Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

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

Moderator: TBBQF Deputies

Aaronp0412
Pilgrim
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:02 pm
Contact:

Designing my first smoker and I have a few questions

Postby Aaronp0412 » Mon Nov 20, 2017 10:40 pm

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

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

Postby k.a.m. » Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:53 am

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
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
Aaronp0412
Pilgrim
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:02 pm
Contact:

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

Postby Aaronp0412 » Fri Nov 24, 2017 9:14 pm

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?
k.a.m. USER_AVATAR
k.a.m.
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3741
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:38 pm
Contact:

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

Postby k.a.m. » Mon Nov 27, 2017 7:18 am

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.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
Aaronp0412
Pilgrim
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:02 pm
Contact:

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

Postby Aaronp0412 » Mon Nov 27, 2017 9:29 pm

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

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

Postby k.a.m. » Mon Nov 27, 2017 11:27 pm

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.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
Aaronp0412
Pilgrim
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:02 pm
Contact:

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

Postby Aaronp0412 » Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:51 pm

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?
k.a.m. USER_AVATAR
k.a.m.
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3741
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2012 6:38 pm
Contact:

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

Postby k.a.m. » Tue Dec 05, 2017 5:00 pm

6" below the lower grate.
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.



My Hybrid cooker.
Competition trailer #2.
Aaronp0412
Pilgrim
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:02 pm
Contact:

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

Postby Aaronp0412 » Wed Aug 29, 2018 8:12 am

Well almost a year later we are making some progress now. More photos to come soon.
Attachments
8B955761-A10E-4BAA-A327-8C7FC34A5ED3.jpeg
oldusedparts USER_AVATAR
OldUsedParts
Deputy
Posts: 21541
Joined: Sun May 15, 2011 7:09 pm
Location: Montgomery, Texas
Contact:

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

Postby OldUsedParts » Wed Aug 29, 2018 8:25 am

thanks for the update - - - it's looking real nice :tup: :salut: :cheers:
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"
Aaronp0412
Pilgrim
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:02 pm
Contact:

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

Postby Aaronp0412 » Wed Aug 29, 2018 3:03 pm

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.
Aaronp0412
Pilgrim
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:02 pm
Contact:

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

Postby Aaronp0412 » Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:13 pm

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
Attachments
2CD869C5-F976-42F9-99A9-7FF58FFB6092.jpeg
10A1CC56-960F-42C1-AA15-FEE5948B1DB1.jpeg
F8B79DB8-60B1-4A02-BB69-A2D4E354D990.jpeg
3DA6BDAE-8098-42D9-9222-DF23718A1F4F.jpeg
Aaronp0412
Pilgrim
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:02 pm
Contact:

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

Postby Aaronp0412 » Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:29 pm

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.
Attachments
F359EF3C-B383-4F6F-8566-F6708600E14E.png
2BC0FC61-4608-4CA6-AA31-19DF74F70C2B.png
Last edited by Aaronp0412 on Sat Sep 08, 2018 12:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
grailsback USER_AVATAR
GRailsback
Chuck Wagon
Posts: 3606
Joined: Tue Nov 19, 2013 4:44 pm
Location: Cypress TX.
Contact:

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

Postby GRailsback » Fri Sep 07, 2018 11:41 pm

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.
Aaronp0412
Pilgrim
Posts: 21
Joined: Thu Nov 09, 2017 10:02 pm
Contact:

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

Postby Aaronp0412 » Sat Sep 08, 2018 10:33 am

I didn’t have any luck finding a email. Hopefully he will pop
In soon. Thanks

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

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 15 guests