Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Custom manufactured BBQ Pits, Do-it-Yourself projects, parts and ideas.

Moderator: TBBQF Deputies

everydaydiesel USER_AVATAR
EverydayDiesel
Pilgrim
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:48 am
Contact:

Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby EverydayDiesel » Tue Sep 07, 2021 12:57 am

Hello,

I am in the middle of cleaning a 250 gallon propane tank that I want to turn into an offset smoker. I also have a 48" long 6.2 ID (6.7 OD) pipe that I basically got for free so I would like to use that if all possible.

Image

Link to BBQ Pit Calculator




This is showing the INSIDE of the firebox (the outside surrounds it 2" on every side but that is not shown here)
Image

its 2.25" down from the center of the pipe - should this be lower or higher?
Image


On the other side I want to do a texas style collector
Image
k.a.m. USER_AVATAR
k.a.m.
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3741
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:38 pm
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby k.a.m. » Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:04 pm

Welcome to the forum EverydayDiesel.
Will your grates be at 3:00?
Will the firebox to cook chamber opening be at the top of the firebox or lower?
Are you locating your exhaust at grate level or higher?
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
everydaydiesel USER_AVATAR
EverydayDiesel
Pilgrim
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:48 am
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby EverydayDiesel » Fri Sep 10, 2021 9:02 pm

Hello KAM and thank you for the welcome

k.a.m. wrote:Will your grates be at 3:00?

Yes the grates will be right in the middle 3/9 o'clock

k.a.m. wrote:Will the firebox to cook chamber opening be at the top of the firebox or lower?

From what I read (on your other posts) its best to have the throat at the very top of the firebox. I am not set on anything really, just whatever you think would work best.

k.a.m. wrote:Are you locating your exhaust at grate level or higher?

Exhaust right square in the middle I think is what you have recommended in the past.


I was reading another post where you said you like to run a larger firebox...around 125%? Is this still the case? I have 5ft of schedule 40 pipe (6.2" ID/ 6.7" OD) that I basically got for free.


On this 250 gallon do you recommend any type of throat (up, straight out or none)?


Thanks again for helping me
k.a.m. USER_AVATAR
k.a.m.
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3741
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:38 pm
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby k.a.m. » Sun Sep 12, 2021 6:28 pm

So if I am reading correctly you will have 2.5" from the top of the firebox to the grate. In my opinion that is too close to the grate. I am guessing you are going with a straight through with no tuning plates. I would drop the firebox down to 3" to 4" below grate and have a 6" deflector pointing down about 25° That should put your output around 5" to 6" below grate level.
I do like an over sized firebox around 125%.
Yes the exhaust at or above grate is preferred placement for me.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
everydaydiesel USER_AVATAR
EverydayDiesel
Pilgrim
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:48 am
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby EverydayDiesel » Mon Sep 13, 2021 11:52 am

Thank you for the reply. Can you explain the difference between a jambo (throat angled up) and a more traditional style (throat angled down)
k.a.m. USER_AVATAR
k.a.m.
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3741
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:38 pm
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby k.a.m. » Mon Sep 13, 2021 3:51 pm

The jambo's and others like it force the heat/smoke up and back down to the grate. The exhaust splits the grate on this style cooker. A conventional throat down forces the heat/smoke down and with an at grate or higher exhaust the heat smoke is pulled through that way. Personally I am not a fan of the throat up as it does not produce enough smoke for me. They control the heat by the exhaust not the intake I am sure if I played with one long enough I could bring her around to my way of cooking.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
everydaydiesel USER_AVATAR
EverydayDiesel
Pilgrim
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:48 am
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby EverydayDiesel » Mon Sep 13, 2021 4:04 pm

Ok down it is. I have the tank prepped and doors are cut out. Tomorrow I am cutting the firebox out of sheets of 1/4" plate. Does this look right to you? http://feldoncentral.com/bbqcalculator. ... .09,174.72

Image
everydaydiesel USER_AVATAR
EverydayDiesel
Pilgrim
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:48 am
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby EverydayDiesel » Mon Sep 13, 2021 4:05 pm

Also I have a round tank and a square firebox. Does it matter what shape I make the throat opening from the CC to FB?
k.a.m. USER_AVATAR
k.a.m.
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3741
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:38 pm
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby k.a.m. » Tue Sep 14, 2021 8:22 am

EverydayDiesel wrote:Also I have a round tank and a square firebox. Does it matter what shape I make the throat opening from the CC to FB?

It does not really matter.
Here is a link to a great tool that you just plug in the pit calculators numbers to. Choose the shape you want and plug in your information.
https://planetcalc.com/5155/
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
k.a.m. USER_AVATAR
k.a.m.
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3741
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:38 pm
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby k.a.m. » Tue Sep 14, 2021 8:25 am

How do you plan on doing your intakes? I noticed you have 22" long and 3.25" tall how are you going to control the opening?
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
everydaydiesel USER_AVATAR
EverydayDiesel
Pilgrim
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:48 am
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby EverydayDiesel » Tue Sep 14, 2021 10:30 am

k.a.m. wrote:How do you plan on doing your intakes? I noticed you have 22" long and 3.25" tall how are you going to control the opening?


I was just using that for the square inches basically. I will cut some shapes low and towards the door of the fire box. I plan on doing double the vent area (72sqin on the left and 72sqin on the right of the FB) so I have the option to use either side if the wind is acting up that day
k.a.m. USER_AVATAR
k.a.m.
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3741
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:38 pm
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby k.a.m. » Tue Sep 14, 2021 10:38 am

EverydayDiesel wrote:
k.a.m. wrote:How do you plan on doing your intakes? I noticed you have 22" long and 3.25" tall how are you going to control the opening?


I was just using that for the square inches basically. I will cut some shapes low and towards the door of the fire box. I plan on doing double the vent area (72sqin on the left and 72sqin on the right of the FB) so I have the option to use either side if the wind is acting up that day

If it were me I would go 6" tall and split my fire grate as I like air moving below and above my coal base. You can always have way more intake than specified but it is hard to get air if you do not have the opening.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
everydaydiesel USER_AVATAR
EverydayDiesel
Pilgrim
Posts: 14
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 12:48 am
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby EverydayDiesel » Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:10 am

Thanks!

Should I do insulated? Partially insulated? 2"? 3"?
k.a.m. USER_AVATAR
k.a.m.
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3741
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:38 pm
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby k.a.m. » Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:21 am

EverydayDiesel wrote:Thanks!

Should I do insulated? Partially insulated? 2"? 3"?

That is a decision only you can make. I did not insulate Bahama Mama and partially insulated Little Mama with a thermal nuclear blanket wrap. It does help and the wrap weighs nothing. Insulating a firebox with two walls creates a lot of weight.
If you decide on insulating 2" is plenty.
Last edited by k.a.m. on Tue Sep 14, 2021 12:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
grailsback USER_AVATAR
GRailsback
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3615
Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:44 pm
Location: Cypress TX.
Contact:

Re: Advice For 250 Smoker Build

Postby GRailsback » Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:46 am

EverydayDiesel wrote:Thanks!

Should I do insulated? Partially insulated? 2"? 3"?


You won't regret insulating it. mine is insulated, it runs on very little fuel for the size of the pit. And if this thing is going to be on a trailer the extra weight isn't really that much of a factor. In fact I am not sure a insulated fire box with 1/4 in. is heavier than what one would be with using 1/2 in plate for the same purpose like some folks do.

Return to “Custom Built Pits, Build Your Own Pit & Pit Modifications”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 16 guests