Homeade Smoker

[i386]

Anyone here made their own smoker?

One of the guys at work has a big trailer sized smoker. I had him smoke a couple of Boston Butts for me and they're delicious. It's really making me want to have my own smoker. I'd like one big enough to smoke a couple of butts or slabs of ribs. It doesn't need to be on wheels. It needs a box for burning wood, a smoke chamber, a thermometer, a way to adjust the amount of air coming into the fire box and some sort of grease catcher. I have access to a torch and welder but not a bending brake.

I've seen them made of 55 gallon drums, tanks, old refrigerators, etc...

Any ideas?

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Homeade Smoker

What you're describing is generally know as an offset smoker. They're good if they're big enough and you intend on doing large quantities, but they have a downside. They demand constant attention to keep the temps right. If you cook at night, as many do, that means no sleep. If you cook during the day, then your complete day is consumed.

The alternative, preferred by many, even competitors, is a Weber Smokey Mountain. Even with a little experience, you can maintain temps for several hours at a time, with little or no adjustment. WSM's have won many competitions, even against large offsets. There is a website and forum devoted to them and their use. Notice there's a section under Product Info to help you determine the age of older WSM's (sound familiar). Amazon usually has the best price. In addition, you'll need at least 2 Taylor or Polder remote thermometers (also from Amazon) - one for the grate temp and one for the butt internal. I have a separate Taylor for each butt I'm cooking.
http://www.virtualweberbullet.com/index.html

With the WSM, temps are much more constant, so consistency is much easier. You can do 6 whole butts at once, or several racks of ribs (with a rib rack). Even if you choose to do something else, check out their website - Cooking Topics. Lots of good info there along with recipes, techniques, etc.

Another site that is helpful is the Kansas City BBQ Forum, although a lot of competitors hang out there. http://www.rbjb.com/rbjb/rbjbboard/

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Homeade Smoker

This will be my next cooking implement. Get all the bennies of wood smoke with the heat control of propane.

http://www.traegerindustries.com/grill3.htm#1

It isn't exactly home made but it will allow me to clear off a whole patio full of different size and type implements.


Mmmm, mmmm, mmmm BoatBoy. That meat sure looks scrumptious!

 

[i386]

Re: Homeade Smoker

Thanks, I'm going to do what I always do when I think I want something; sit on it awhile. If I still want one in a few months I'll take action. It keeps me from buying stuff on impulse. d Besides, I've ate so much smoked pork in the last 3 days I think I'll spew if I even smell it.

I need to study on this some more anyway. I might want to incorporate some way to cook brunswick stew outside. If you don't know what that is, you're really missing out.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Homeade Smoker

Boy o Boy,....... It's Christmas,+ I'm gettin Lucky Today......

I was just about to type a 10 page post about a Trash Can Smoker that I had a hand in throwing together once,.....
We actually used a 55gal. Drum.......

Anyways,........
I figured I google up a picture of 1 of those small smokers you see at Cabela's,+ places like that, to show the "Jist" of the Long Explaination of Our old Smoker......
I just typed in "Smoker" to Google,+ as I clicked the search button,..........
I was thinking that I'd probably find Thousands of Anti-Smoking pages,+ very few Food Smokers,........

Much to My Surprize,.........
This was the Very 1st, Non-advertizing link listed,.....
http://www.cruftbox.com/cruft/docs/elecsmoker.html
Here's a Full Photo Essay about building Just what you want,.....

Only Smaller,+ for Next to Nothing...........

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Homeade Smoker

Good link Bond-o, I'll have to study up on it. Sure is more economical than my dream machine.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Homeade Smoker

Ayuh,........

Once I went back,+ read the Whole Thing,.....
I see a few differences in What he does,+ what we did,....
Biggest Diff is that We didn't buy a Hot Plate to fire it,....
Instead, We used a single burner,+ control out of a Junk elec. stove,........
With the burner wired to 110V, instead of 220V,..... we had a low heat burner that kept the wet wood chips smoking..........

In other words,......
We spent Nothing to put ours together.......

 

[llfish]

Re: Homeade Smoker

The plastic in refrigerator will make your meat taste like plastic. .

 

[Ron G]

Re: Homeade Smoker

Im in the process of trying to get me one going.im trying to get some big gas line for mine,i seen some in texas made out of the line and they were really nice,i have the perfect tanks for one now but there galvinized and im scared to make one out of them.when ya'll get some more plans or pics let me know i'll be very interested.im going to try to do a combination of gas and smoke so i can do alot of big stuff but i can also do the everday steaks and chicken on one.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Homeade Smoker

Ron kinda hit on what ya'll aren't seeing in the link. The galvanized cans will hurt you bad if ya heat them up to much. I don't know what a low grade heat ie 250 degrees will do if anything but galv. is bad for you.

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Homeade Smoker

Kenneth,
That's what I thought too, until I did some research over on the bbq forum. It seams that the galvanization doesn't start to break down until around 500°-550°. As long as the high temps are kept away from any galvanized surface, he should be OK.