a major project for me-- new bbq smoker

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Bib Baldy's--my resturant--needed a new smoker. here are some pics Attached Images
Reply:We made the frame welled it on and flipped it over Attached Images
Reply:We used two p[remade fireboxes that were dificult to cot a square hole into a round tank Attached Images
Reply:I've been building the verticle racks inside
Reply:this pic is before the doors Attached Images
Reply:I'll post more pics later done more but havent taken pics this week
Reply:that is a HUGE tank man... nice job so far. interested to see how you do the doors."...My pappy was a pistol I'm a son of a gun...""...God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy..."
Reply:Now that is a smoker bbq! I was expecting some small thing but this is the biggest I've seen. Is your restaurant in Monett by chance?
Reply:Originally Posted by Crawfordthat is a HUGE tank man... nice job so far. interested to see how you do the doors.
Reply:yes we're in monett  and those are boss looking counter weights
Reply:Steve-as suggestions:*****if the fireboxes are close to the tires, or the tires see direct heat radiation,the tires can explode! Reflective heat shields help.      -Strongly consider having much thinner gauge material rolledto fit a steel template that you provide, to create lighter doors. Yes- thatcosts some extra bucks, but it is well worth it. Either plasma or saw cut the doors to final size----torch cut, warped doors are expensive to deal with after the fact.(Previous party had warped the doors--a bunch, which forced me to installinner and outer door seals and trim edges, shimmed to clear the warpingand hide the ragged cutting.)The lighter the door, the less hassle to counterbalance, hinge stress, etc. there is;and the doors see opening and closing tens of thousands of times in your productionoperation.     A critical item of door function is the hinge type, mounting and alignment.The bigger the door, the more fussy and robust the hinging system needsto be, as well as having some slop--to allow for heat expansion/contractioncycling.     On this smoker, we couldn't attach fixed weights (which I sorely wanted to do) to create any reasonable leverage, since the owner wanted the doors to open extremely high to clear his head.          That meant designing, prototyping, then fabbing this moving fulcrum system. I'm not aware of any commercially available, moving fulcrum that by function and intent-varies the amount of force applied thru its travel. The owner wanted the arms " to really set this thing off"....so this became an intensive project, in addition to 100 other items. Over $5K later....a completed arm system and attachments exists. This smoker is a fill-in job for me and is still in progress.      It's not apparent from your pics, if this is a reverse flow smoker or not. (the oneI'm working on is, with a heat tunnel running the 8' length along the tank bottom).Anyway, I've found formulae on line, relating to sizing various smokers/tank size/exhaust/inlet, etc. This smoker is basically modeled after one in use, that does work. Additionally, we've realized that using hanging/removable sheet partitionscan force heat flow much more uniformly thru the upper and lower grills for cooking.     Then there's the concept of using waste heat from the firebox, to produce steamflow into the smoker area, for faster cooking without drying the meat, etc. This is a highly ramped-up version of placing water pans under the grills.If you're interested in any, PM me.Blackbird
Reply:Ive been wanting to build on of these, but cant find the large pipe or tank that would need.UA Local 598
Reply:Originally Posted by WHughesIve been wanting to build on of these, but cant find the large pipe or tank that would need.
Reply:So....I wonder what a fab/machine shop will charge me to roll .160? Thanks for the idea.UA Local 598
Reply:this is a take-off on a reverce flow (halo heat type)--my own design. The doors open sideways--2 double doors, The opening then has a 1/4 thick rolled aluminum treadplate that opens overhead using 2 industrial locking air shocks making a rain cannopy. the tank was not cheap $2600.  A propane scrap yard in callifornia MO has 10 acers of them ($1 per gallon). The thermal mass of this tank is part of the cooking design.  We are using a salvage pump to blow the meat grease back into the fire for flavor and heat. More pics to come.Last edited by stevehayes758771; 04-23-2010 at 10:58 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by WHughesSo....I wonder what a fab/machine shop will charge me to roll .160? Thanks for the idea.
Reply:got a little more done this weekend Attached Images
Reply:wotked on the tounge installed the chains and elec hookup using a 2 inch scedual 40 pipe and a large spring to make them retract when not hooked up. Attached Images
Reply:i thought i had built some big bbq pits but that thing is huge!!i like the doors - might have to try that on my next one. how much wood does it take to keep that tank hot and going?I break things for a living...
Reply:dont know how much wood yet but ot shouldnt be too bad. the compartments are adjustable and the fireboxes (2) are insulated. it's kind of a smoker built inside a smoker
Reply:That is a great looking project. Can't wait to hear how it works once finished. I like your way of keeping the security chains out of the way with the tube and spring. Good luck on finishing the job.Harold MulderMiller 211 AutosetHTP 201 Invertig with water coolerHardinge Cataract Quick Change Lathe
Reply:wow!!! Attached Images"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:WOW!  That's great!  When do we eat? I like the smoke stacks.  Reminds me of a church pipe organ.Some of you have suggested to have a sheet of steel rolled and weld the joint instead of a tank.  But, what happens when you cut the opening for the doors?  Won't the steel spring back and therefore not close tightly enough?
Reply:All I can say is I feel sorry for the poor SOB who has to clean and paint that trailer and tank!"...My pappy was a pistol I'm a son of a gun...""...God is great, beer is good, and people are crazy..."
Reply:Thats so cool I want to cry. The retractable safety chains are cool.UA Local 598Originally Posted by Tony MoWOW!  That's great!  When do we eat? I like the smoke stacks.  Reminds me of a church pipe organ.Some of you have suggested to have a sheet of steel rolled and weld the joint instead of a tank.  But, what happens when you cut the opening for the doors?  Won't the steel spring back and therefore not close tightly enough?
Reply:^^^ Thanks for answering that.
Reply:WOW!!!  You could just slide the whole cow in there!!!
Reply:alright I need some ideas: I took the aluminum to a machine shop and they could not make 4 of the bends.  1/4 treadplate aluminum that I need to bend the last side of the box I can bend it but not get as pretty of corner give me some ideas thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by stevehayes758771alright I need some ideas: I took the aluminum to a machine shop and they could not make 4 of the bends.  1/4 treadplate aluminum that I need to bend the last side of the box I can bend it but not get as pretty of corner give me some ideas thanks
Reply:My god man you could smoke a t-rex in that thing! The tank from a cement mixer is probably your next smoker idea.Nice buildDave ReberWadsworth Ohio
Reply:fitting the toolboxes. still got to put in the fender flares and toolbox doors. . . . kinda looks like a float for a parade right now Attached Images
Reply:Originally Posted by dave powelsonEither cut the pieces, then do a corner weld;or cut about 2/3 of the way thru, bend, then weld.Denny ---     Yorkiepap  has shown how this cut-kerf, bend weldworks, using a metal cutting blade on table saw. It works nicely,makes nice looking joints.
Reply:Originally Posted by stevehayes758771I cut 2/3 threw the corners with a cut off blade and used a grinder blade to cut half way trew to get the pool metal out of the corner. They bent easy after that, but one of the corners cracked I only have a spool gun to weld with any ideas about how to make the crack look better: welding and ploishing the tread plate to look like a good bend seems impossible to me. thanks!
Reply:yea, new tig was best option. mig would never do id have to grind away corner.  didnt know if there was any other options
Reply:That thing should make some vegetarians cry, lol! I bet some awesome food come out of their!
Reply:sorry I havent posted in a while detail work takes time. We (big Baldy's bar b q) got hit by a tonado and it has been a mess. I can do anything to the store until the adjusters get done, so I'm working on the smoker this week. kinda shortcuting a few things to get it done, but it is still pretty nice. Attached Images
Reply:Dayum! That thing is HUGE! Great job so far.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammwow!!!
Reply:havent took it to the scale yet but it is between 8000-9500 lbs 23 feet long
Reply:its alive Attached Images
Reply:it can heat up to 325 in 30 min. and one box of wood lasts all day. so far I am more than pleased.
Reply:how tall is it?  that big door looks like a head banger.My name's not Jim....
Reply:im 6 foot and it clears me
Reply:its about 6' 2" my 13 year old son hits his head on it but I clear it fine at 6 foot Attached Images
Reply:Nice looking smoker! Good job.Are you guys up and running since that tornado?
Reply:we are open, but have a temporary roof
Reply:Originally Posted by stevehayes758771its about 6' 2" my 13 year old son hits his head on it but I clear it fine at 6 foot
Reply:With that pretty soon you will be on "Drive In's Diners And Dives"......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:That is a Work of Art!! I have seen Thousands of pits and different styles, never like this one!Cheers!Lincoln 305GUnion Carbide TorchDon't Worry About the Mule~Load the Wagon!