Homemade smoker

[whistler]

I've been contemplating building a smoker for some time. I know that refrigerators are commonly employed for this purpose. However, I am not too keen on all that plastic or wire coated shelves. (I know thousands of people have used refrigerators but I just don't like the idea.) Has anybody used an old oven before? I like the fact that it is metal and designed to be exposed to higher temperatures.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Whistler

[djberg]

Here's how to build a simple, old-time smoke house from a barrel:

http://www.backroadhome.com/how-to-m...mokehouse.html

Don

Donald Berg
The Country Home Journal

[thequeensblessing]

Originally Posted by whistler

I've been contemplating building a smoker for some time. I know that refrigerators are commonly employed for this purpose. However, I am not too keen on all that plastic or wire coated shelves. (I know thousands of people have used refrigerators but I just don't like the idea.) Has anybody used an old oven before? I like the fact that it is metal and designed to be exposed to higher temperatures.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Whistler

We used an old refrigerator, mainly metal inside, but we stripped out all plastic and foam materials. We don't use any shelves, but hang all the meats from hooks screwed into the ceiling.

[Shawn]

There is anther forum which may be of great use to you on making a smoker.

www.smokingmeatforums.com

They have a few different sections on building your own, and some great recipes too.

[Labrat407]

You can also use Terracotta pots (unglazed ones) just google it.

[whistler]

Thanks everyone. Some great ideas (smokingmeatforums.com is awesome) thrown out here.

Whistler

[Oldcountryboy]

The frig everyone use to use was the older type built back in the 50' thru early 70's. The newer ones just have too much plastic.

Are you wanting hot smoke or cold smoke? Cold smoke is what you do to smoke cure stuff like your own homemade bacon and hams. Hot smoke is where you actually cook the meat and eat it that evening.

[farmergirl]

I would like to build a cold smoker. Was thinking of a very small building made with cinder blocks, with a dirt floor and tin roof. Any suggestions for how to do this?

[Modern Pioneer]

55 gallon drums metal or plastic make good cold smokers. A large box made out of OSB would work great too. I seen a dandy cold smoker one time made from a big section of a high schools gym lockers, it was like 7-8 lockers in 1 unit. I personaly like to recycle items instead of using new.

Keep your powder dry

[WayneR]

There is a book on the subject of meat smoking that mentions making a cold smoker out of cardboard boxes. This would be a means to "try out" the process without making a large investment

[farmergirl]

If I understand correctly, with a cold smoker you build a fire that produces lots and lots of smoke to cure the meat, but that doesn't "cook" the meat by heat? If so, how would you keep from burning up the cardboard box??

[Labrat407]

Originally Posted by farmergirl

If I understand correctly, with a cold smoker you build a fire that produces lots and lots of smoke to cure the meat, but that doesn't "cook" the meat by heat? If so, how would you keep from burning up the cardboard box??

Most cases the fire pit is off set by up to several feet, usually connected by a pipe or tunnel. This allows the smoke to cool so it does not burn. Offset smokers have the firepit or chamber so the hot smoke and heat flow into the cooking chamber. Some like the Big Green Egg or Webber Bullet's have a heat source under the the grill and the heat rises to combust the wet wood in a pan.

[Justaplain]

Look into the double barrel kits. Northern Tools.
You could cold smoke or cook iin this type of rig wiithout laying out a lot. Run your top acess door lengthwise hinged at the top. Try google also. bcs

[THETOOLMAN]

I have an old wood stove . I just ran the pipe into an old shed i had about 3 times as big as a out house . hang your meat from the rafters. put the smoke stack throught the wall & as low as the stove draft will allow & build a nice smokey fire works wonderful & is really easy,. The stove is made to build a fire in so every thing is easy/.I bought a small parlor stove it has small fire box & 2 eyes at a flea market that had the legs missing. so i got it cheap & i just sit it on 4 bricks

[Oldcountryboy]

My grandparents just had a small wooden building, not much bigger then a old outhouse that they used for a smokehouse. He would take a metal bucket and place some hot coals from the woodstove in it and then throw in some pre-soaked wood chips on top of the coals. Then he would place this bucket just inside the door of the smokehouse. I think he done this twice a day. Every morning and every evening.