Smokehouse

[Shane Durham]

Has anyone ever built their own smokehouse and if so could they share how they did it.

[processhead]

Shane Durham said in Smokehouse:

Has anyone ever built their own smokehouse and if so could they share how they did it.

You may want to share a little more on what your smokehouse vision looks like.

Smokers vary all over the map from a fixed structure with an external heat source to semiportable smokers with propane, electric, or pellet heat sources.

[Shane Durham]

I am looking to build a fixed structure using either propane or electric and a smoke tube. I am just looking for some ideas on where to start,

[processhead]

A fixed structure may not be very efficient as far as holding heat unless you live in a warm climate, or insulate it, or only use it during summer. For the same reason, you may need a fairly large heat source unless all you plan to do is cold smoke cheese or fish.
What kinds of products do you plan to smoke?

[bocephus]

Shane Durham Paul is going to be a great source for you, he is just trying to get information from you to better help out.

[badexpresso]

I have a large smoker I built using cinderblocks and filled the cindeblocks full of sand. On the ends of the smoker, I have one if the bottom cindeblocks removed where I can stuff the hot coals into the smoker without the need to open the top (which is plywood)

[mrobisr]

Shane Durham If you are wanting cold smoke use aluminum dryer vent, it is terrific at dissipating the heat. If you want hot smoke, then any venting will work.

[Jonathon]

badexpresso Next time you get a chance we’d love to see an image of it!

[badexpresso]

I had to wade through the snow to get to the smoker…
Here is my permanent smoker. Again, a very traditional large horizontal smoker where the fire is kept outside the smoker and coals are shoved in through the ends. I have a board where I cover the open cinder block on the bottom (coal entrance).

Inside the cement blocks is sifted sand, so once it gets upto temp, it maintains it very well (8" cement blocks) I have a traditional stainless steel grate to place the food on

[badexpresso]

badexpresso

This one didn’t get used in the fall as I was using my pellet smoker and working on my large portable smoker.

[OleSmokey]

badexpresso Now that’s cold smoking.

[calldoctoday]

Shane Durham Theoretically you could build a small, tall, smokehouse out of wood frame & cedar or cypress board exterior (board lumber, lap & gap, 105, board & batten, no treated finished with CWF), insulated walls, fire board on the interior, & stainless or copper sheet interior lining everywhere, with a drip pan at the bottom, & a regulatable vent at the top. For the heat source, if you really want to take fixed to the next level make the fire box separately a few feet away out of CMU (block) or brick & fire brick for the interior, with 4" or 6" concrete pipe leading from the fire box, underground to the smoke house. Or just use a low pressure propane burner or electric plate at the bottom of the smoke house for a heat source. Doesn’t the Marianski brothers have a good book on building smoke houses?

[Kalebtrojacek]

[Kalebtrojacek]

Im working on my smokehouse now. I just finished the base today. I plan on using a propane burner for hot smoking sausages and something else for cold smoking bacon. By cold smoking for bacon, I mean like traditionally cold smoked where the temp is essentially the same temp as it is outside. Since I only use Salt and Brown sugar for my bacon I also plan on putting in some little windows throughout which can be opened or closed to let oxygen in so that I don’t have to worry about it creating an anaerobic environment.

[badexpresso]

Kalebtrojacek

Looking good. Fill the cores with sand or cement to retain the heat

[badexpresso]

badexpresso

[wvotrfan]

badexpresso would love to try that sometime

[mrobisr]

badexpresso Wow that looks great!

[calldoctoday]

badexpresso Pullin right off the whole bone. Don’t forget to crispin up some of that cracklin!

[cdavis]

badexpresso looks good