About To Start Building A Smoker; Ideas/Tips?

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I just scored six lengths of 20" diameter x 40" long x 1/8" thick pipe.  Thinner than I wanted, but for the price, I couldn't pass it up.  I'm thinking of building a reverse-flow smoker with a square firebox.  I'll probably look at using 1/4" plate for the reverser plate and firebox, and build a cradle rather than welding the legs directly to the cooking chamber.  Does anybody have any thoughts before I get started?(I will, of course, post pictures as I go along.)
Reply:I just used a section of 4'' pipe heavy wall pipe for the reverse flow, allot easier/cheaper than a big chunk 1/4'' plate...as far as making a cradle make sure you at least bolt the smoker cradle together, when you open the lids it changes center of gravity...have fun though...Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st
Reply:Check out www.smokering.com.  There are a lot of good people who share a lot of ideas.  Look in the cooker section.  You don't have to worry about posting something and end up getting bashed.Dan
Reply:I haven't started my smoker project, but some of the smokers I have seen or used have given me so ideas that I want to incorporate into my smoker.Placement of where and how the lid opens is important..... used a smoker where side, not top opened, the opened door basically funneled the cooking heat right out to where the cook was standing so you needed to open door, stand back and wait for heat wave to pass before you could get close enough to cooking surface to do anything.The design that I liked had racks that pulled out towards cook and racks were built with anti rock rails so there was no worry about your food being tossed on the ground because you pull a rack out too far. My buddy's smoker/grill is made from a large old tank of some sort.... the tank has only one door, on one side and is so large in diameter, the back half of the cooking surface is not use_able because you can't reach over the hot cooking surface due to heat and depth. A second door on the other side sure would help with this issue. Cooking mess that I personally liked was a small tight weave.... The other thing I have noticed is most builders of smokers (built as a trailer), didn't give any consideration to running wiring for tail lights & turn signals. Considering the massive heat produced this is a problem as tail lights are not only nice, but they maybe required by law in your State.Qualified & experienced at welding scrap metal
Reply:Anxious to see the pictures.Good luck.MillerMatic 212, Lincoln Precision TIG 225, Hypertherm 45XP
Reply:Is this smoker going to be stationary, on wheels just to roll around on or trailer mounted? With all the 20" pipe you have you could easily build the fire box from this too. But a flat top on the firebox provides a place to put pots on to cook something else.
Reply:go to the smokering.com & all your questions will be answered.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:Here is a picture of one I am working on.  It started out as my old welder trailer with a 250 gallon propane tank.  I have sense mounted the stack and need to build the grates next.  The folks over at the smokering forum have been a great help.I do not plan on adding lights for the road.Dan Attached ImagesLast edited by DanD78; 08-08-2012 at 06:18 AM.Reason: Another thought
Reply:sign up here, lot's of information on home buildshttp://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=5