Page 1 of 2

Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2017 10:40 pm
by Aaronp0412
I recently came across some pipe for pretty cheap. My cook chamber is going to be 5’9” and the fb will be 2’. They are both 3/8 thick and 2’ in diameter.

On the opening between the cc and the fb it’s at 11.72in for the height and 20.62in in width. That’s including a 1.5in grease darn. Should the tuning plates be right above the top of that opening in the cc. Also at what height would the cooking grate be above that.

Forgive me if I’m leaving out anything. This is definitely going to be a learning process for me.

Thanks for your help. I’m sure I’ll have a few more questions along the way.

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:53 am
by k.a.m.
I set my tuning plates 4.5" to 6" below my top grate I prefer 6' if I can get it. To do this often times I use a 6" wide deflector plate angled down at the firebox opening. I do not like the deflector to angle more than 25°if I can help it.
photo84.JPG

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 9:14 pm
by Aaronp0412
Thanks for the help. I hadn’t decided if I was going to do the top grate or not yet. Do you ever feel like it’s to crowded with the two grates?

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2017 7:18 am
by k.a.m.
Aaronp0412 wrote:Thanks for the help. I hadn’t decided if I was going to do the top grate or not yet. Do you ever feel like it’s to crowded with the two grates?

In a 24' chamber top grates get in the way if you're cooking large cuts as there just is not an easy option for spacing. When I cook full turkeys I pull my top grates out or just stack them on the lowers. I do not regret having them but rarely use them at competitions.

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2017 9:29 pm
by Aaronp0412
Thanks. I think I may just go with a one level for the cook chamber. What do you think about adding a vertical smoke chamber. It would be the same diameter 24”. My cousin has one on his smoker, he seems to like it. I’m just not sure how to calculate that with the Feldon calculator.

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2017 11:27 pm
by k.a.m.
Aaronp0412 wrote:Thanks. I think I may just go with a one level for the cook chamber. What do you think about adding a vertical smoke chamber. It would be the same diameter 24”. My cousin has one on his smoker, he seems to like it. I’m just not sure how to calculate that with the Feldon calculator.

While I do not care for them a lot of folks do like them. As for calculating it if you are placing it on the end opposite the firebox no further calculations are needed as the warmer will be acting as your exhaust so all you need is to add a 6" exhaust about 12" tall to the upright.

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:51 pm
by Aaronp0412
k.a.m. wrote:I set my tuning plates 4.5" to 6" below my top grate I prefer 6' if I can get it. To do this often times I use a 6" wide deflector plate angled down at the firebox opening. I do not like the deflector to angle more than 25°if I can help it.
photo84.JPG


How many inches above the tuning plate is your bottom grate?

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:00 pm
by k.a.m.
6" below the lower grate.

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 8:12 am
by Aaronp0412
Well almost a year later we are making some progress now. More photos to come soon.

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 8:25 am
by OldUsedParts
thanks for the update - - - it's looking real nice :tup: :salut: :cheers:

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2018 3:03 pm
by Aaronp0412
Is there any reason not to use a 6 inch pipe for the exhaust? I just like the way a 6 inch pipe looks. The calculator calls for it to be 19.21 inches for a 6 inch diameter.

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:13 pm
by Aaronp0412
I think my exhaust hole cut out is going to leave about half of the 6 inch exhaust below the grate level. Is this going to be a problem? I meant to have it right above the grate, but I guess I messed up some how. Any advice would be appreciated

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:29 pm
by Aaronp0412
I’m also not sure if the firebox to cook chamber opening is the wrong size. I had went off of the planetcalc for some reason and it seems wrong to me know. Not sure how I got that before.

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:41 pm
by GRailsback
If KAM see's this he will respond and help you out. He is the resident expert pit builder. Although he has not been on much lately. If you look up the feldons calculator on here, I think there is an email address on it that possibly goes to KAM.

Re: Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2018 10:33 am
by Aaronp0412
I didn’t have any luck finding a email. Hopefully he will pop
In soon. Thanks