Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

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Fabkid33
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Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby Fabkid33 » Fri Nov 08, 2019 1:14 pm

Hello this is going to be my first smoker build
I went through the felden calculator and the fire box Is about perfect size for the smoker I'm building. Tubing is 24 inch diameter with 3/8 wall thickness the fire box is 32 inches long and both horizontal and vertical tubes are 50" long questions I have are I was thinking of building a door I can raise and lower in the vertical part to adjust airflow in smoker also I was thinking I could close the vertical part off and only use the horizontal section when smoking smaller things with a separate stack ? ANY other tips or advice would be great . I want to start welding it together very soon !!!!
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20191106_155308.jpg
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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby Rambo » Fri Nov 08, 2019 1:22 pm

You need to Private message member KAM; he's the best. good Luck; looks like you've got it together.
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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby OldUsedParts » Fri Nov 08, 2019 1:42 pm

Welcome to the Forum and I agree with Rambo about PM'n KAM - - - - he's the Boss Hoss here on Pit Building "Correctly" :salut:
I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country—Victory or Death. William Barret Travis - Lt. Col. comdt "The Alamo"
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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby k.a.m. » Mon Nov 11, 2019 11:22 am

Fabkid33 wrote:Hello this is going to be my first smoker build
I went through the felden calculator and the fire box Is about perfect size for the smoker I'm building. Tubing is 24 inch diameter with 3/8 wall thickness the fire box is 32 inches long and both horizontal and vertical tubes are 50" long questions I have are I was thinking of building a door I can raise and lower in the vertical part to adjust airflow in smoker also I was thinking I could close the vertical part off and only use the horizontal section when smoking smaller things with a separate stack ? ANY other tips or advice would be great . I want to start welding it together very soon !!!!

Gonna be a great build I look forward to following it. :D
The door between the vertical and the horizontal is a good one in my opinion. I would however look at it as a way to shut down the vertical as mentioned and not used to regulate temps.
When open look at the vertical as your exhaust if you trim the flow with the door it will cause the horizontal to stall creating cooler smoke that cannot move out. Trying to balance the two will be nearly impossible because getting the vertical to decent smoking temps will have the horizontal running probably 50° to 75° hotter. Just a heads up for when you start running it and are scratching your head trying to figure it out. Concentrate on the horizontal and then see where that leaves you for your vertical temps.
You will only need about a 12" tall exhaust on the vertical and I would shoot for at least 8" in diameter.
Your secondary exhaust for the horizontal can be recommended height and I would run at least 6" diameter.
I will find some pics of my tuning plates for you. :D
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby Fabkid33 » Sat Nov 16, 2019 11:55 pm

Progress pics ....8 hours in my shop and a Pyle of grinding pads and plenty of grinding no big deal for me people say I'm a magician with my 2 dewalt 4 1/2 inch grinders this is what I got together I very happy with it, I have been welding and fabricating for 23 years I have build tons of crazy things and coped plenty of tubing for Rollcages etc but never 24 inch pipe came out really good less then 3/16 inch gaps all the way around . Also I didn't cut the cylinder out all the way where the horizontal meets vertical chamber I think this should be enough air flow , questions is now which way to place the hinge ,bottom hinge top hinge side hinge or thought about making it slide up and down with a threaded rod and a crank on top of the vertical chamber to adjust it taking into consideration shelf space in that chamber . Just me and my forklift making it happen also great to build something for yourself after all the hours that I enjoy building awesome things for my great customers and giving my special skills and experience to make it beautiful ,functional , happiness etc !!!!!!!
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20191116_094600.jpg
Forklift is a great employee !!!!
Last edited by Fabkid33 on Sun Nov 17, 2019 12:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby Fabkid33 » Sun Nov 17, 2019 12:02 am

20191116_194241.jpg
Pretty good fit !!!!
More pics
20191116_194024.jpg
Grinding materials and torch slag !!!#
Attachments
20191116_194018.jpg
Used a few grinding pads and cut off wheels and oxy / acy torch lol
20191116_194147.jpg
View of hole in vertical chamber
20191116_194058.jpg
Small welds holding it together now sweet
20191116_183806.jpg
Going together soon !!!!
20191116_183755.jpg
Hole in vertical chamber
20191116_182237.jpg
Pipe all cut out and cleaned up
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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby k.a.m. » Mon Nov 18, 2019 2:58 pm

Are you referring to the hinge for the damper?
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby Fabkid33 » Mon Nov 18, 2019 7:06 pm

Yes the damper to close off the vertical chamber to the horizontal chamber
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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby Fabkid33 » Mon Nov 18, 2019 8:22 pm

Do you think my hole in the vertical stack will be big enough for good flow ?
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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby Fabkid33 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 12:18 am

The feldon calculator says for a half moon fire box opening to cook chamber I need a diameter of 17.7 plus a 1.5 grease lip do I need to measure up 19.2 inches from bottom of horizontal cook chamber and that's where the top of the fire box should be ?
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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby k.a.m. » Tue Nov 19, 2019 9:39 am

Fabkid33 wrote:Yes the damper to close off the vertical chamber to the horizontal chamber

I think a cable coming up the inside then out and down to a bar and wheel like a Santa Maria would be cool. You could have the door on a track and have infinite adjustment. You could even two part the cable to reduce the weight coming up and make cranking easier.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby k.a.m. » Tue Nov 19, 2019 9:39 am

Fabkid33 wrote:Do you think my hole in the vertical stack will be big enough for good flow ?

Yes I do if you have a large enough diameter exhaust opening.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby k.a.m. » Tue Nov 19, 2019 9:45 am

Fabkid33 wrote:The feldon calculator says for a half moon fire box opening to cook chamber I need a diameter of 17.7 plus a 1.5 grease lip do I need to measure up 19.2 inches from bottom of horizontal cook chamber and that's where the top of the fire box should be ?

You could come up higher and have a taller grease lip is ground clearance is an issue. Ideally if you are running plates you want them at least 6" below your lower grate and the top of your firebox should be where your plate rails are I usually set my firebox up higher then have a 6" deflector coming down at about 25° angle to create my 6" height. I have been super busy I haven't forgot about the plate pics I will get them.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby k.a.m. » Tue Nov 19, 2019 10:05 am

I dug these up out of photobucket. The reason for the straps was my plates on Bahama Mama locked together to create a reverse flow plate. She is a Hybrid by my design to work as plates or reverse flow. My smaller cooker Little Mama is a straight tuning plate cooker.
100_2063.jpg

100_2100.jpg

100_3040.jpg

100_3041.jpg

100_4512.jpg
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



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Re: Welder fabricator building first smoker many questions

Postby Fabkid33 » Tue Nov 19, 2019 1:28 pm

Here is a pic of how im going to cut the plates between my firebox and cook chamber
Middle line Is my 17 3/4 diameter ( feldon calculator half moon diameter) then I went with a 2 inch grease lip bottom line then I added 2 1/2 inches above my middle line for top cut hope this is right let me know asap working on it now
Attachments
20191119_112422.jpg
Cook chamber plate
Last edited by Fabkid33 on Tue Nov 19, 2019 6:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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