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larson

Joined: 13 Dec 2009
Posts: 2

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 09 10:30 pm Post subject: smoker
hi im new here so please be gentle what im after is some plans to build a smoker. im after building one to put (leave) in the back garden. gardens only small so dont want the two 55gallon drums on top of each other like on ebay. also some tips how to use it would be nice as i know i want to smoke my own bacon but thats all i know thanks in advance larson

maryf

Joined: 25 Oct 2009
Posts: 341
Location: suffolk

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 09 12:03 am Post subject:

Ingredients:
1 x galvanised dustbin or barrel with lid, 8/10 bricks, sawdust/chippings of preferred wood, chicken wire/weldmesh/similar maybe wire to position this, large(ish)hammer, pointy metal thingy
Method:
Punch holes around bottom of bin, say 4/6ins up from bottom at approx 6in intervals, place bin on top of 4 bricks,place 4/6 bricks in bottom of bin, place sawdust in heap inside bricks in bin, arrange chicken wire/weldmesh in bin in two or three layers with whatever you want to smoke on them, punch a few holes in the lid, light sawdust with a long bit of paper, put lid on - smoking!! You can get flash and arrange bars and hooks just below the lid and hang your meat/fish but I usually just put on the mesh 'shelves'.
Good Luck

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45460
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 09 1:07 pm Post subject:

for cold smoking a small woodburner (or cooking oil tin ),a long flue pipe and an old with a hole at the top is quite tidy

tipi with a brazier (or snake fire )/sawdust is very tidy when folded and also works but is warmer and needs more attention

a few poles ,hooks and old oven racks are good for hanging

a cone of rolled up chicken wire in the sawdust helps control the burn to work steadily from the middle of the heap

a side needs a strong structure but small things can be threaded on string
getting a slow even burn is the tricky bit and requires practice and paitience

have fun

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45460
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 09 1:12 pm Post subject:
could you dig the fire /pipe into the ground and pop the tent on the top of the pipe end when in use ? that would work well on a slope and avoid clutter

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 09 1:53 pm Post subject:
Brown Bear is the expert on this. He makes fantastic smokers.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45460
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 09 1:56 pm Post subject:
that is a tidy wee thing that looks like it will store as one small box

SimonD

Joined: 09 Dec 2009
Posts: 26
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 09 7:25 pm Post subject:
I'm pretty new on the site myself, but if there's not already plans on here some place (I should think there are), an old filling cabinet makes a great smoker.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45460
Location: yes

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 09 7:27 pm Post subject:
there are plans somewhere

jamanda
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 22 Oct 2006
Posts: 35056
Location: Devon

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 09 7:57 pm Post subject:
Look at this! First downsizer article article ever!

Hairyloon

Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 09 11:09 pm Post subject:
Is it possible to build a smoker into the flue of your domestic woodburner? Or is that a really daft idea? I don't think it's mine, but I can't think where I've seen it.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 09 4:35 am Post subject:

Hairyloon wrote:

Is it possible to build a smoker into the flue of your domestic woodburner?

Or is that a really daft idea?
I don't think it's mine, but I can't think where I've seen it.

HFW used to smoke stuff in the chimney of the original River Cottage.

Gill

Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Posts: 244

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 09 5:13 am Post subject:
Isn't there some controversy over the use of metal for smokers? I seem to recall hearing that it is such a good conductor of heat that temperature control is difficult to maintain, especially in summer. I'm not trying to be provocative - I'm genuinely curious. One day I would like to have an outdoor cold smoker of my own, but I'm not sure what building material would be the best to use.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue Dec 15, 09 5:21 am Post subject:

Gill wrote:

Isn't there some controversy over the use of metal for smokers? I seem to recall hearing that it is such a good conductor of heat that temperature control is difficult to maintain, especially in summer.

I would think that could be easily addressed by 'lagging' the outside somehow.

TWillsey

Joined: 23 Dec 2009
Posts: 18
Location: Minnesota, United States

Posted: Wed Dec 23, 09 9:22 pm Post subject:

Extreme caution, don't use anything galvanized for smoking or cooking with fire such as a hot smoker is supposed to do. Loads of gaseous toxins come off of burnt zinc so using chicken wire or galv. barrels is asking for trouble. For urban situations look into using clean steel barrels with a smudge fire of fruit wood chips or chopped branches. and meat hng from a square board that covers the open top, add cup hooks to the board to suspend your meat cuts or fish. Small fire is better than big, maybe a hibachi in the bottom with charcoal and wet fruit wood. You want a smouldering fire not a blaze.
If you are able to build a proper smokehouse of full or 1/4 size it would be best. Maybe you could find a group of friends or family and go in together. The cold smoke process is good for those who like smoked pork, sausages and other treats. Your smoke can be produced in a dug out pit in the earthen floor and meat hung on twine from metal hooks attached to the rafters. There are many plans for building smoke houses on the WWW, they can all be adapted up or down in scale to fit your need so long as your smoke hearth also is kept suitable. For those whose budget is tight you can adapt many objects to make a smoker, old refrigerators are common here but not lovely to have out behind the house.

SteveP

Joined: 23 Jan 2008
Posts: 155
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Dec 24, 09 10:18 am Post subject:

Jamanda wrote:

Look at this! First downsizer article article ever!

Looks interesting and functional but I would be inclined to build a bonfire around the cabinet first to burn off the paint.

Steve

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