homemade smoker

kfcforlife · 07-09-2005, 01:29 PM

hi i looked all around but can't find anything to help me i'm trying to find a way to turn a weber kettle grill into a smoker for ribs and whatnot.

if anybody has any ideas please help me out,
thank you

andreas970 · 07-09-2005, 01:50 PM

You'll have a tough time getting a "real" smoke out of a kettle grill.... the problem being that the meat will be too close to the coals..... and hence, too hot.
The secret to real smoking is loooow and slooow.

You can get something like a cross between a grill and a smoke by doing this, though..... get the coals going good.... then move them all off to one side.
Put the meat on the OTHER side, and cover with the vents in the lid just barely open..... and let it smoke away for a while. You may need to open occasionally to check on things before you get a feel for how to set the vents (top and bottom) so the coals keep going and putting off smoke without snuffing themselves out.

You'll get some nice results that way, but you'll never get a true smoked meat result. Better bet is to buy one of the many inexpensive smokers that are out there.

Several sites out there have good info....

http://www.barbecuen.com/ is one... and.. I have more links at home. I'll try to remember to post 'em when I get out of work.

The general consensus is that the small bullet smokers are the easiest to get good results out of if you're a newb..... but I personally like the real texas ones with an offset firebox, etc.... those you can use as a grilll, too.

andreas970 · 07-09-2005, 01:55 PM

Oh, and incidentally... if you want to do a REAL "homemade" smoker.... watch Good Eats with Alton Brown.....

He's made smokers from items ranging from a cardboard box to two terracotta flower pots.

creature · 07-09-2005, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andreas970

You can get something like a cross between a grill and a smoke by doing this, though..... get the coals going good.... then move them all off to one side.
Put the meat on the OTHER side, and cover with the vents in the lid just barely open..... and let it smoke away for a while. You may need to open occasionally to check on things before you get a feel for how to set the vents (top and bottom) so the coals keep going and putting off smoke without snuffing themselves out.

that is my method, too. Works well, but when I really want to make good smoked ribs I borrow my friends smoker trailor, that thing can smoke 200+ racks or ribs at the same time

**FreemasonJeeper** · 07-09-2005, 06:46 PM

If you don't mind spending a couple bucks, you could go to walmart and get a pretty cheap charcoal smoker for under $60. Here is the link. Even better is to make your own using what ever you can find. Here is an interesting one. Here is a pretty extravagant one but it would be cool to have. Hope this helps.

wyldejackyl · 07-09-2005, 07:06 PM

If you can make a smoker out of two terracotta flower pots..you sure as hell can make a small furnace to melt metal too! All you need is some refractory, a few pieces of pipe and a propane tank and bam..instant molten aluminum!

rowdy1 · 07-09-2005, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyldejackyl

If you can make a smoker out of two terracotta flower pots..you sure as hell can make a small furnace to melt metal too! All you need is some refractory, a few pieces of pipe and a propane tank and bam..instant molten aluminum!

I'm wondering how good that molten aluminum would go with some blue corn chips while I'm waiting on the brisket

**schitzangiggles** · 07-10-2005, 02:33 AM

(infomercial anouncer) With the Bling BBQ smoker/smelter,you can BBQ a whole rack of ribs and then cast your own commemorative party silverware, plates and cups. Every back yard BBQ should have it! Plus when your done, you can cast those bling parts for your Jeep you've always wanted, but could never find. Act now and we'll even throw in the home made Bong and Crackpipe work books at no extra charge! But wait their is more! Be one of the first 1,000,000 callers and we will double your order for, you guessed it, FREE!

**XJ99** · 07-10-2005, 12:10 PM

I bought this one, it was cheap and works pretty good.

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@0754226938.1121015097@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccegaddfdmlimhjcgelceffdfgidgmk.0&MID=9876

If that link fails to work, it's SKU# 116405 at www.homedepot.com/

I've used the indirect cooking method on the grill for cooking hams, turkeys, and other big pieces of meat.....

07-09-2005, 01:50 PM	#2
andreas970 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Holyoke, MA Posts: 124 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	You'll have a tough time getting a "real" smoke out of a kettle grill.... the problem being that the meat will be too close to the coals..... and hence, too hot. The secret to real smoking is loooow and slooow. You can get something like a cross between a grill and a smoke by doing this, though..... get the coals going good.... then move them all off to one side. Put the meat on the OTHER side, and cover with the vents in the lid just barely open..... and let it smoke away for a while. You may need to open occasionally to check on things before you get a feel for how to set the vents (top and bottom) so the coals keep going and putting off smoke without snuffing themselves out. You'll get some nice results that way, but you'll never get a true smoked meat result. Better bet is to buy one of the many inexpensive smokers that are out there. Several sites out there have good info.... http://www.barbecuen.com/ is one... and.. I have more links at home. I'll try to remember to post 'em when I get out of work. The general consensus is that the small bullet smokers are the easiest to get good results out of if you're a newb..... but I personally like the real texas ones with an offset firebox, etc.... those you can use as a grilll, too. __________________ Used to be: 91 XJ Laredo on BFG MT's. Stock jeep club member #3. Then mice ate the damned thing and it died.

07-09-2005, 01:55 PM	#3
andreas970 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Holyoke, MA Posts: 124 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Oh, and incidentally... if you want to do a REAL "homemade" smoker.... watch Good Eats with Alton Brown..... He's made smokers from items ranging from a cardboard box to two terracotta flower pots. __________________ Used to be: 91 XJ Laredo on BFG MT's. Stock jeep club member #3. Then mice ate the damned thing and it died.

07-09-2005, 07:06 PM	#6
wyldejackyl Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, Hellinois, Chicago, Hellinois Posts: 703 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	If you can make a smoker out of two terracotta flower pots..you sure as hell can make a small furnace to melt metal too! All you need is some refractory, a few pieces of pipe and a propane tank and bam..instant molten aluminum! __________________ ..::2007 JK Unlimited X::.. 1500W inverter Midland 1001LWX CB 55/100W H4 Hella headlamp conversion w/ dual relays