Insulated cabinet gravity feed build

Hi everyone, Amir from Israel here. I've been lurking on the sidelines for a while, absorbing knowledge, and enjoying our shared passion for food.
I've been smoking meat for the last year and a half, which makes me a novice, but I've been rather obsessive about it, read an enormous amount of information, web, utube, books (loved the Franklin book)
I've gone through a long cycle of deciding what my next smoker is going to be.
Even had some correspondence with Tyler from SF (which I may still follow up on one day)

Ended up going for a stumps clone, double pan insulated cabinet gravity feed.
In the end it was the ability to run it unattended that sold me. I enjoy attending the fire, and tweaking the vents or lighting lump or throwing a split but it's a big commitment and a toll on the family so here I am starting something that is meant to be a near fire and forget.

Bought the plans at smoker plans.net, made some orders at various places, and got my box of goodies recently


I posted a request for help in converting the plans to metric in my 4×4 forum and someone made me a good offer to do all the fab work.
I'm finally getting progress pictures and thought I'd share.


The entire frame is insulated with rock wool, for all the other insulation, I got ceramic blankets rated at ridiculous temperatures I hope to never reach


Frame is nearly done, tomorrow he's starting the coal chute and fire chamber



And I feel I must end my first post with a couple of shots of my current smoker in action




Feel free to make comments and suggestions.

Hi, slow progress but things are moving along.
Nearly finished the cook chamber skin, now working on the coal chute







That's it for progress.
I smoked ducks for the first time, got two fresh birds for a Friday night meal. Read that 300 is the ideal temp, so I got my Smoker to around 270, shoved the birds in and added some splits and went to split some more wood so I'll be able to keep the temp high. Came back to a raging grease fire (gods punishment to those lazy people who don't clean the grease pans)
Overall it came out good, but a bit charred



Luckily for me I had a big pan filled with veggies to shield most of the fire (other than the slight chair look, they were great after frying in duck fat for hours)




Till next time

Things are moving along.
Firebox and chute ready


Removable fire grate


Heat and smoke transfer tube


Almost time for insulation

Hey Mark, thanks for the advice, great looking cooker. I'd be happy if mine will turn out as nice.
I'm still unsure on the location of the air intake.
The plan has it in the front, Stumps has it on the side door.
It kinda makes more sense to me on the side door, but I think it was moved to the front for a reason
Decisions decisions