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Idea for Gas assist on Longhorn deluxe

Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:27 am
by bigsal51
I need an idea for a gas assist on my Longhorn deluxe. I have the tanks but need ideas on the setup in side the firebox.

Image

Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 8:46 am
by bigwheel
You want to cook with the gas as in the Lazy Q fashion or looking for something just to light the fire? If you want to cook a high pressure turkey frying burner works purty good...but there aint no sense in putting it in the firebox cuz you just waste a lot of heat into the atmosphere and get Algore all riled up on the global warming thing in addition to wasting money. In my view it makes greater sense to move the operation into the cookchamber where you will get mo btu's for the buck. On top of the burner you set a cast iron pot full of wood chunks with a water pan on top of the cast iron pot. Use copper tubing instead of rubber to hook to the burner up to the place it exits the pit and make sure it gets plenty of air. If you looking for something to light a wood fire in the firebox snag a propane flame thrower from Harbor Freight. Simple huh?

bigwheel

Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 5:56 pm
by DJ
I've considered it and if I ever do it, I'm going to look for a discarded gas water heater. I would think that the thermostat could be used to maintain a constant temp, but not really sure. My brother has beat on me for the last five years about stayin up all night to tend a fire, he being convinced I need to add propane. Sometimes I think he's right. My pit has an 8" deep water reservoir under the RH vertical and I figure I could effectively place a burner in it if I wanted and place a piece of plate on the bottom shelf to force the heat into the main chamber and the LH vertical. Keep us posted on what you come up with.
Good Luck
dj

Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:32 pm
by 3 star redneck
Whatever you do dont follow BW's advice! :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:02 pm
by bigwheel
Hey now that is how Big Jim down in Florididdy say to do it and he makes a ton of Lazy Q pits. In fact I am the proud owner of one of his januine official drop in burners. Fella be a mighty smart cookie to listen to me.

http://www.lazyq.com/smokers.html

bigwheel

Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:12 pm
by bigwheel
Great plan DJ and surely do work well. Colters BBQ down here uses the exact self same system..or did..ain't sure they still in bidness cuz I rarely eat storebought bbq. At any rate on the proposition you mention a person supposedly needs to use green wood..or in a pinch you can soak some dry wood. The object being when the burner comes on it catches the wood on fire and then the burner shuts off when the target temp is reached. When the wood quits burning cuz it is green or wet and the temp drops the burner comes back on and brings the temp back up again and also re igniting the wood. It one of them set and forget type deals. Fella I work with got all the parts and the pit to build one but aint sure he has got a round toit yet.

bigwheel


DJ wrote:I've considered it and if I ever do it, I'm going to look for a discarded gas water heater. I would think that the thermostat could be used to maintain a constant temp, but not really sure. My brother has beat on me for the last five years about stayin up all night to tend a fire, he being convinced I need to add propane. Sometimes I think he's right. My pit has an 8" deep water reservoir under the RH vertical and I figure I could effectively place a burner in it if I wanted and place a piece of plate on the bottom shelf to force the heat into the main chamber and the LH vertical. Keep us posted on what you come up with.
Good Luck
dj

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 3:33 pm
by DJ
Thanks for the vote of confidence BW
I figured, if I ever do it, I'd burn wood first 6 hrs or so, then switch to the gas assist to finish without adding anymore wood, just constant controlled heat. Might have to head to the dump one of these days and look around...
dj

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:25 pm
by honu41
Hey BW...

I'm listening! I have that Gator Pit (24 x 48 w/ upright) and be figurin' out how to just use the upright for small cooks. I did build a fire on the bottom of the upright and it turned out pretty good.

Howevahs, I would like to do some "cold smoking" of salmon, cheese and a Hawaiian style beef jerky called "pipikaula." I found a propane burner from a turkey fryer that may work and with the positive control of the flame this may be the ticket! Thanks for the link...

Hey 3 star redneck... What is the basis of your comment re: BW's suggestion? Is there a safety issue, a health issue or incompatibility of the material. Does this set-up get a DQ in competitions???

Have a great holiday weekend... :)

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:32 pm
by JamesB
honu41 wrote:Hey 3 star redneck... What is the basis of your comment re: BW's suggestion? Is there a safety issue, a health issue or incompatibility of the material.


The only safety issue is if/when the flame goes out, fills the tank with propane and unsuspecting fella comes a long and tries to relight it before purging the built up propane... Pit go BOOM!

It happened to a fella on another forum with a big pit just a year or two ago.

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:41 pm
by honu41
Mahalo James B...

Guess a thermocouple arrangement like on a gas water heater may be in order. Since there are propane water heaters I will look into this and see if this solves that prob.

Take care...

a hui hou,

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:53 pm
by OSD
This is a good place for info and burner setups for different types of smokers. They have complete kits for for gas conversions. :D

http://gassmoker.com/d-burner.htm

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:55 pm
by h00kemh0rns
You could always use the Tejas log assist lighter. I have this and use it for both a log lighter and constant temp tool.

Log lighter / gas assist complete assembly (LPG)
Same as Above PLUS the 5' hose, needle valve, regulator, holding clamp, with brass adapter to make the UL approved hose fit the log lighter pipe. To install the log lighter simply unscrew the 1/2" threaded plug at the rear of the firebox and slide the log lighter pipe into the firebox. You can use the bar clamp to hold the log lighter in place permanently or simply let it fit loose and pull it out after the wood starts. Be sure to replace the 1/2" plug when you remove the log lighter. Longer hoses and quick connect hoses are available by request. Weight 5#.

http://www.tejassmokers.com/images/j_20 ... &_hose.jpg

Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:04 pm
by JamesB
honu41 wrote:Mahalo James B...

Guess a thermocouple arrangement like on a gas water heater may be in order. Since there are propane water heaters I will look into this and see if this solves that prob.

Take care...

a hui hou,


Is this kinda like a pilot light?

Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 12:51 am
by bigsal51
Thanks for the info guys.I think i will add a small pilot only to be used when it rains. I love my charcoal and mesquite in my firebox.

Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 3:09 pm
by bigwheel
Very good point on the safety issues JB. We had a fella cooking next to us at Cleburne on the bank parking lot one time many moons ago. He had one of them real fancy pits with the log lighter. He light it up shut the door and walk off. Come back and notice it has went out and struck a match to it again. That raw propane had built up in there and erupted him in a ball of flame. The Careflight Helicopter landed right there in the parking lot and hauled him off to the horspital. Rumor was he had scorched lungs blah blah blah. Wouldnt ya know the lucky dummy was back out there the next day to finish cooking. Think he was missing some eyebrows..nose hair..and maybe a mustache. The Lord was watching over that boy.

bigwheel



JamesB wrote:
honu41 wrote:Hey 3 star redneck... What is the basis of your comment re: BW's suggestion? Is there a safety issue, a health issue or incompatibility of the material.


The only safety issue is if/when the flame goes out, fills the tank with propane and unsuspecting fella comes a long and tries to relight it before purging the built up propane... Pit go BOOM!

It happened to a fella on another forum with a big pit just a year or two ago.