500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

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Theroadwarrior
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500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby Theroadwarrior » Sun Sep 02, 2018 7:45 pm

I have completed my 500 Gallon offset smoker.

https://flickr.com/photos/155798844@N03 ... 6713090592

I Have some questions on fine tuning it now. I am Getting a lot of ash in the firebox. I Took some expanded metal And layered it and covered the firebox to cook chamber opening but the ash still comes through, what do you guys do to cut it down?

It doesn’t seem to draft very well with the door closed. I Put in two 3.5”x10” vents towards the bottom Of the firebox under the door but it doesn’t seem to Pull air well from Those. Should I put a larger vent in the door?

I am still experimenting with the multiple temperature zones, I thought about putting expanded metal
In and making some Tuning plates to help the heat difference but the top racks are 25-50* hotter than the lower racks because the flu is up higher than down at grate level. Like I said I think it just needs some
Fine tuning and I need some advice

Thanks
-James
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby Mule rider » Sun Sep 02, 2018 11:18 pm

While looking at your pics I noticed that your fire box was really close to the ground. Which concerned me, but I see you had to lift the smoker almost 4 in to gain clearance. Very nice job on the smoker. Tuning plates will help with the uneven temps, and maybe a higher stack on the chimney to help draw better. Just a thought. :salut:
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby Russ » Mon Sep 03, 2018 12:10 am

What a great build. You must have a very good wife,lol.

Russ
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby rms827 » Mon Sep 03, 2018 5:52 am

Nice job! The finished and painted smoker looked great. So did the couple pics I saw of food cooking. :D

I keep saying one of these days I'm going to have to learn to weld. Every time I see pics of a finished homemade smoker, it makes me want to learn even more.
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby Chasdev » Mon Sep 03, 2018 6:56 am

Two observations, the firebox is too large and the exhaust should exit the center of the end of the cylinder, not the top.
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby OldUsedParts » Mon Sep 03, 2018 7:27 am

Looks Good - thanks for sharing :tup: :salut: :cheers:
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby Theroadwarrior » Mon Sep 03, 2018 2:19 pm

Thanks for all the complements!

Yes we had to raise it 5” to get firebox clearance. We just blocked it and had custom u bolts made.

I did the Felton’s calculator and for 500 gallons the firebox had to be 34x34x34” we made it 36x36x36 but it’s lined with firebrick.

The stack is 8”x 40 by the Feldons calculator.

I thought about moving the stack to middle grate level, that’s a lot of work, but would it help it draft better? I’ve seen Photos of both ways
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby Chasdev » Mon Sep 03, 2018 3:14 pm

Exhaust exit at cook grate level forces the smoke to pass over/through the meat, up on top allows smoke to short cut up and out.
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby Theroadwarrior » Mon Sep 03, 2018 4:59 pm

Would it be worth the effort moving that stack?
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby Theroadwarrior » Mon Sep 03, 2018 8:27 pm

And with two grates where is the best place to place the chimney?
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500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby PinoyPitmaster » Mon Sep 03, 2018 8:34 pm

Looks great
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby Chasdev » Tue Sep 04, 2018 7:36 am

Theroadwarrior wrote:And with two grates where is the best place to place the chimney?


To me, the answer remains the same.
Equal level or under the cook grate/s.
Here's what Franklin makes/uses..
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500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby PinoyPitmaster » Tue Sep 04, 2018 10:46 am

Chasdev wrote:
Theroadwarrior wrote:And with two grates where is the best place to place the chimney?


To me, the answer remains the same.
Equal level or under the cook grate/s.
Here's what Franklin makes/uses..


The one pit in the middle looks like @2guysBBQ pit but larger!


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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby TwoGuysBBQ » Tue Sep 04, 2018 11:13 am

Hey I was just looking at that too, 8)
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Re: 500 gallon offset is complete but have questions

Postby Theroadwarrior » Sat Sep 08, 2018 5:51 pm

So by moving the chimney to grate level, how would this effect the upper grates smoke and Temperature?

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