DIY Offset Smoker Build Using an Old Air Compressor Tank

I acquired an old 80-gallon air compressor tank from my work and decided to turn it into a smoker! The tank is roughly 3/16" thick. I made a simple frame using 2" square tubing and some 6" locking casters. The firebox is made with a V-Bottom to it which helps create and maintain a good coal bed. It has a roughly 1" air gap insulation around the bottoms and the sides. I really enjoy how this cooker looks and cooks. Thanks for watching!
This firebox design was largely inspired by Brad Robinson down at Chuds BBQ. Check out his builds at www.chudsbbq.com if you have time.

[@markusmoses4019]

rad vid. Looks like a killer smoker.

[@SpockCanYouSaveme]

Great work, I couldn't help but think make that thing into a drum smoker when you took the top part of in the beginning of the video.

[@artadams1]

I couldn't concentrate after you said beef plate ribs..... Great build!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Appreciate it! Those ribs were fantastic

[@Isovapor]

Awesome! Great build and first! Always enjoy watching you build cookers! Cheers!

[@4seasonsbbq]

Great build

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thank you!

[@evanmyers6003]

Epic work as always

[@royh2618]

Really nice work, Nick, as always. 🎉

[@madisonmoore5497]

Just got signed off to take an old 120g compressor from work today with intentions of turning it into a smoker after years of watching Chuds. Your video is exactly what I was looking for!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Awesome! Good luck on the build!!

[@ajsironworks3937]

Wow it looked great you are a good fabricator and welder.

[@BullseyeMetalWerks]

Awesome build! V bottom is a nice touch

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks dude

[@BullseyeMetalWerks]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274 I like to use 20" diameter pipe for the firebox but hard to find in tank form or just plain old pipe with out driving a few hours. May have to do something similar in the future.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

@@BullseyeMetalWerks I’d highly recommend it. I’ve done flat bottoms, fire management baskets, and used smaller v-bottoms but in a way smaller smoker. I haven’t used pipe yet but have a build coming up where I do. So far the v-bottom is superior.

[@peterandanntowle5959]

That smoker turned out awesome!

[@kvanereynolds]

Awesome build!

[@terrymoore1660]

Solid work bro!!!

[@carlbrooks68]

Great work sir. It looks great. I often due the same, I love to make a few mistakes and Know It was my Build and with that It Becomes to me a pure one-off. Great Video

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks I appreciate that!!

[@bicivelo]

Holy crap. Nice project and welds!!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks!

[@johnnavarro539]

that was great build..

[@doomkeepercanada]

Awesome video

[@TheJessehart05]

Nice work buddy!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks dude!

[@Psalms144_1_2]

Great work brother, After beating cancer, I'm regaining my strength and in recovery to go outside and start my first and personal smoker out of an air compressor, I'm going to to build the fire box elbow (Throat) like the Golidies, I can't for the life of me figure out the throat size of a traditional build. So i'm opting for the 6" Elbow, hope this works out. Thank you for the video. Great work, I'm a subscriber my friend.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Good luck on the build!!

[@WoodyJr27]

Awesome build bro happy new year.. keep them coming . I hope you read my comment about building a drum smoker your way. Something with that awesome fabrication. Keep on smoking

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Happy New Years! I will probably knock out a drum style smoker this year sometime. Appreciate the suggestion!

[@chronicmango]

Looks really good man! Well done!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks!

[@toddpower4674]

Nice job. Wish I had the patience to build this.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks!

[@quackstopr]

Great content and bad ass smoker, as usual

[@johnjuneau1282]

that is just an awesome job

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks John!

[@SD-rq2ob]

Awesome build. Very nice ribs.

[@jessejames1395]

Way badass

[@latinohero2012]

Awesome build. That V-shape firebox looks solid and the top looks like it can make some grilled cheese cheese burgers while we wait for them ribs to come off 🤠❤️👍

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks man! Yeah some burgers on there is going to happen!

[@srenfreiesleben1028]

Once again, very nice work from your side man :) Really need to work further on mine :)

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks man! Your side looks good to me dude. Keep it up!

[@srenfreiesleben1028]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274Thanks :)

[@firegrillin365]

🔥🔥🔥

[@WoodyJr27]

Still waiting on that upright 55 gallon drum smoker build video your way

[@andyceranski6823]

I’m gonna be using a 60 gallon tank for my build. I never thought of an elbow rather than a collector. Is that the rule of thumb on a tank build?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

I don’t know if there’s a real “rule of thumb” between the two but the way I understand it is a collector will do roughly the same job as an elbow if you have a flat/pipe style cook chamber. If you have a tank then an elbow works just fine. Mad scientist bbq (Jeremy Yoder) did a whole video on the difference and it sounds like it was pretty minimal at the end of the day. Dealers choice for the most part.

[@air5622]

Do you sell these builds? This is a great pit!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Yup from time to time I’ll sell one. Glad you like it

[@markust.8368]

Really nice build, congrats!! 🎉 BTW, how did you calculate that smokestack hight? Just eyeballing or a calculator? Just building my own offset and been thinking that smokestack, how to make sure it’s long enough but not too much. Thanks!! 🍺

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thank you. I made the smoke stack as tall as I could with it still being able to be wheeled into my garage🤣. I figure the taller it is the higher draw potential it has (I think…). But, I can always reduce the draw by closing the damper on the stack. With this logic I’d say build it as tall as you’re comfortable with and what looks nice, but err on the side of a bit taller than a bit shorter.

[@brianprince3110]

What compass are you using for the plasma cutter?

[@campbellworley1570]

Hey buddy loved the video. Looks awesome! What did you use for the stack? I’m working on a similar build with the same kind of compressor tank and I’m wondering what would be the most cost effective way to go. Cheers!

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Thanks man! I used 6” round steel tube. 1/8” wall thickness. I think they call it ERW tubing sometimes. Good luck on the build!

[@campbellworley1570]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274 Thanks! I’ll Look into that

[@richardwyatt6898]

What welding hood are you using?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

It’s a YesWelder hood I bought on Amazon. Pretty nice and not terribly expensive. Like $80 I think

[@richardwyatt6898]

@@fabmakebuildcook6274 thank you very much I appreciate you

[@robmcculley6835]

I just saw another video where the guy even sandblasted the interior after grinding the walls in order to get rid of the compressor smell. Were you able to just burn the smell out after grinding the interior?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

Yup mainly just by burning it. The grinding is to remove the physical matter like rust or other corrosion.

[@alexshort6384]

Do you sell these?

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

From time to time. This one doesn’t have a home so I’m cooking on it currently.

[@alexshort6384]

Do you have anyway to get in contact with you? I’m interested in an offset and live in Minnesota so I’m wondering if we could work a build out together.

[@fabmakebuildcook6274]

@@alexshort6384 sounds good. You can email me at [e-mail]