Think I am going to build a smoker...

**abnormal** · 02-26-2009, 06:43 AM

I have 2 cheap smokers, one electric and one charcoal. The charcoal is junk since you have to add charcoal to it to keep the temp right and I will never use it again. The electric smoker is great if its not cold out but I like smoking food all year.

My plan is to build a vertical smoker like the one below using gas. I know I can buy one but I want to build it, that way its exactly what I want.

Anybody have any ideas I could use? Is there something you wish your smoker had?

Turner · 02-26-2009, 06:47 AM

Well my ears just perked up! I love smoker builds, my dad and I are gonna do one before long. I personally love smoker trailers. Do you get on thesmokering.com? another forum that is glorious. Tons of info on there... Whatever you decide to do post up!

**jeepdavetj** · 02-26-2009, 06:47 AM

Burn your house down. Wait. What?

**abnormal** · 02-26-2009, 06:56 AM

I would love to build a smoker trailer but I dont really have a place to keep it or the need to smoke that much food. Whatever I decide I will post it up and I guess I need to check out thesmokering.com.

**mike481** · 02-26-2009, 07:42 AM

I have been thinking of building just a cheapo little trash can smoker. If you find any good plans post them and maybe everybody can help improve the plan. The last power plant that I worked myself and another guy decided to build a smoker. we used it when we had plant safety lunches. We made it out of stainless and it had a cooking surface of 2'x6'. It was so heavy we moved it around with a forklift. Of course it would be WAY to big for home use but damn that thing made great tri-tip and hot-links.

**jbolty** · 02-26-2009, 08:08 AM

For smoking on a small scale you can't beat the flower pot smoker. A single pork shoulder or a couple of brisket or corned beef fit right in.

http://homepage.mac.com/dubmann/PhotoAlbum1.html

http://www.naffziger.net/blog/2008/07/05/the-alton-brown-flower-pot-smoker/

**mike481** · 02-26-2009, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbolty

For smoking on a small scale you can't beat the flower pot smoker. A single pork shoulder or a couple of brisket or corned beef fit right in.

http://homepage.mac.com/dubmann/PhotoAlbum1.html

http://www.naffziger.net/blog/2008/07/05/the-alton-brown-flower-pot-smoker/

Since I have an instrumentation background I just can't leave well enough alone. The trashcan smoker I make will have a little extra control. I plan on using a temperature switch and a contactor to control the temperature.

I am still looking at some way of adding more wood chips if needed without removing the lid and letting the heat and smoke out.

**abnormal** · 02-26-2009, 09:57 AM

Thats why I dont want the trashcan type. I plan to have a lower door to get to the burner if I need to but also have a drawer I can slide out to add the woodchips. I want to have 4 shelves so I have enough room to cook alot of ribs. The smoker I have has 2 shelves but to get to the bottom shelf I have to take the top shelf off and that is really a pain in the butt.

92XJCowboy · 02-26-2009, 07:14 PM

I wouldnt go with a trashcan smoker if I were you. I made one as a project and it wasnt very good because with all the holes you have to drill you cant keep the heat in at all.

I dont know why you dont like charcoal or wood smokers. Its an artform and it tastes so much better than gas or electric.

**abnormal** · 02-26-2009, 07:52 PM

I do like wood and charcoal can be good, just not in the smoker I have.

I had to add more coal after 2 hours and if I am smoking for 12 hours thats bull.****!

Finaltheorem47 · 02-26-2009, 07:56 PM

oh thats cool, funny you should mention it, I'm gathering materials to make a nice wood smoker (we already have a gas grill). My plans are just to use a metal frame with 1.5 steel drums (one for the meat and half of one for the wood). Do share your experiences!