Our Gravity Feed Smoker design and build.

[towtruck]

Nice!

[tinspark]

Here she is with her family:
Tomorrow she will have some smoke whispering towards the sky.
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Looks like it fits right in with its kin folk. did you build the offset smoker on the right too? wheels look custom fab'd
A good lookin' family there
Hope your cook goes well tomorrow..
Thanks for sharing all the pics it was an interesting build

[Dargo]

The offset is a Brinkman believe it or not. Relatively heavy gauge steel compared to the brick and mortar sold smokers back then. It was my first smoker and started my love of smoked meats. The firebox just rusted out in the bottom, since it was a gift I want to repair it and keep using it. For now I have a cheaper Brinkman firebox that will go there, but am considering building a stronger firebox.

This was definitely an interesting journey and I am sure I will enjoy this baby.


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[Dirtytires]

Congrats.

[Dargo]

Congrats.

Thank you sir.


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[tinspark]

The offset is a Brinkman believe it or not. Relatively heavy gauge steel compared to the brick and mortar sold smokers back then. It was my first smoker and started my love of smoked meats. The firebox just rusted out in the bottom, since it was a gift I want to repair it and keep using it. For now I have a cheaper Brinkman firebox that will go there, but am considering building a stronger firebox.

This was definitely an interesting journey and I am sure I will enjoy this baby.


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Yep. a firebox on the old Brinkman will be child's play now compared to the war you just fought and won!!
Post up some pics of your first cook if U get a chance. I'm doing some pork ribs and corn (again haah) for the wife and 3 kids.
Making an extra rack to bring to a social distancing bbq at a buddy's house tomorrow .. Loved your build Dargo!!
Also, curious about the heat at the chute. especially several inches above the bolts at the chute..

[Dargo]

The offset is a Brinkman believe it or not. Relatively heavy gauge steel compared to the brick and mortar sold smokers back then. It was my first smoker and started my love of smoked meats. The firebox just rusted out in the bottom, since it was a gift I want to repair it and keep using it. For now I have a cheaper Brinkman firebox that will go there, but am considering building a stronger firebox.

This was definitely an interesting journey and I am sure I will enjoy this baby.


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Yep. a firebox on the old Brinkman will be child's play now compared to the war you just fought and won!!
Post up some pics of your first cook if U get a chance. I'm doing some pork ribs and corn (again haah) for the wife and 3 kids.
Making an extra rack to bring to a social distancing bbq at a buddy's house tomorrow .. Loved your build Dargo!!
Also, curious about the heat at the chute. especially several inches above the bolts at the chute..

Tapatalk says I cannot post anymore pics this month. I will log on the webpage and post them a little later.

With the CC close 300 range, fire box was in the low 300s. Charcoal chute near the base was in the low to mid 200s. Ashbox near the firebox was a little over mid 200s. Since I do not have a laser temp gun I used the instant meat thermometer to get these, that is why I gave ranges instead of exact numbers. I am not sure how close the numbers would be to reality. I did wait for it to stabilize.


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[JKalchik]

My g/f got me an IR thermometer a bunch of years ago, and for things like this, I think it's indispensable and irreplaceable. I don't think you're going to get a god reading with a probe simply held in contact, there's too much air cooling and not enough conduction to make it work.

[Dargo]

My g/f got me an IR thermometer a bunch of years ago, and for things like this, I think it's indispensable and irreplaceable. I don't think you're going to get a god reading with a probe simply held in contact, there's too much air cooling and not enough conduction to make it work.

I agree, that is why I mentioned how I got the readings. I wonder how far off it is.


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[Dargo]

As promised the better pics:

Since I am on the webpage I cannot see the pics while I post so I cannot label them. But at this point no need, hahaha.

I added the the wood to the ash tray just before the wings went on. Took a while to start to smoke. The sausages went in later so they got a pretty good smoke ring and about the right amount of smoke. So I am not sure if I will try putting wood in the tray or down the chute with the lump charcoal.

[Big T]

[towtruck]

Sweet!

[Dargo]

Great. Pics went in rotated. I guess that is what I get for using the webpage in my phone.


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[Dirtytires]

Nice to finally get a fire in it. How does it run?

[Dargo]

Nice to finally get a fire in it. How does it run?

Still learning how to control it. I think the adjustments need to be smaller than what I am making. It is very stable though so I am liking it so far.


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[Dirtytires]

Remember that most adjustments can take 30 minutes to be realized on the thermometer.

[Dargo]

Remember that most adjustments can take 30 minutes to be realized on the thermometer.

Thanks. I think that is what is getting me, but when I at least know the range the valve has to be to get me in the general temp range I want it should be easier for me to be patient.

First ever smoked baked beans just went on.


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[Dargo]

Second and third cooks:







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[tinspark]

Man Dargo those cooking grates look like they are seasoned for the reason!!
How is the fuel consumption going?

[Dargo]

Man Dargo those cooking grates look like they are seasoned for the reason!!
How is the fuel consumption going?

The charcoal chute holds more than 20 lbs of lump charcoal.
I have not really been paying to much attention but it looks like I can do about 7 hours with 10lbs of charcoal. That is my best guess for now.

I can definitely feel the heat coming off the firebox when I am near the smoker. Cannot wait to fire it up again this weekend.


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[dacolson]

Never thought I'd like a GF. Just spent a few minute reading through this build again. Starting to get an itch to build one. You did a killer job. Looks awesome. And the meat! Only just after breakfast and my stomach is growling again ...

[JKalchik]

If you want to see a GF in action, I'm gonna fire mine up on Friday about dinner, and it'll run through Saturday evening at least. Fire me off a PM, I'm less than 20 miles away.

I have been just lovin' this monster I built. Turns out some darned good food.

[dacolson]

Man, I'd love to. I'm on duty though - cooking for a crowd myself. Starting tomorrow afternoon and going through Sat AM then off to Belview to feed family. Couple butts, couple briskets and 8 racks of ribs. Mix of st louis and back ribs. PM me next time you fire it up. I'll swing by for sure. Appreciate the invite.

[JKalchik]

Might be a couple of weeks down the road. I'll see if I can come up with something better than Bourbon & The Butcher.

[tinspark]

Never thought I'd like a GF. Just spent a few minute reading through this build again. Starting to get an itch to build one. You did a killer job. Looks awesome. And the meat! Only just after breakfast and my stomach is growling again ...

Yeah, me too. Dargo's build inspired me to try non-insulated around the fuel chute. (looks way cooler, to me at least) I figured I could always insulate it later if there was a problem. Did a bunch of that stuff in the past at work at industrial plants we were contracted through, so I knew It wouldn't be a problem, and I could make it look good too. I was going to build a bigger stick burner as my second build, In fact I even purchased the CNC files and plans to build a 24x48. I already have the tank for it too, but..........I decided to do a GF instead. I read a bunch of stuff on here how much everyone loved theirs, and just being able to load charcoal and a few pieces of wood in the ash compartment seemed to be really appealing. Then add a FlameBoss controller to dial things in. That sounded real good! I have always loved making and managing fire from boyhood camping and backpacking, and still really enjoy it.And picked it right up after I buildt my current stick burner, which I love!! But........ there are times when I want to cook and it is 115 degrees out (like they are forecasting this labor day weekend here, record heat), and the air quality is so bad (purple, which is about as bad as it can get) that if you do not have an N95 mask you shouldn't go outside (wildfires here in central CA). I tried it and had a splitting head ache all evening!! My next cook I wore one of my welding N95's with no issue, but that just seems crazy that I need to do that!! So I decided to go with a GF for multiple reasons. I just insulated mine and added the external skins. I am looking forward to getting my GF fired up and going, hopefully soon.. Will post pics on my GF build thread after I am farther along..