Ugly Drum Smoker

[Parm]

This is my next project. I have most of the parts except the air intake pipe. I want 3 pipes with a ball valve to regulate air flow. 22mm copper is the easiest as all sorts of fittings are available, however it’s prohibitively expensive for somethings that will be made from scrap

What are my options for steel pipe and fittings?

Can I get 22mm od steel pipe that will work with copper pipe fittings? I have lots of 22mm compression fittings doing nothing

 

[Erie Fred]

I think most ball valves have a nylon or other plastic seat for the ball ?
Maybe a gate valve would be better ?

 

[Parm]

I think most ball valves have a nylon or other plastic seat for the ball ?
Maybe a gate valve would be better ?

The balls valves I have don’t have any plastic parts, just need suitable (cheap) pipe

 

[premmington]

Some unknown reason - If I was ever to build a "smoker" - I would want do it out of bricks in the garden.


I got an aging trout smoker I have had for years (decades)... Came from Farlows/Snowbee...??????? Used it allot...


Only things I have ever smoked have been - trout and cheese... Both turned out well!

 

[Maker]

3/4" steel pipe will be cheap, I think I paid about thirty quid for 6m of 1/2" stainless when I did my brewery, then you'll just need 3/4" to 22mm compression adapters and a little stub of 22mm copper to join to the valve.

It would be even cheaper to just make swinging gate valves like the ones in your first image and use whatever old steel pipe you can get your hands on. Maybe scaffold tube soaked in patio cleaner to remove the galv.

 

[Kayos]

Most steel pipe doesn't align with copper sizes unfortunately, o/d Vs I/d and other nonsense

It doesn't need to be perfect so you could possibly bodge some 3/4 steel with chemical metal or similar?

 

[gaz1]

It would be even cheaper to just make swinging gate valves like the ones in your first image and use whatever old steel pipe you can get your hands on. Maybe scaffold tube soaked in patio cleaner to remove the galv.

i wouldnt use copper pipe

but 1mm stainless steel tubing is ample enough you can weld that with just normal welding wire for the plate into the drum

as goes for the valves stick to whats there already its a simple valve and easy to move auto dosnt mean the best

 

[charliecambs]

I built one few years back used black iron nipples ( cut in halves for 2 air intakes) cone drill drum weld in.
Bought 3 end caps and one ball valve .
Tbf they don't get very hot as under fire grate.
I use the three with caps for coarse adjust( usually on lighting) then ball valve as control.
I'm going to make thermal controlled fan this year. Bought ebay 2 probe thermometer to monitor internal temp and meat temp.
I found replacement t round grills in homebase which are perfect fit

 

[charliecambs]

Forgot to say got fittings from BES not too dear but pre covid of course,!

 

[charliecambs]

Internal temp is low so you can comfortably hold hand on ball valves.
Mine will cook for hours ,( with fire tending) on less than 5 kg of charcoal and often some left when fully out?
Nothing like the waft of slow cooking meat ( including home cured bacon) drifting up the street for the postman

 

[Parm]

3/4" steel pipe will be cheap, I think I paid about thirty quid for 6m of 1/2" stainless when I did my brewery, then you'll just need 3/4" to 22mm compression adapters and a little stub of 22mm copper to join to the valve.

It would be even cheaper to just make swinging gate valves like the ones in your first image and use whatever old steel pipe you can get your hands on. Maybe scaffold tube soaked in patio cleaner to remove the galv.

I know that’s the easiest but I’ve seen a design with 3 of 22 mm pipes and gate valves. I’m trying to emulate it

 

[Parm]

Most steel pipe doesn't align with copper sizes unfortunately, o/d Vs I/d and other nonsense

It doesn't need to be perfect so you could possibly bodge some 3/4 steel with chemical metal or similar?

Good idea, I have a lathe so some tinkering can happen to the tube

 

[Parm]

Internal temp is low so you can comfortably hold hand on ball valves.
Mine will cook for hours ,( with fire tending) on less than 5 kg of charcoal and often some left when fully out?
Nothing like the waft of slow cooking meat ( including home cured bacon) drifting up the street for the postman

I will be consulting you for a few hints n tips

 

[Parm]

Now, where do I get 3/4” steel pipe?

 

[gaz1]

Now, where do I get 3/4” steel pipe?

22mm compression fittings will clamp onto 3/4 steel pipe as the olive will shrink enough to grip the tube

 

[Erie Fred]

Now, where do I get 3/4” steel pipe?

What's that in Metric ?

FWIW I can buy that in 20' lengths even at Home depot on a Sunday night.

 

[optima21]

What's that in Metric ?

FWIW I can buy that in 20' lengths even at Home depot on a Sunday night.

shipping costs might make it a bit expensive from the USA to UK

 

[Erie Fred]

shipping costs might make it a bit expensive from the USA to UK

Why the 3/4" size then ?

 

[Kayos]

Why the 3/4" size then ?

Steel is measured in imperial sizes, unless it's DIN steel then it's metric, but that's less common in smaller sizes

 

[Erie Fred]

Steel is measured in imperial sizes, unless it's DIN steel then it's metric, but that's less common in smaller sizes

Now who would do such a thing ?

And then put metric threads on the ends ?