Horizon RD Special Marshall Smoke Stack Mod

[Dilla]

Hello Guys, I have decided to make some mods to the Smoke Stack of my Horizon Smoker. I read Aron Franklin's smoking manifesto book and and loved the design he was using on the smoke stack of that smoker he was building. The book has some very nice pictures of the whole process. so I said lets give that a try whats the big deal its only steel. Any way I thought the design was a great idea because it seems like smoke will travel through the cooking chamber and get out more efficiently and probably help even the heat temp from side to side. Anyway here's what I did I am hoping to get this thing welded up tomorrow. I will post some more pics when the job is completed. I am also modding the vent handles on both the smoke stack and firebox. Oh I'm also extending the length of the stack hope this helps improve the draw. I Hope these changes don't jack things up. Tell me what you think?

[(fuzz)]

I am completely unqualified to tell you whether or not this is going to jack anything up, but it looks amazing! Are you going to cut an opening in the side for it?

[Dilla]

Hello Fuzz, yes the opening will be cut out and the new stack will be welded in place. I will post some pics soon.

[Jerod Broussard]

Looks sweet. Love the shelf space also.

Going to definitely get that air flowing in.

[Dilla]

Thanks Jerod, made the shelf myself. I actually ordered my pit with a stainless shelf direct from Horizon but it was so cheap and cheesy that I decided to make my own and also made it a bit larger. The stainless shelf they put on was about 1/16" if that and was attached to the sub frame they built with double sided tape what a joke. It was the worst thing I've ever seen especially when you drop $2K+ on a backyard pit. Anyway I am hoping to get an improvement in air flow which is the reasoning behind this mod. Cant wait to see how the pit is going to react once I fire it up and also what will happen to the temps across the cooking surface.

[(catcher)]

Just spent a bit of time with the guys at RecTec and went with a twelve pound wagyu brisket. Went to my butcher and he allowed me to score and season this beauty. Then it went into a cryovaci bag and rested in his walk-in for a week++. Finally on big red at 180 at midnite. 2 pm goosed the heat to 250. At 4:30 took off, double foil wrapped and then a towel until 7:30. Sliced the beauty and the only sound heard for the next 30 minutes was, 'pass the tray please.' Best I've ever done and thank you Ray Carnes

[Dilla]

Whats up Guys, OK here's what I did this weekend. Check it out!

Cutting the original stack off.




Pre-fitting marking and leveling.


Marked and time to cut.


Made the cut out for the new stack.










New smoke stack opening from inside the cooking chamber.


Going to add new handle to the air flow vents.

[Dilla]

Hello Guys here is the rest of the work I couldn't fit all the picture in one post it wouldn't let me.


I added some brackets to store the upper cooking grate when not in use. As you know sometimes it gets in the way when you are cooking a large piece of meat on the primary grates.















Now all I need to do is some finish grinding, sanding, smoothing, and painting. The stack is made out of stainless so I am thinking about polishing it to a nice mirror finish or maybe just brushed not sure yet. Hope you all like it please send me your comments, thoughts or ideas. Thanks for looking.

[BackyardBob]

Love this post and pics! I so want to do this to my yoder!

[barney]

I think Mr Franklin would be proud of your mod. I've been following his show on PBS. His smoke stacks are huge. Bet you can't wait to try it out !

[Dilla]

Yup can't wait, unfortunately I will not have the time to play with it as I am leaving for a week long fishing trip to Baja tomorrow and another little vacation after that. Thanks for your comments.

[Dilla]

Next will be to figure out how to insulate the Fire Box any suggestions or ideas would be great?

[Jerod Broussard]

Huskee used R-19 insulation. He said it wasn't pretty, he just wrapped it around, but what a difference it made.

A 14" shelf should be standard on all offsets.

AWESOME job on the rest of that work!!!

I would also ditch the vents and just leave the door open to the firebox. Make sure you get a small HOT fire going.

[barney]

Please share some pics of your fishing trip. Fishing & Q are what makes the world go round & round (and growing gardens).

[Dilla]

Hello Gang I'm finished with my smoker, check it out I had the stack polished since it was stainless steel. I used it this weekend and it was a huge improvement over the original design. It draws much much better than before and temps pretty darn identical from side to side.

[BackyardBob]

Amazing!

[Jerod Broussard]

Holy smokes!!!!!!!!!! B-E-A-UTIFUL!!!

[(fuzz)]

Wow that looks amazing!

[Jerod Broussard]

Looks like you have some of those glow in the dark Tel-Tru's.....

[Dilla]

Yes those Tel Tru's are sweet and they do glow in the dark. I only bought 2 of them because they are expensive at $60 each plus shipping. My cooker has 4 ports I didn't want to drop $240 without trying them first. I am convinced though so I will get the other 2 now.

[Ernest]

That's pretty sweeet!!

[Dilla]

Thank you Ernest.

[Dr ROK]

That is one awesome set up. You did a great job on the mods!

[Dilla]

Thank you Dr ROK.

[CurlingDog]

Agreed. that is one sweet setup! the only change i could recommend if you can swing it would be to modify (read: trick out) the firebox vent handle into a killer gear shift knob. just a thought. everything looks fantastic as is!!