TWISTEDWILLOW Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Hey y’all, it’s February and smoking an grilling season is right around the corner! I’m tired of messing around with junk from the box stores and I’ve got a lot ive material laying around so I was curious if any of y’all have built bbq smokers? I got some 16” water pipe that’s 1/4” walled, I’d like to build a heavy duty smoker out of, i was wondering what size fire box and chimney pipe I need for a 16”x36” cooking chamber? I have enough 16” pipe laying around that I could make the fire box out of it but if square fire boxes work better I have 12”x12” square pipe that’s 3/8” walled, id appreciate any an all feed back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Gee, I don't know if a measly 1/4" thick could possibly count as a heavy duty . . . anything. Actually 12ga. is pretty heavy for a smoker unless it's larger than say double 55gl drum sized. Trailer sized needs reinforcement but they have racks and hangers to provide that and they tend to be 12ga. You do see BBQ smokers made from any convenient tank or box, there's a relatively famous one made from a propane delivery trailer. Build the fire box from whatever you like but it doesn't need to be as large as the smoker. Largish is better, you can make a small fire in a large box easier than you can make a large fire in a small box. I only helped build a BBQ smoker one time and we used lumber for everything but the fire box and smoke ducting / stack. We cold smoked a turkey for Thanksgiving and it was spectacularly good. Hams and cheese were unbelievable and the moose jerky was . . . smoked, moose jerky goodness. We controlled smoke in and out of the smoker with a chimney damper and the draft in the firebox. We would've been happier with a smaller stack or just vent holes. We had 6" stove pipe so that's what we used. I bought a BBQ smoker on sale a few years ago and it does a nice enough job but not as good as that cludged together one Chris and I made in my log cabin in the woods days. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 Lol Frosty, Ive burnt up my last commercial made one and I’m tired of messing with them, I want to build one that’s a lot thicker, On both the cooking chamber and fire box, I realize 1/4” isn’t “heavy duty” for a lot of applications but I figured it’s better then the junk the factories are turning out and should out last a commercially made bbq grill or smoker, I asked about the fire box an chimney size because I was told there’s some efficient math to it, just like we advise people on hoods an smoke stacks on forges Im gettin cookout fever and wanna build something before warm weather hits so I’m ready to go lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHC Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 A great one I’ve seen is a smoker made out of an old water heater. Several tutorials on YouTube. I’ve got a Masterbuilt gravity series 550. It’s almost like a cross between a pellet smoker and charcoal grill. There’s a hopper on the side that holds the charcoal, and a blower that blows the heat and smoke into the cooking chamber. It’s digitally controlled too. I can sit in my living room and control the temperature and set the timer, check the temperature of my food too. Also, it’s been set on fire and came out unscathed. It was kind of stupid. I had planned to clean out the grease tray one day when I came home from work, but I found a bunch of chickens on it thanks to my wife and oldest son so I said “whatever, one more cooking ain’t gonna hurt…” Thankfully, the gates to hades waited until the chickens were done and removed from the grill before they decided to open and belch forth fire and brimstone. Flames six feet high, cast iron grates were turning red. Had to use a fire extinguisher to put it out. I know that doesn’t sound like a glowing review, but that grease tray was full to the brim. It was totally my fault for not cleaning it out. I removed the electronics and cleaned everything with the pressure washer, now you can’t even tell it happened. I cook on it 2-3 nights a week. Cooked steaks on it last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BsnNFrnt Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 Very similar to your situation. 20”x36” main pit 1/2” wall casing. The smoker portion is 12”x12” square by 20” made from 5/8” plate with a 2” thick bottom. The smoke box works real well and I rarely have to manipulate the baffle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 SHC, that sounds like a pretty fancy grill with remote control! BsnNFrnt, that’s kinda like what I’m wanting to build although it sounds like yours is built even heavier! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 I used to work with a guy that swore by his Big Green Egg. He did well in small scale competitions and he always brought some to share at work and it was scrumpdillyicious indeed. Forming 1/4 or 1/2 plate into that shape might present a challenge though. I guess it don't have a separate smoke box either. Maybe make a hybrid? Or never mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FatBadger Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 It seems I have 2 grill-smoker projects going. Here's the first with a few measurements, you've seen the second. If you need anything else just let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 Thanks for the pictures FatBadger! that gives me some ideas Scott I’ve heard about those ceramic egg smokers before but I’ve never seen one in person, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted February 17, 2022 Share Posted February 17, 2022 I didn't know they were made out of ceramics! Why can't we have a embarressed emojicon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted February 17, 2022 Author Share Posted February 17, 2022 Lol I didn’t either till I looked them up Apparently their biggest one is supposed to be able to cook 30-40 burgers at once or 20 racks of ribs or a whole pig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BsnNFrnt Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 TW I did not build the main cooker, I just put the smoke box on. I got tired of hauling the trailer over to the house when I wanted to cook brisket. I will drop a pic of that one this weekend or whenever I get home in the daylight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 I know it's old hat and a lot of people have made them but the huge six shooter trailer smokers are cool. I have a dinky little weber that can't maintain an even heat. Works good for wings and sausages though. A whole hog on a egg smoker? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 18, 2022 Share Posted February 18, 2022 I sold off a donated 14' long propane tank for folks to use as a smoker. I suggested they put the firebox in the middle... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted February 19, 2022 Author Share Posted February 19, 2022 10 hours ago, Nodebt said: whole hog on a egg smoker Lol that’s what I thought. check out their biggest model, that’s what they claim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 (edited) Lol, you are right.... I could buy a lot of flap disks and welding rods for the price of that puppy. Evidently it can also handle a full size adult! Edited February 19, 2022 by Mod30 Resize photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted February 19, 2022 Author Share Posted February 19, 2022 Lol you could buy a lot of different stuff for what they want for that egg! a nice new welder, or a pretty good sized anvil, a used pickup truck! Ect… That guy sitting in the cooker has apparently never met Al Packer! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHC Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 I try not to be picky but that feller looks like he’d be a bit stringy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 Cook him low and slow. Beginners, <SHEESH!> I was shopping a few days ago and the most economical piece of meat I saw were pork tenderloins so I picked up a small one, the large ones were restaurant sized. Last night I braised it low and slow for 2 hrs with onions and carrots, added the tater half an hour before dinner. I couldn't cut it with a sharp knife, it just pulled apart. Oh BABY it was yummy, I might have to dig out t he BBQ smoker once the ice is off the yard. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 Brining always helps too, although in that guys case, maybe not. Dig out the tenderizer..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 <Insert sketchy suggestion about hammering to tenderize> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott NC Posted February 19, 2022 Share Posted February 19, 2022 I've got industrial resturant grade motor powered one. I buy cheap, tough meat and run it through it and use it for chicken fried steak, stew meat, chili beef, beef birds, you name it. Just don't get your fingers caught in it..... It would make short work of guy smiley there in the egg... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHC Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 You wouldn’t happen to be a barber would you? This sounds a little too familiar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TWISTEDWILLOW Posted February 20, 2022 Author Share Posted February 20, 2022 Barber, frontier scout, restaurant owner, Amazon tribe, plane crash survivors ect… you never know who you might run into on IFI… lol, just don’t forget the fried green tomatoes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted February 20, 2022 Share Posted February 20, 2022 Or from Chicago, I can think of a couple few Chicagoans with a taste for the long pig. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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