A couple of years ago I bought a Brinkmann vertical charcoal smoker that somebody had converted to propane using the internals from a Coleman stove. It finally crapped out, and I attempted to convert it to electric, but it just couldn't get the temp high enough and I didn't want to mess with insulating it. If you're starting from scratch, you can buy a Brinkmann upright just like mine at Walmart for $64.



I then drilled one 3/8 hole in the back of the unit about 2" up from the bottom to allow the propane adapter to fit, and a 1/4" hole in the bottom of the unit for the stabilizer bolt on the burner.

I used this burner, it's a replacement from a King Kooker turkey fryer- costs $13 and includes the brass fitting (the picture is 90 degrees, the one I bought was a straight fitting)



http://m.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_27352_-1?ICID=CRT:0260-01781-0001

You'll also need a propane hose with a regulator, and it's important to get one with an adjustable regulator (I bought a 0-10 psig at Academy for $14, they had a 0-5 psig model with a braided stainless hose for $25)

And that is that. It requires you to drill two holes. That's it. On low this burner will hold 240 by my thermometer. That's a little hot for my taste, and you might have better luck with the low pressure burner and regulator, but I'm happy with it. The upside to the project is that unlike buying a $150 propane smoker you can modify this one for $92 before Gov Perry gets his cut, or if you're lucky enough to stumble on a beer keg or 30 gallon barrel you can really cut some costs.

Here's a link to another forum where a guy converted the same smoker using the same method.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/51119/brinkmann-vertical-charcoal-smoker-to-gas-conversion

I see no reason to pay the extra for a factory propane smoker if you are capable of drilling two holes...

Figured out I didn't have the regulator adjusted right, she'll hit 200 on low and all the way up to 350 wide open. Should have made the conversion a long time ago.

Pretty neat KC

I used to have a propane smoker and I added a needle valve to it. With that, I could adjust from about 140 degrees on up, and I could do it degree by degree. If you're not getting the control you want, add a needle valve from a propane shop. But it will add about $10 to your project...

Good post, KC! : up:

How does the wood sit inside? On a rack or in the old charcoal pan? I looked at the link but pics would not open.
Good Idea I may give it a try...

It has a two pan setup, a charcoal pan and then a drip/water pan above it. It's the same pan, so I just rotate them out every smoke (that way the fat that drips into the water pan gets burned off while the smoker heats up).

The smoker itself is great- two big vents and plenty of rack space, you could easily smoke 4 whole chickens in it. The racks are adjustable, there are four positions in mine, and they slide out in tracks to load/unload. I like the split door because you don't have to open the cooking chamber to add more wood. I use the chunks you can buy at Academy, I just take my hatchet and split them in half or fourths. I get a full hour of smoke out of 4-5 split up chunks, they don't burn up as fast as the chips do.

This is a pic inside the smoker, if you click on it it will take you to the conversion album.

Very cool idea! My dad did similar years ago with an old metal lined refrigerator he found out at the dump, using an old water heater burner (also from dump) as heat source and plow disk (worn out with center welded closed) where he put his wood chips/bark (water soaked)... used the stainless steel shelves of the fridge as his racks with exhaust tube added with a flue. Yours is very similar in theory with a bit more modern application and easier on the eyes.

this looks great - definitely going to put one together in the next few weeks. thanks!

I have a brinkman charcoal smoker that I havn't used in awhile so I might be converting that to a gas smoker as well.