Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Long pork.

Scott's offset pit smoker (to be....)
Picked up these tanks today.
I went for a fatter tank for the smoke chamber thinking it might give me more even temps than a long tube?
I'll cut down the skinny tank for the fire box.
Still got lots of thinking to do. Hinges, inlet vents, sealing doors, joining tanks, flu etc...etc..

Hi Scott,

looking forward to progress shots.
Personally, I still want to get a cold smoker happening, i.e. a smokehouse ( I have the room) but am keeping an eye on this thread.

H.

Try this site http://home.pacbell.net/lpoli/

Hi Scott,
Off to a good start

IMPORTANT** SAFETY**FILL TANKS COMPLETELY WITH WATER PRIOR TO CUTTING OR GRINDING**
I actually leave the water in as I cut them, but that's up to you.

Tip#1, Cut the hinge side of the hole first, and fit the hinges!
then cut the other sides of the door,
the door will be perfectly lined up in the centre of the hole
The Big green hardware store sells 1mm wide cutting wheels for about $2

Tip#2, During manufacturing, the endcaps are swaged in, and slipped into the main body of the tank for ease of welding.
At the ends of the door I cut just into the "inner" (Nearest the centre) edge of the weld that holds the endcaps on,
do not cut deep enough to cut into the endcap, leave that piece there.
as the finished door closes it will seal on the lip formed by the endcap, and keep in the smoke

Hi Imy,
I try to keep oven temps at about 85-90 degrees Celsius.
You can go hotter, but the meat will cook faster.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing is that the food reaches AT LEAST 70 Deg C (Preferably more) before letting the meat rest.
This can take 14 hours or more.
As a result, the food spends a lot of time in the danger zone as it cooks, so you must make sure any nasties are gone
Most meat thermometers will give you these safe temperatures as well as medium, well done etc.

Also, Flip, turn, and baste regularly to keep everything even and moist

Tip#2, During manufacturing, the endcaps are swaged in, and slipped into the main body of the tank for ease of welding.
At the ends of the door I cut just into the "inner" (Nearest the centre) edge of the weld that holds the endcaps on,
do not cut deep enough to cut into the endcap, leave that piece there.
as the finished door closes it will seal on the lip formed by the endcap, and keep in the smoke

Brilliantn Dicko......is there enough gap/space to put an 'O' ring (or similar seal) made out of silicon rubber
....would stand up to the heat.
You'd have a pressure cooker then.

Still need to block off the chimney.

Maybe a spud jammed in the top!

Silicone will definately take the temp, I often come across it when welding up holes in ally boats, Wont burn off with a TIG welder! has to be scratched off with a wire brush

So where do you guys get your bottles. Heaps are dumped at the local tip in the appropriate place - but for obvious reasons they are not sent to the recycle shop for sale.

Try a car wreckers, They have to pay to have them taken away, if they're out of date and rusty.
If they want to charge you, tell them you'll find another wrecker.

Cool - thanks Dicko.

Great tips Dicko! Many thanks.
I'm sure I'll have a few more questions along the way!

Got to tidy my shed first. I know there is a MIG welder in there.. somewhere

LP gas tank testing station - in yellow phone book.

Bump..

Hi Scott, any prigress on your smoker?

Himzo

Bump..

Hi Scott, any progress on your smoker?

Himzo