Building a Smoker

[Tilla]

I am looking for plans for building a small backyard smoker. I've seen plans somewhere before, but can't remember where. Any Ideas?

[Grits]

Try searching the word "smoker". I think BOE posted recentely about a back yard smoker he built and another person posted on how to make one out of an old refrigerator.

[Bait O' Eggs]

Tilla - I did build one, but didnt use any plans per say. I sketched up a picture, added a few dimensions, and started cutting up the wood.

You are more than welcome to come look at mine if you like. I really like how I made the propane heat source work. It is really easy to regulate the heat.

My biggest design problem was I didnt have adequate draft in the bottom for air flow. I put a grill in the top so the smoke could get out. I put a pair of doors in the unit, one small door in the bottom so I could add chips without losing all the smoke and heat, and a bigger door in the top to load/unload . When I add the chips and close the bottom door the propane burner goes out in about 5 minutes. I assume it is due to lack of oxygen, since it burns strong with the bottom door partially open. I keep meaning to install a grill in the bottor for draft, since I cant catch a fish, I havent found the need to modify the smoker.

When does hunting season start? [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

let me know if you want to come look at it, I am in Milwaukie.

[Tilla]

I remember seeing them made from 55 gallon drums. Built with two chambers connected with some large pipe and set at two different elevations. I like the propane concept, I know you can buy Little chief smoker replacement elements too fairly cheap.So far my internet search has turned up commercial units.

[CAGEY]

Tilla
Get yourself and old metal refrigerator, tear out as much of the insulation as you can. Cut a hole in top to at least a 4x4 opening. Do the same thing to the bottom.
Remove all plastics and rubber if there is any except the door seal and even remove that if you notice any heat damage.
Remove all the racks and freezer componets and make sure you remove the main motor.
Now get you some 1x2 strips and securer them to each side so your racks will slide in. you can usually find old racks at a dealership or any place that takes in old appliances re:stoves, etc. Just get the racks out of them. Find your self a good hot plate and an old cast iron pan for the wood chips and you are in business. The hot plate is to be placed to one side of the hole in the bottom. It is best to remove the seal around the door also as it lets it breath better.Leave yourself approx eight inches between racks. This makes one of the best smokers you can find and can be done fairly cheap. About a 1/3 of the cost of a BigChief Smoker. And you can invite me to sample your first smoker full. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Killertraylor]

I second what Cagey said. I've got 2 big chiefs and I helped my friend make a refrigerator smoker. It's ugly and takes up a lot of space, but it works great. An old adjustable heat hotplate works great to control the heat. Don't forget to put a thermometer in. You should be able to get an old steel fridge that doesn't work at a used appliance shop for $25 or find a free one in the paper - most people will give them to you if you'll haul them away. The hard part is finding one that doesn't stink to high heavens!

[ol tuna skipper]

Being of German decent, my family has been into making and smoking our own sausage all my life. We grind all our own meet, have a sausage grinder and stuffer and a smokehouse that looks like an outhouse in the back yard for the past 30 some years. We use a dual adjustable electric burner and cherry wood for smoking. Chimeny and all but no vents. The smoke stays in that way. You can't even see through the smoke when you open the door.I haven't talked them into letting me smoke fish in it yet so I built my own. Not quite as large. Looks like an elf outhouse and I use old oven racks. Works just as good.