First Offset Build

[JDT4430]

Well guys here it goes. Been wanting to build a pit and a friend gave me a 150 gal. propane tank. I think I'm going to cut 24" out of it to make the fire box out of then the remaing piece will be used for the cooking chamber. Going to do a traditional flow pit. My first question is in regards to the fire box. I have noticed that pretty much all the pits that I have seen built here have square fire boxes versus round. Is there an advatage to this or just personal preference. Not sure yet weather I am going to do a trailer mount or just use four cats iron wheels that I have and make it were I can pull it around the yard with the four wheeler. Any way here is what Im starting with.

[ChileFarmer]

Round fire box are found on many pits. I think square would be easier to work with. Watching for new photos. CF

[JDT4430]

I know I wont need them for awhile but what temp guages should I get. Also would like recomendations for a digital thermometer for monitoring grate temp and meat temp. The last cook off I did we bought a new guage for a pit that we borrowed and had never cooked on before and after under cooking pretty much every thing we figured out the guage was about 100 degrees off so I want something I can trust.

[stykface]

Fire box can be any shape your heart desires, just as long as it's sized big enough to adequately and efficiently supply heat to the main cooking compartment. There are online calculators that give you the cubic area ratio if you do a quick Google search.

I made my smoker out of 16" pipe and I used one piece of the pipe as the burn box. I also went with casters and glad I did. You can check out the entire project start to finish here for some ideas: http://imgur.com/a/atzmk

And definitely go with a digital cooking thermometer. This is a good source that gives you the difference between a digital thermometer and a traditional bi-metal coil thermometer: http://www.amazingribs.com/BBQ_buyers_g ... guide.html

Granted, I have a bi-metal coil gauge on my smoker but it's for aesthetics only. A smoker just looks naked without one. It basically tells me my cooking compartment is "warm" and when I need to get the digital thermometer out, haha.

Hope this helps. Good luck with the build!

-Tannar