building your own smoker
 

I am interested in building my own smoker. I am planning to just use resources from the forest such as cut down trees to build it. Has anyone ever done this or have any suggestions?

RE: building your own smoker
 

WWW.google.com and type in build your own smoker.

RE: building your own smoker
 

Friends of mine built a really nice 10x12 smokehouse from dried pine logs on a cedar footing. If you are building your own from wood from the woods. Basically you are building a small box to larger (walk-in) cook shack.
Ensure that you skin and dry your logs. You should us tamarack or cedar for your footings as these types of wood are more resistant to rotting.

If using commercial lumber, don't use chemically treated wood for anything other than your footings.

Good links from google search.

RE: building your own smoker
 

I built one for myslef and another one and sold it.I used heart cypress that I cut and sawed.it is 4' wide 3 1/2' deep x 6'8" high.I made it of 1x12 heart cypress,then I wraped it with 3/4 styrofoam , then covered that with galv. tin.put a 4" smoke stack.I have a fire box that slides in and out through a small door at the bottom.it also has an electric burner with a thermostat,(just in case I have to leave for a while the electric burner will hold it at the right temp.

I have had it for ,goning on the 3rd year now and works great. it will hold 200 lbs or a little over in sasuage.

RE: building your own smoker
 

I saw a show on the Food Channel where the guy used a cardboard box, an electric hot plat, and a tin-foil pie pan filled with saw dust. I think he smoked a salmon.

RE: building your own smoker
 

Don't know what you intend to smoke but. If you are going to cold smoke, such as fish, you need to build the smoke house on a hill, higher than the fire pit so the smoke has time to cool as travels through the pipe or trench to the smoke house, as to not cook but to smoke. Just a thought.

RE: building your own smoker
 

Ive also seen one built out of of a new garbage can and a electric hot plate.

RE: building your own smoker
 

My neighbor uses an old hog feeder,,he has a trap door in the bottom for the wood and on top he cut some slots across from each other,,then he takes some rebar and lays these from slot to slot ,,,this is what he hangs the sausage on. He's been doing this for years

RE: building your own smoker
 

Rebar? , rust, lockjaw.[:o]
Why not just use wood dowels or more sanitary, stainless steel rods? Sooner or later those re-bars will cause more trouble than their worth. Just a thought to ponder.

RE: building your own smoker
 

The rebar has been used so many times that you might say they are seasoned,,,,The guy that uses this smoker is in his 70's,,,,and believe me he doesn't have lockjaw,,,sometimes we wish he did ( just kidding). As far as wooden dowels,,,remember he is hanging alot of sausage on these rods,,,he wants them to stay up. He is trying to feed people,,,,,,,not the cats !!!! So I guess this thought we will not ponder anymore !!!


SAWDUST,,,,

RE: building your own smoker
 

As a first-aid instructor may be I can clear up something about lockjaw. Rust does not cause lockjaw. Lockjaw is caused when a open wound is contaminated with a bacterial spore found in soil, dust and animal feces. Where rust may play a role is that the steel may have been exposed to the above listed enviorments causing the rust.

Best Wishes

RE: building your own smoker
 

Thanks for clearing that up. I'm in construction and was always tired from getting tetnus and booster shots every time I stepped on a nail.

RE: building your own smoker
 

The tetanus immunization to the best of my knowledge is good for 10 years. It is possible but doubtfull that they use a less powerfull one in your area. Not necessary to get a shot every time if YOU KNOW your current.

Good Health

RE: building your own smoker
 

The question I'd be asking is where do they grow 24" .375 steel pipe... ;)