BBQ Smoker humbly requesting knowledge

[cheapwhiskey]

Greetings!

I am looking to build a smoker out of vermiculite concrete and I was wondering if it will be able to handle the temperatures as the primary layer and not as an insulation layer?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Patrick

[Tscarborough]

Re: BBQ Smoker humbly requesting knowledge

Unless you use a ratio that will make lightweight concrete, it will be too friable to be used as an exposed surface, in which case the insulation value will be minimal (and it will begin to degrade immediately at temps over 500F.

In short, no, that will not work.

[cheapwhiskey]

Re: BBQ Smoker humbly requesting knowledge

I was going to use a 5:1 ratio, would that qualify as a lightweight concrete?

[Tscarborough]

Re: BBQ Smoker humbly requesting knowledge

No, and it is soft and crumbly at that ratio.

[cheapwhiskey]

Re: BBQ Smoker humbly requesting knowledge

Thank you. But that is completely acceptable as an insulating layer around a steel frame?

[Tscarborough]

Re: BBQ Smoker humbly requesting knowledge

Yes, the best insulation value would be loose fill around a metal working surface, so long as you have an outer skin to contain it.

[cheapwhiskey]

Re: BBQ Smoker humbly requesting knowledge

Skin as in a top mortar finish of some sort? I would like the top layer to be glossy . Any thoughts ?

[Tscarborough]

Re: BBQ Smoker humbly requesting knowledge

Here is a sequence showing how you could do it.

[cheapwhiskey]

Re: BBQ Smoker humbly requesting knowledge

Wow, thanks!