The Wild Pig Smoker

Step 12 Vertical tank prep

Now is a good time to do most of the work on the vertical tank before it is permanently connected to the horizontal tank.

Since the vertical tank will also be used as the firebox you will need to fabricate a plate (in this case round) that will partition off part of the vertical tank for the firebox. For a cooker this size you will need at least a firebox 2ft x 2ft x 2ft. I elected to make this one 2 x 2 x 30 inches. This divider plate will be welded inside the vertical tank just about one half inch above the opening previously cut for the damper opening. I would recommend a cardboard mock up of this round plate to make cutting and fitting easier.

With the divider plate cut out and cooling go ahead and mark the doors in the vertical tank like we did in the horizontal tank. Mark them, cut them all but a bit in the corners and centers, weld on hinges and complete the cuts. Now is also a good time to install the seals (flat plate) in the vertical door openings. This seal is not required for the door on the firebox.

You can see the flat partition plate welded in here that separates the firebox (bottom) from the cook chamber (top). This can be kind of hard to fit the round plate in the round tank if not perfectly round. I spent a bit of time with a marker marking the high spots and pulling the plate to grind it down. Be patient.