Homemade smoker?

[Joe Brainard]

I was wondering if any of you folks have made a homemade smoker? I'm thinking of making one out an electric range that I've had on my front porch for sale for 50 bucks all summer. Any Ideas? I've also thought of making one out of an old wood cook stove that I have in my garage.

[nathangdad]

can work but you will have to go through a learning curve.

Personally, I smoke with one of the Brinkman smokers you can get for little money at stores such as Wal-Mart. They are easy to use and come with a good sized water pan.

I would go with the store bought smoker as you have practically no learning curve due to the cookbook that comes with the smoker.

[ArkansasHunter]

The Smoker nathandad mentioned would be better. It's not expensive yet there are some higher priced ones...A.H

[magicjeep]

I hate sounding like a broken record but go to www.thesmokering.com
That site is alot lke this one, full of .......
people with alot of expirence and knowledge about their hobby. Theres guys on there that build huge trailer mounted smokers, 50 gal drum smokers, one guy even used a computer server housing. Turning an oven into a smoker actually sounds like a good idea being its insulated and will hold some heat reducing the amount of fuel you would use and help hold a consistant temp. Keep us up to date if you try it.

[Joe Brainard]

Thanks MacigJeep, I'm taking a look at their site right now

[Big Dog]

My Father made his smoker of an old washing machine. A hatch in the bottom to build the fire and put the pan for the hickory (or other flavor) wood, and the top door for the meat. He made a grill to hold the meat, and can switch to hanging racks for sausage. Works very well!

[blaster]

I have made several large smokers out of a plywood box on legs. a 30 gal drum and a piece of stove pipe. the fire is made in a 30 gal. drum cut in half. the end with the drum bottom is up and you cut a hole near the top so the stove pipe fits in there,cut out a section of the part of the drum that is down to build your fire in. the pipe goes into the bottom of the box . the height of the box legs is determined on how high you cut off the drum and how long the stove pipe is. (smoke goes up) I drill holes through the sides of the box for pieces of re bar to hold the racks. I build a fire on the ground under the cutoff drum and keep it smoking for about 12 hrs. depending on the thickness of the fish or meat. If you make the box and its door tight you need to cut a small hole in the top to vent the smoke, I usually make them out of scrap plywood and there are enough gaps to let the smoke vent.

[SwedeSteve]

Stove should work just fine !!

[hickorynutk@win]

I made a nice smoker out of a old electric water heater, I used electric because they don't have any guts other than the heating elements that screw into the side. required some cutting and welding but worked really good use an exterior fire box by cutting a hole and welding a box at the bottom.
( Great Sausage Recipes and Meat Curing ) is a great book with everything you could want to know about making sausage or bacon or corned beef ect. It also has a section on making smokers out of old refrigerators 55 gal. drums and others. Best book I ever saw for a do it yourself meat guy. You can find it at ( The Sausage Maker, Inc. - Sausage Making Equipment & Supplies )

[MRone]

I think the oven idea is great.Good capacity,stable temps,and you already have it.
A small bowl inside for water will help for moisture since electric would be dry heat.
I have been thinking of doing the same but with a gas oven.

[Joe Brainard]

Just rechecked this thread-- Thanks for the replies, fellas