Smokers!!!!

[fivebucks]

Blackjack,

I didn't need vent holes as the 4 sides have a little bit of play and don't sit 100% flush with the ground. Therefor the top is not completely flush. I have just enough room to put my turkey fryer thermometer between the front side and the top. I also have a saw blades width on the door in front that some smoke escapes. Good luck on your project.

[Sarpy Creek Boy]

I picked up an old stainless commercial freezer that I am going to convert next spring. I have been picking all the parts that

I will be needing here and there and I am ready to build once it gets warm enough.

I do have the Bradley smoker which is great for small batches but I like doing bigger batches.

[bassNspear]

i just need to go out and get one and start smoking like i did in the meat market

[BLACKJACK]

 Originally Posted By: biglakeba$$

Pretty much set it and forget it.

Thats what really appeals to me, check it once every 3-4 hours, I don't want to have to sit and babysit it.

[bassNspear]

thats right, just let it do the work.

[Hammer Handle]

Our family smokes in a homemade all wooden smoker. We do carp, suckers, sausages, wild goose, wild turkey, ham, etc.

We only smoke with corn cobs (shelled), apple tree wood (sawdust), and maybe a little charcoal. Nothing else.

Tastes great and different every time!!

[bassNspear]

i went to look at a few, and man there is alot of money that is stuck into them things. I might have to look at getting something smaller then i expected

[BLACKJACK]

 Originally Posted By: Hammer Handle

Our family smokes in a homemade all wooden smoker. We do carp, suckers, sausages, wild goose, wild turkey, ham, etc.

We only smoke with corn cobs (shelled), apple tree wood (sawdust), and maybe a little charcoal. Nothing else.

Tastes great and different every time!!

hammerhandle, thats the way my old man does it, corn cobs and apple wood. Thats why I was inquiring about smoker plans, it would be fun to do it the old fashion way, but that way takes alot more babysitting and the results can vary quite a bit if you get your fire too hot, too cold, not enough smoke. I may try that some day when I get closer to retirement but for now I like the idea of throwing something on the smoker on a Sat, going about my projects for 4-5 hours, and then coming back to a semi-professional product. As you can see, I think I've talked myself into one of those Mastercrafts....

[Fish Toys]

B N S did you find anything smaller? The wife’s birthday is coming up and she loves jerky and a reasonably priced smoker might be an excellent gift.

[bassNspear]

i have not found anything yet that would work. Alot of smokers, jsut to much money.

[prov1900]

Check out the Luhr Jensen's Big Chief/Little Chief Smokers. I have had two now. I swear by them. These are also pretty reasonable.

[bassNspear]

i was looking at these on the web a few days ago. They look like something that i might work for me being there not so much dang money ya know

[Mark Christianson]

How small are you looking for, and what do you want to spend?

The Masterbuilt I got was $200, and is the size of a dorm fridge.

A bargain for what I wanted!

[Hammer Handle]

True, you have to watch it more...but you can't beat the taste.

But, with practice you check on the smoker 3-4 times in 4 hours...and that is it.

My dad made summer sausage last year and it was fantastic. 75% venision, 25% pork. I brought some into work and it was gone in no time. Everyone was asking what locker did it for us...as it was the best (or near the best) they every had.

[hoggsback]

I found another plan for a homemade smoker. Google "build smoker" and the first hit is titled "How to build a smoker from a trash can". Builder says he/she built it for $50 bucks.

Would this design work well? I have zero experience at smoking but want to give it a try on a low budget.

[Hammer Handle]

I heard galvanized metal that is burned can be bad for you...but I don't know.

I like the heavily smoked flavor. To me, smoking with the new smokers vs the old way is like cooking on a gas grill instead of charcoal.

With that said, I use gas more often for it is easier....

[kunk]

I myself wouldn't cook in a galvanized (zinc plated) container. I'm in the fastener business and was told long ago that welding zinc plated fasteners gives off toxic fumes.

[hoggsback]

I guess I'll have to find another method of building. Thanks Kunk and Hammer Handle for the heads up! I don't want to be feeding my family with tainted meat!

[Deitz Dittrich]

hammer Handle--was it a store bought mix? What seasonings did your dad use?

[Fish Toys]

Anybody have a Brinkman electric smoker?

[Windy City Walleye Hunter]

I will chime in with a few of the other guys about the zinc thing. We used to do a Boy Scout corn boil and for years used metal garbage cans to boil the corn in, one of the health inspectors put us onto some very large stainless steel pots and told us that the materials used to weld the garbage cans did give off toxic stuff so we dumped the cans and switched to pots. Better safe than sorry when dealing with food, especially selling food for a profit and being the Boy Scouts.

Windy

[hoggsback]

I have been researching this on the web and am finding mixed "opinions" on it being good or bad. I think I will opt for new drums from Northern or the like and try to build a double decker style. I was just looking for a cheaper alternative to buying one.

[ThinIce2006]

Arsenic of lead is used in the galvanizing process. This might be a good reason to abstain from using galvanized cooking implements.

[MN Mike]

I posted some smoker plans on here quiet a few months back, not a drum style your looking for though.

Smoker

How about a big time smoker for the home user?

HUGE SMOKER

Kind of over the top but pretty interesting.

Mike

[Tom Linderholm]

Great Plans! Thanks for sharing Mike.