Building the Custom Smoker You Want

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If you build your own custom smoker, you will be able to get just the features you need, with your preferred source of heat. Whether you are using charcoal, gas, or electric, there are several considerations that go into the basic design. Learn the important choices to make when building a smoker.

Smokers are actually basic cooking devices. They generate smoke and heat in controlled portions while providing the space and versatility needed to smoke a wide range of foods. The basic idea is to have two areas in the smoker. One area is where heat and smoke are created at the necessary temperatures to do the cooking while the other area holds the food in a temperature controlled, smoky environment. The vents and connections between these spaces provide the airflow necessary to keep the heat and smoke traveling so that an excess of smoke doesn't build up that can make food bitter.

Airflow

Airflow is the most important part of a smoker. Connecting pipes bring smoke and heat from the fire chamber into the food chamber and smokestacks vent smoke out of the cooking chamber. This is important because an excess build-up of smoke will ruin your barbecue. In a working smoker, convection draws in the air over the fire. The heated, smoky air rises into the cooking chamber and then vents through the stacks.

Temperature Control

You can achieve temperature control through adjustable vents which limit airflow or you can do it by using a controllable heat source. A controllable heat source the easiest way to smoke because you don’t have to deal with fire tending and vent adjustments. This also allows for a very simple smoker design. Take, for instance, an electric trash can smoker which has a very simple design. An electric hot plate provides heat while wood chunks in a pan on the hot plate provide smoke. The temperature control of the hot plate allows for direct heating of the cooking chamber. This can also be accomplished with a gas burner.

Portability

Now while you've got the basic principles in mind, you first need to think about whether or not you want your smoker to be portable. (Portable doesn't necessarily mean it can be loaded into the back of a pickup, but simply that you can move it.) Smokers can be permanent fixtures on your property or they can be set up and moved if necessary. For instance, you could have a beautiful brick unit with lots of versatility and plenty of smoking space, however, you won't be able to move it to another location in your backyard.

Materials

Brick or stone smokers have a lot of advantage over others. Brick holds heat, so once one of these smokers is up to temperature it will hold that heat very well. This levels the heat spikes that can occur in many metal designs. With a permanent structure smoker you can also add in all the features you might want. Electricity and plumbing can be added to the unit giving you a lot more versatility to your outdoor cooking area.

Of course, just because you want to use bricks or blocks doesn’t mean you can’t make a temporary or non-permanent smoker. For example, you could make a temporary hog cooker out of cinder blocks filled with sand and some tin roofing. It is perfect for a temporary smoker if you are planning a big “pig-pickin'” or even a luau.

Skills

Now that you have considered whether or not you want a permanent, fixed smoker you need to access the most important resource you have on hand—your abilities. If you are up to welding and masonry then you probably have all the skills you need to make any kind of smoker. However, if you don’t feel you have the skills or perhaps access to the tools you should try looking at a different type of smoker. It’s best to start out with what you know and work your way up from there. Many of the people who have made impressive smokers have started out small and worked their way up. Nothing counts like experience.

DIY Smokers

In recent years, the hot item in the build it yourself smoker is the Drum Smoker, or Ugly Drum Smoker (UDS), though increasingly they are not very ugly. Made from a 55-gallon steel drum, these are easy to make, easy to use and work very well. While there are a number of people making this style of ​a smoker, there are also several making ​DIY kits that include everything except the drum. These kits tend to cost around $200 (again, without the drum), so this isn't exactly a discount proposition, especially when you consider that you can buy the ​Pit Barrel Cooker for around $300. The advantage of making your own drum smoker is the experience and that it can be customized however you wish.

Whatever material you choose to use it needs to be durable enough to withstand the temperatures. It needs to take the abuse over time and not contain parts that will break down or produce fumes. Stone, brick, and metal are all good choices. Beyond that, you could get into trouble. So no matter what type of smoker you choose to build, plan it out well, experiment as you go and have fun.