/2 ounces to 6 ounces. You tell me what you need to make this happen, $$$, and I’ll make that happen.
As you can see, I got my Fat Back pork order this morning and my final ‘spices’ order from Walton’s is being delivered today… just need some SGMB and I’m off to the races!
Later
RonRetired157 Ron we can make it happen and worry about the finances later, it not like I’m going broke helping you out. I can probably get it out tomorrow via USPS priority mail, just send me you last name in the chat so I can put it on the label. If I mail it tomorrow they say it will get there Monday. I will send you 6 ounces.
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Retired157 Ron we can make it happen and worry about the finances later, it not like I’m going broke helping you out. I can probably get it out tomorrow via USPS priority mail, just send me you last name in the chat so I can put it on the label. If I mail it tomorrow they say it will get there Monday. I will send you 6 ounces.
NICE! Thanks… and you do it at your convenience. That’ll make my wife happy as well. She has me doing pretty much a total ‘remodeling’ of the house. I’m down to the last room… the Master Room. I told her that before I started that room, I wanted to get my smoker done and do one run of Summer Sausage. She really couldn’t argue, she got a nice new kitchen out of it… flooring… carpet (the only thing I hired out)… trim… paint… ufda!
Ron Steffens… I guess that my name doesn’t show up eh. : )
Feel free to call if you need anything else or if somewhere down the road I can do something for you. If I run into that old girlfriend of yours… mums the word!
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NICE! Thanks… and you do it at your convenience. That’ll make my wife happy as well. She has me doing pretty much a total ‘remodeling’ of the house. I’m down to the last room… the Master Room. I told her that before I started that room, I wanted to get my smoker done and do one run of Summer Sausage. She really couldn’t argue, she got a nice new kitchen out of it… flooring… carpet (the only thing I hired out)… trim… paint… ufda!
Ron Steffens… I guess that my name doesn’t show up eh. : )
Feel free to call if you need anything else or if somewhere down the road I can do something for you. If I run into that old girlfriend of yours… mums the word!
Retired157 Linda Star Sweeten is her name, she lives there in Great Falls with her family
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Retired157 Linda Star Sweeten is her name, she lives there in Great Falls with her family
Hey John… check out my 'Home away from Home. Built this myself while I was on the department in anticipation of ‘hunting’ my retirement away. I have 20 acres that borders National Forest… remote! She operates on Solar & Propane. In the spring & summer, it’s a 45 minute drive from town. Winter access as you can see requires ‘tracks’ but it’s a hell of a lot more fun getting there!
/Users/Ron/Pictures/Ron’s Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/derivatives/B/B50F503C-32D5-41A4-9E30-D073A7812260_1_105_c.jpeg -
Hey John… check out my 'Home away from Home. Built this myself while I was on the department in anticipation of ‘hunting’ my retirement away. I have 20 acres that borders National Forest… remote! She operates on Solar & Propane. In the spring & summer, it’s a 45 minute drive from town. Winter access as you can see requires ‘tracks’ but it’s a hell of a lot more fun getting there!
/Users/Ron/Pictures/Ron’s Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/derivatives/B/B50F503C-32D5-41A4-9E30-D073A7812260_1_105_c.jpegRetired157
Very nice! Like a postcard to heaven. Lucky you! -
Hey John… check out my 'Home away from Home. Built this myself while I was on the department in anticipation of ‘hunting’ my retirement away. I have 20 acres that borders National Forest… remote! She operates on Solar & Propane. In the spring & summer, it’s a 45 minute drive from town. Winter access as you can see requires ‘tracks’ but it’s a hell of a lot more fun getting there!
/Users/Ron/Pictures/Ron’s Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/derivatives/B/B50F503C-32D5-41A4-9E30-D073A7812260_1_105_c.jpegRetired157 that is one beautiful cabin in a very beautiful place
. Congrats to you. I really like your ride too. -
Hey John… check out my 'Home away from Home. Built this myself while I was on the department in anticipation of ‘hunting’ my retirement away. I have 20 acres that borders National Forest… remote! She operates on Solar & Propane. In the spring & summer, it’s a 45 minute drive from town. Winter access as you can see requires ‘tracks’ but it’s a hell of a lot more fun getting there!
/Users/Ron/Pictures/Ron’s Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/derivatives/B/B50F503C-32D5-41A4-9E30-D073A7812260_1_105_c.jpegRetired157
Great cabin! Beautiful setting. -
Hey John… check out my 'Home away from Home. Built this myself while I was on the department in anticipation of ‘hunting’ my retirement away. I have 20 acres that borders National Forest… remote! She operates on Solar & Propane. In the spring & summer, it’s a 45 minute drive from town. Winter access as you can see requires ‘tracks’ but it’s a hell of a lot more fun getting there!
/Users/Ron/Pictures/Ron’s Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/derivatives/B/B50F503C-32D5-41A4-9E30-D073A7812260_1_105_c.jpegRetired157 Now that is absolutely gorgeous!!! If I can convince Margaret to get back to GF with me, are you going to let me rent it from you!
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Hey John… check out my 'Home away from Home. Built this myself while I was on the department in anticipation of ‘hunting’ my retirement away. I have 20 acres that borders National Forest… remote! She operates on Solar & Propane. In the spring & summer, it’s a 45 minute drive from town. Winter access as you can see requires ‘tracks’ but it’s a hell of a lot more fun getting there!
/Users/Ron/Pictures/Ron’s Photos Library.photoslibrary/resources/derivatives/B/B50F503C-32D5-41A4-9E30-D073A7812260_1_105_c.jpegRetired157 Looks like we have the same tastes, I have a Polaris 550 SP and we have property that boarders the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. My son-in-law has the cabin, I have my 5th wheel up there. We only have six acres. Sometimes it would be nice to have tracks on the quad to hit the NF but they frown upon the use. Just a few trespassers we have daily.
One of our building projects as well, 30x30 pole shelter with kitchen and bathroom with shower.
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