Need tips for building a smoker

[jeepster]

For the past few years I've been using one of those BBQ grill/smokers for doing my smoking with mixed results.... 

I've made a few batches that turned out awesome, but due to the design and shape, I get the condensation dripping onto my fish and because I use wood coals/charcoal my fish usually has black drip spots on it, and it's vey difficult to regulate temperature.... And ash tends to get everywhere if the wind picks up or if i have to blow on the coals...

I can't really afford to buy a new smoker, so I'm gonna make one...

I have a new metal trashcan, some plywood, and my old smoker...

My plan is to cut a door in the side of the trashcan, and use the can as a firebox, hole saw some holes in the bottom of the can, and remove the legs from the BBQ smoker and place that on top of the overturned can....  That should make it easier to achieve the temperatures needed for cold/hard smoking

The only other issue I can think of is the condensation dripping onto my fish... I'd imagine a good scrubbing, and maybe some vent holes in the lid???


What do you guys think?

[jeepster]

Better yet, how would you guys go about building a smoker? I've heard talk about not using plywood because of the glues used?

[Wea300mag]

Here is the one I built for sausages, pepperoni, buckboard bacon, hams, etc.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,63501.0.html

I still use a Big Chief for fish and a higher temp electric smoker for pork shoulders and brisket.

[jeepster]

wea300mag,

bad ass smokeshack. i think im going to get busy building one tomorrow, i wouldnt of thought it to be that simple, i tend to over think, im gonna trash the trashcan idea, i was trying to make due with what i got, but a nice wood smoker is a helluva lot better....

[buglebuster]

Try to find an old metal refrigerator, a few friends of mine have made them and they work awesome!

[dogtuk]

Jeepster
here are some plans for some other smokers here lots of good info here
http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,42971.0.html

[jeepster]

bahhhh.......................................

why dont i ever check the archives?

[longknife]

I have the old frigidare (porclin interior) fridge, i converted to a smoker. It has a little wood stove on the outside, and a hotplate on the inside. Works great and cheap

Love the cedar smoker Wea300mag!!

[buglebuster]

Another one to try is the 55 gallon drum smoker, very easy and there are a couple variations of it. I plan on starting one next week.

[Encore 280]

Wea300mag. Have you had any trouble with pitch weeping from the pine? Seem's like you said you used pine. I've seen old smoke houses built with cedar planking but never pine. Very nice looking smoker. Hope it's working for ya.

[Wea300mag]

Wea300mag. Have you had any trouble with pitch weeping from the pine? Seem's like you said you used pine. I've seen old smoke houses built with cedar planking but never pine. Very nice looking smoker. Hope it's working for ya.

I haven't had any pitch issues. I used it this weekend to smoke a bunch of pepperoni and summer sausage. It sure is nice to be able to do large batches at once.

[wildweeds]

We've had 2 plywood jobbies(the first one burned down do to an uh=oh with the smoking wood rolling off onto the propane hose).The temperature we shoot for is about 120 degrees,the thing is the size of a porta john,4x4x8 tall and a roof that slopes to 6foot in the back,2 racks made from 3/4 pipe and 1/2 inch stainless screen.You can load that sucker up, we've done chickens,jerky,and a ton of fish in it,small propane cookstove in the bottom and a cast iron skillet for chunks of debarked green maple.As with everything the cooktime is dependant on the thickness of the material to be smoked.The smoker is over at my folks place and I just ain't got around to building my own yet.Once you get the heat thing dialed in................just shut the bottle off and tweak it(the burner) to fit the outside temperature.Unless its below freezing out or the wind is howling seldom do we have to tweak anything.I built the replacement 25 years ago with 5 sheets of plywood and a few 2x4s and 2x2's

[xd2005]

I would check to make sure the trash can is not galvanized.

[jeepster]

who knows if its galvenized or not... im done smoking fish for the year, so its all good... tasted fine to me  besides, i gave alot of my smoked fish to the guys at school. it got the job done, by the time im ready to smoke my next batch, i will have a propper smoker setup, i was just in a pinch as i had 3 fish that needed to be used up. my options were either brine them, or put them in the freezer without any vacuum packing.... i opted for the smoking. 

needless to say, im saving up for a bradley...

[FC]

I would check to make sure the trash can is not galvanized.

If it's a steel can it is, good thing burning zinc fumes aren't horrifically toxic or anything

/sarcasm for anyone that doesn't know that zinc fumes are very toxic and not to be messed with.