Another Project started

[jefnmichele]

Well, I have had the tank for a few weeks, and after alot of discussion and debate, my 5 kids finally gave me a few hours to get started on this. Its 42 x 96, will have a 36 inch square fire box, down the road atleast two sets of racks, dual stacks, dual air inlets that i will tie together with a rod so that I can adjust both from either side, and main drain, and I just bought a new trailer to drag it around with...

[pigalicous]

That will be one big ol' smoker Its nice seeing ppl build something they can be proud of and feed the family too.

[Jon D. Q.]

Congratulations on your start. 42" diameter is a large tank. I look forward to following your build.

[pigalicous]

Ya should be able too smoke the whole herd with that one lol

[jefnmichele]

A friend told me to put one big door on the other end. Just open it and walk the pig in...

[killswitch505]

I don’t know about walking the pig in you’ll most likely have to drag him in
_________________
Club Disco

[jefnmichele]

Looking for some opinions. Its a big cooker, reverse flow? Plates? Insulate the bottom? Want to use primarily hard lump charcoal, cause the pacific northwest has nothing for wood.

3/16 steel so its going to be a little prone to the weather, but wont take as long to reheat. Going to keep a couple insulating blankets for the top when its cool at night.

I dont have an unlimited budget, but I got lots of knowledge of systems and controls. Its 96 inches long, 4 thermometers? Wondering why no one has added fans to the inside of the fire box to circulate the heat, like a convection oven ? Also considering a drip humidifier, something that can be filled from the outside to keep the moisture up.

Any ideas, or opinions will be welcome

Adv(thanks)ance

[bud-wie-ser]

I have tried running my 55 gallon drum smoker using just charcoal. I think you will be hard pressed to get enough heat to get that big tank up to temp with it.
Using wood on the other hand, I can get mine as hot as I want it to go.
_________________
Bud
Sugaz and Spice BBQ
----------------------------------------------
Custom Drum Smoker
UDS
KCBS Certified BBQ Judge

[jefnmichele]

Have you tried lump charcoal? I used to make it and bag it as a kid. It is almost pure carbon. Burns hot and long.

[purplewg]

You will need a logging truck to haul you wood around with you too. lol

Good luck with you build and I look forward to see more pics.
_________________
The Wild Pig build.
My UDS Build.

Don't squat with your spurs on.........

[watchado]

I'm thinking you might need to look into a propane setup like the D-BURNER http://gassmoker.com/d-burner.htm. I can see it taking lots of lump to keep her going even "if" you can get it up to temp. And if woods is not readily available in your area this is sure an economical solution.
_________________
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

[Kenz51]

[jefnmichele]

Got me thinking that I should trim the tank down by maybe two feet? Make it 6 ft long instead of the 8 it is now.

I want to use it in competition so propane is not an option.

I would leave the fire box sized for the 8 ft chamber

thoughts?

[jefnmichele]

Trimmed the tank and the trailer today. 456 gallon now. End cap welded back on about 70 percent. Ran out of time.

[Jon D. Q.]

If you are serious about running this thing on lump I would recommend a reverse flow design with the firebox under the pit using the RV plate as the top of the firebox. A heated exhaust chamber would help you also as you probably do not want to run as many cubic feet per minute of airflow through this thing as you would if it was a stick burner.I would also recommend a 4 cooking grate setup in this size chamber also. You said you wanted to compete with it and most that I see post seem to prefer different temp options for various meats and as conditions and time frames dictate. You would probably have a 25 to 35 degree variation from top to bottom grate and other options in between. Just my 2 cents worth . Good luck to you however you proceed.

[messerist]

Sounds like you are limited to coniferous trees up in your neck of the woods. I remember as a kid living in Port Angeles that all there were around us were "Christmas trees." My curiosity is "what fuel options does one have when limited to only soft woods?" Hope that someone who is in the same boat as you can give some good advice. The cooker looks "ginormous!" Good luck with your project and I look forward to watching it progress.
_________________
LURKER
New Braunfels Horizontal Smoker
Weber 22.5"
UDS (in progress)

[jefnmichele]

Jon: My thoughts are to run this "pig" on lump as a base, and use sticks to bump the extra heat I need to maintain temp and smoke. Since I originally sized the firebox for the 8 ft tank, my current plan is to angle the FB lid so that all the heat goes into the smoker not through the lid of the FB. I have to use tuning plates to get the heat through the thing, and spread it evenly. Multiple racks are for sure going in. I personally like to cook everything around 225. I know alot of guys turn out brisket in 5 hours or so at 375-400, i have no desire. If I want a brisket done in 5 hours, the wife can use her fancy oven thing.

Also been trying to think of a way to use pine, for heat, but not let any of the smoke into the chamber. My thinking is, to use the traditional fire box for most of my smoke and some heat, and then use an additional side fire box to heat an exchanger exhaust running through the bottom of the chamber. I have more pine than I can use, but I cant cook with it.

[Jon D. Q.]

I have always loved the slanted top on offset fireboxes and yours is a great application for it's use. I am of course subject to being wrong but my first thought on the over sized firebox is that it may be counter productive for you but insulating your firebox no matter it's dimensions would be a definate plus.Good luck to you as you go forward.

[daddywoofdawg]

[day_trippr]