OVER OR UNDER

[kenlove]

I am building my second smoker I have a cabnet built from 1/4 plate it is 24 x 24 x 36 tall the question I have is should the heat source be under or over the smoke generator. My heat source will be a small propane burner if that makes any difference. Also are the vents in the smoke generator big enough to allow for proper airflow or do I need to add an additional lower air intake.

[Mr Walleye]

Hi Ken

I don't think you want the burner directly under the generator. You need to have your water bowl there for the spent pucks there as well. I wonder if you could build a slight off set to the bottom of the cabinet just large enough to have the bowl in and mount the generator to that. That way you could still have the propane burner in the middle of the main cabinet.

I've never built one using propane, my big unit is electric that I built. On mine the venting built into the generator was adequate, along with a 4 inch vent in the top of the cabinet. I don't know if the propane burner will require addition venting or not.

Mike

[kenlove]

Do you think if I put the burner in the rear of the cabinet and the smoke generator towards the front it would be OK. Most of the propane burners have a venturi that would mount on the outside of the cabinet this is what I used on my first one and it worked OK I just want to make a smaller one (my first one was big enough for me to get in and watch my food cook) and it did have some venting problems due to the fact it have an 8 x 8 hole on the bottom to let the spent pucs fall out of the smoker.   

[Mr Walleye]

That might work Ken. I guess it just depends what the dimensions of the burner itself is and if you feel it won't boil the water out of your water bowl. I'll have to have a look, I thought I remembered someone a while back building one using a propane burner. If I find it I will post it here.

I know typical propane burners require a certain amount of oxygen to burn properly so you may have to consider an additional vent lower in the cabinet. Mind you, you could always add a vent in the bottom of the door if it's required at a later date.

Here's a link to the large one I built.

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=7616.msg82164#msg82164

Mike