I'm new to this forum and thought I make the first post some pixs of my smoker project. Have used Brinkman smokers for years and am currently working on an outdoor kitchen project. Among other things I wanted an built-in smoker. After doing the research, I settled on a Bradley smoke generator.
My wife works at Whirlpool and got me a great deal (aka FREE!!!) on a Kitchenaid Outdoor Refrigerator that was a lab unit. The frig is stainless steel inside and out!
http://outdoor.kitchenaid.com/refrigerator.asp
Once I got that, I stripped all the refrigeration equipment out of it (they evacuated the system) and started adding the smoker parts. There were a few internal cabinet parts that couldn't take the heat that I removed. Had to cover some internal areas with SS riveted or screwed into place.
Reworked the shelf support by added some angle riveted to the side wall where I wanted it. (Waiting on 3 more shelves.)
Added a convection fan (Ebay) to the back.
Used a 500W heating element (McMaster Carr) that's controlled by a Omega CN132 temperature controller (Ebay) and a type J thermocouple (someone's desk at work). The temp controller switches a solid state relay (McMaster Carr). All that's in a waterproof elect box (junked at work).
Anyway, here's the pix before the first smoke. Did a couple racks of 'test ribs' right after this and they did great!
D Tom
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/Smoker-front.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/Smoker-open.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/Smoker-open1.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/Smoker-side.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/Smoker-back.JPG)
Does the convection fan just involve a stirrer, or does it pump in air from outside the cabinet? That is the one thing BS could use. It needs a stirring fan to distribute the heat better.
Bill
<i>There is room on earth for all God's creatures....on my plate next to the mashed potatoes.</i>
Bill,
It stirs only. Nothing from outside.
Using it the first time caused some smoke back through the gen when running. I think because the draft comes radially out of the fan so some air was pushing down the back wall, towards the generator. I'm going to add a SS baffle on the bottom half of the fan for the next smoke and see how it goes.
D Tom
DTom
Since Convection Fans are kind of rare on Ebay, what is the brand and model number? I might be able to find one at a parts store. Thanks.
Bill
<i>There is room on earth for all God's creatures....on my plate next to the mashed potatoes.</i>
Greetings DTom, and welcome to this place. Nice unit you have!
If you have any tried and true recipes you would like to have added to the Bradley Member's Recipe Page then post them here on the OPEN BOARD. After that they are coded and placed into the correct category. <b><font color="red">HERE</font id="red"></b> (http://susan.rminor.com/forums/)
This is where they currently are ending up, but I'm reworking everything at the moment. <b><font color="red">HERE</font id="red"></b> (http://susan.rminor.com/)
Thanks~~!
Olds
(http://www.dow-mgc.org/smilies/Launch47.gif)
DT,
Most excelent.....Very good looking. Like the fan. It's just got to work.
(http://www.dow-mgc.org/files/mallardwacker/peta-sucks.gif)
SmokeOn,
(http://www.azbbqa.com/forum/phpbb2/images/avatars/gallery/AZBBQA/mallardsmall.gif)
mski
Perryville, Arkansas
Wooo-Pig-Soooie
If a man says he knows anything at all, he knows nothing what he aught to know. But...
DTom,
That is a beautiful looking smoker!!!
What is it that you have sunk the smoker into? It looks like a cabinet with counter top, which would fit your comment about an outdoor kitchen.
Is the unit vented out the top with a 90deg bend in your exhaust?
From the pics, you are venting the smoker back out on the same side as the smoke gen, which is inside your structure.
Looks sweet!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v433/whitetailfan/wtbuck.bmp)
<font color="green">whitetailfan</font id="green">
"Nice Rack"
Lethbridge, AB
Thanks all. Thanks Olds for the links. So far I'm using others recipes. As I develop I'll be sure to posts.
Here's the description of the fan I got off Ebay. Hope the numbers help...
Item number: 5575909790
"Convection oven fan Mint like new Sears/ Whirlpool
This fan came off my Brand new Whirlpool convection oven. The shaft was too short and the fan rubbed on the back of the oven when it heated up. I don't know if this was supposed to be on a different model oven or if it is just wrong. The new one had a slightly different part number. The part number on this one is 70640 22.04. It also has another number on it - 9755777. Bid at your own risk. Buyer pays $6.00 shipping. "
I think it would be like the fan that goes in an oven like this...
http://www.whirlpool.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=BUILT-IN%20OVENS&categoryId=83&productId=72
Click on the "more" link on the Convection Fan System.
It's sunk into an outdoor kitchen (not finished yet) that will have a stucco finished sides and tile countertops. I'll try to post a pixs of the whole thing soon. I vent out the top/side of the unit and that is hooked to a AL flex pipe that vents out the backside of the outdoor kitchen structure.
Welcome to the Forum, DTom--that unit's a beauty!
John
Newton MA
Welcome!
Very nice job!!!
Keep us posted on your results.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/xcelsmoke/FREEGIF.gif)
<font size="4"><b>Doug</b></font id="size4">
I really like the unit, and look forward to seeing the picture of the island when it is completed.
The convection fan just might be the answer to so many of our questions about how to make the temps more even and preclude shelf rotation.
Thanks for posting up this innovative approach. I am sure I am going to be looking into acquiring and installing one of the stirring fans.
It will go hand and hand with putting in a salamander heater to boost temps more quickly and maintain the temps when the door has to be opened.
Bill
<i>There is room on earth for all God's creatures....on my plate next to the mashed potatoes.</i>
We've talked about convection fans before. I've looked at a couple and IMO they move too much air for the Bradley. What we need IMO is a gentle breeze and not a wind.
Perhaps something to defuse the air flow. It could be something as simple as a filter in front of the fan. i.e. The type of metal filter you have over your stove in that hood~~! I have not looked under every rock but I have not found a fan that is gentle enough yet.
Olds
(http://www.dow-mgc.org/smilies/Launch47.gif)
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Oldman</i>
<br />We've talked about convection fans before. I've looked at a couple and IMO they move too much air for the Bradley. What we need IMO is a gentle breeze and not a wind.
Olds
(http://www.dow-mgc.org/smilies/Launch47.gif)
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
What if you hooked the fan to a rheostat? Then you could control the fan speed, or would that burn out the motor?
On the actual convection ovens, there is a metal cover over the fan that does reduce the airflow. Can't find one of those on Ebay and don't want to pay a new part price.
I'm going to put the baffle on the lower half of the fan and see how that works. I have an old 3-speed box fan. May rip out that switch and wire to this fan to give a multi-speed operation. May be a few weeks of this stuff, but will let you know how it goes.
D. Tom
Could you vent up through your BBQ grill? This would make the most out of your smoke. Ribs in the smoker and steaks on the grill. All smoked. I like it. Where are you venting?
Here's a couple shots of the incomplete outdoor kitchen. All the Durock will be covered with a stucco like material called Artcrete. Still need to finish some tile (which finally came in today). Also will have a canopy over it when done.
The big hole will be for the grille. It's one of these. Sitting on my garage floor right now. Weighs a ton.
http://outdoor.kitchenaid.com/bultgrill.asp
It has a little 'smoker' drawer built into it with a dedicated burner to add extra smoke flavor to whatever your grilling.
The smoker vents out the back of the island. You can see that in one of the shots.
Stopped by Lowes and picked up a Lutron variable fan control. Thinking I'm going to add that to the box the temp controller is in. I think with that and the baffle I should have all the control over that fan that I need.
Anyway, here's the pix...
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/Kitchenback.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/Kitchenfront.JPG)
Thats great. That should be one heck of a place to spend quality time.
I gotta get one.
Went ahead and added that baffle this evening. Will try to give it a shot this weekend.
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/fan1.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/fan2.JPG)
Just and update on the smoker performance. Smoked a pork butt and the modifications worked fine. Between the added baffle, a fan speed control, and a chinamans cap on the smoke vent not having anymore problems with smoke back through the generator. Was also having 15-25 mph winds today.
I'm glad every thing was successful, and thanks for sharing your information. Did you monitor the temperature in more then one area of the smoker, during the cooking time? If so where did you place the temperature gauges, and was there any significant difference in those readings?
Looks like you may have solved a problem many of us were looking for answers to.
DTom-
Thats a mighty fine smoker. How long did the whole process take?
Rich
gotbbq (http://www.dow-mgc.org/smilies/Launch63.gif)
HS, no I didn't do that yet. I think I'll try some tests like that when I get some time. We have a regular convection oven in our house with one of those fans. Seems to cook very evenly.
The smoker only took maybe 10 hrs spread out over a couple weeks. This dang cooking area seem like a career project though. I starting making the framework in my garage in January. The end is near. Started grouting tile tonight. Not much daylight to work outside of (real) work.
DTom,
I am going to build an outdoor kitchen and saw what you've done and I am impressed. Did you have plans for the Island? I have a huge stainless grill http://www.thegrillingweb.com/images/virco/grand%20classic/grand%20classic3_sm.jpg and want to build around it. I will be putting in a sink (cold water),a small refrigerator and maybe a pizza oven. I also want to have a spot for the Bradley Smoker. Probably its own counter space with storage for "smokin stuff". I have been looking for ideas. Wondering where you got the info and how you started. Any advice would be great.
Mike,
I mainly just drew the plans up based around what I wanted to put in the island. If you have Autocad, I'd be happy to E-mail the file. I got alot of ideas though from a Sunset book called "Building Barbecues & Outdoor Kitchens". I'd recommend picking up that book.
Here's some more pixs starting from early on to the latest last week when I finished the tile and installed the grille. The frame is 20 Ga steel stud construction. Used 20 Ga because I wanted to MIG together instead of screw. Durock is liquid nailed and screwed to the frame. Counters are on 3/4" plywood covered with Durock and then Ditra decoupling mat.
Plan on doing the stucco finish Saturday, then it's just down to misc stuff (faucet, umbrellas, install SS doors, etc.)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00735.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00738.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00964.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00965.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00966.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00967.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00968.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00969.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00970.JPG)
(http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00971.JPG)
Damn Dude[8D].
Jeff
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v288/Jeff100/shopping.gif)
(//www.bbqshopping.com)
Some say BBQ is in your blood, if thats true my blood must be BBQ sauce.
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by DTom</i>
<br />Mike,
I mainly just drew the plans up based around what I wanted to put in the island. If you have Autocad, I'd be happy to E-mail the file. I got alot of ideas though from a Sunset book called "Building Barbecues & Outdoor Kitchens". I'd recommend picking up that book.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
DTom;
I would like a copy of your Autocad file, it looks like a great project to get into some time down the road. I have CorelDraw, and it can import DXF and DWG files formats. I believe I can convert that into a PDF file for you, if you would like. If it is in a PDF format, you would be able to share it with those that don't have a graphics program to view it.
DTom
Great looking work you do. I'm sure you posted them so that all of the members may enjoy them and wipe the drool from their chins. [:D]
However as an average, 1/2 of the folks who would like to see them will give up waiting on this second page to download. The total KB of the pictures posted on this second page is about 760 or about 3/4th of a meg. In other words a dial up will have to wait (depending upon their connection) from 4 to 6 minutes for all of those pictures to download.
For those of us who have broadband we never have that problem. Especially if you have a pipe like I have. (I up now at 1 meg and down at 6 megs per second.) If it was not for a friend pointing this out to me a year back I would be posting more KB than you have. What I've learned to do is thumbnail to enlarge a picture. This is easy to do.
You take your original photo and upload it like you normally would. Next you take a copy of it and with any paint program you reduce its size. Below is a chart of the code you will need to do this--it will show you how to code for thumbnails.
Before we get to that take a look at this example. You will see that I cropped some of the original photo. Next besides reducing the size I also reduced its quaility from 100% to 50%. (Most paint programs will not do this.) This allows me to have an image large enough that it gives dial up folks an option. They can get a good idea of your project without having to enlarge, or if they elect then can click on the image to see the full detail. (This image will download under 1 second for dialups.)
<b>Click To Enlarge</b>
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/examplesize.jpg) (http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC00965.JPG)
<hr noshade size="1"><hr noshade size="1"><hr noshade size="1">
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/thumb3.png)<hr noshade size="1"><hr noshade size="1"><hr noshade size="1">
If you don't have a program that will allow your to reduce the quality of an image then get this free one. It is excellent! <b><font color="red">IrfanView</font id="red"></b> (http://www.download.com/IrfanView/3000-2192-10021962.html?part=dl-IrfanView&subj=dl&tag=button)
When you go to save a jpg image with it after you hit the save button an option pops up and it is there you can increase or decrease the quality. Don't get this confused with picture size. This option does not change the footprint size of your image.
InfanView does a lot more like you can create panorama views!
Enjoy!
Olds
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/gif/Launch47.gif)
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Habanero Smoker</i>
<br /><blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by DTom</i>
<br />Mike,
I mainly just drew the plans up based around what I wanted to put in the island. If you have Autocad, I'd be happy to E-mail the file. I got alot of ideas though from a Sunset book called "Building Barbecues & Outdoor Kitchens". I'd recommend picking up that book.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
DTom;
I would like a copy of your Autocad file, it looks like a great project to get into some time down the road. I have CorelDraw, and it can import DXF and DWG files formats. I believe I can convert that into a PDF file for you, if you would like. If it is in a PDF format, you would be able to share it with those that don't have a graphics program to view it.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
DTom,
I would love to get that file. I don't have Autocad but others here do. I can get it printed from them.
Hab,
If you can convert to PDF I would like to get that file from you. I can work with PDF.
Mike
Let me clean the CAD file up this weekend and I'll figure out how to get it to you. (Don't get to excited because I typically only draw enough for ME to figure it out.)
D. Tom
Don't worry, I often go by rough sketches and modify them to fit a particular situation.
Here's the AutoCad drawing for the kitchen folks. Not to good on this hyperlink stuff, but I think you can right-click on below and "Save Target As...."
http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/Kitchen_A.dwg
Here's some links to the kitchen with the finish coating applied. Few night pixs as well.
http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC01000.JPG
http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC01001.JPG
http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC01002.JPG
http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC01005.JPG
http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC01009.JPG
http://home.insightbb.com/~dtmueller1/DSC01010.JPG
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"> Not to good on this hyperlink stuff<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">No on is in the beginning. However, after looking over what you made I'm sure codes will be a piece of cake when you get a chance to look them over.
Nice job on your set up.
Olds
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/gif/Launch47.gif)
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by DTom</i>
<br />Here's the AutoCad drawing for the kitchen folks. <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote"></font id="quote">
DTom;
Thanks. The pictures are great. I am having a problem with the AutoCad file. It only come out as a diagram of 2"x3". I tried two different programs to open it, and obtained the same results. I will attempt to enlarge it with CorelDraw.
Hab and Dtom,
This is kind of in my arena here. May I suggest it be put in a .dxf format in R12 or R14. I have found that this transfers the best between different software packages. If not, send it to me and let me see what I can do. Let me know if I can help out here.
(http://www.susanminor.org/Rayeimages/mallardwacker/peta-sucks.gif)
SmokeOn,
(http://www.azbbqa.com/forum/phpbb2/images/avatars/gallery/AZBBQA/mallardsmall.gif)
mski
Perryville, Arkansas
Wooo-Pig-Soooie
If a man says he knows anything at all, he knows nothing what he aught to know. But...
Sweet kitchen, I have that planned for our new house. Here's another good book
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0696217562/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/102-8717434-1544936?v=glance&s=books
Oh nice smoker too, got taken by the kithcen.[:D]