NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

Building a smoker 101

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When I decide it would be nice to have something, I check it out online, go to a store and finally buy it.

When Ryan decides it would be nice to have something (which really doesn’t happen very often), he goes to Instructables, Googles it and makes it himself. It’s really quite endearing. 
Latest case-in-point. I should have known it was coming. After going to a party at Laura and Andy’s house that included smoked pork, Ryan started meandering through the grill section at the home and garden section. I caught him on instructables. He ordered another case of our our favorite bbq sauce from Hotlanta. I kinda thought he was going to splurge and buy a charcoal smoker.
Then, one day I came home and Ryan was welding in the garage.
Danger! Danger!
The boy was building a smoker. To smoke meat. He was so proud of himself, it was funny.
That night after finishing his project, he stood next to the smoker (which looks eerily similar to a metal barrel) and admired his work. (He looked kinda like a homeless man, not gonna lie.)
Then, he walked in the house and the barrel promptly shot ten-foot flames out of it.
Luckily we didn’t burn down the house (or the entire city). And, Ryan got it back under control and we haven’t had any flame issues since.
Here are some pictures of the smoker, for your enjoyment.
“Just watching my smoker.” – Ryan
“Look at all the smoke when I take off the lid.” – Ryan

“Uh oh. The fire department is on their way.” – Ryan

And, while I joke about it, Ryan spent part of the weekend making us smoked pork. He cooked the pork at 250 degrees for much of the day. He rubbed it in a special pork rub that he made. Ohmygosh. It was so good. The best pork I’ve ever eaten. I’m serious. And I wouldn’t consider myself a big BBQ fan. But, this was enough to convert me. Mission smoking: Success.
So, in case you want to build one, here are the steps. (Note: Ryan wrote this. I don’t understand most of it. But, I think you shouldn’t attempt making this if you don’t understand the terminology or don’t know how to weld. Okay? Okay.)

Purchase: 

55 gallon barrel (make sure it wasn’t filled with gasoline, find one with vegetable oil, if possible)

Weber 22 inch replacement grill

8- 3/8 bolts 3 inches long and nuts

2 ¼ straight exhaust,

2 ½ inch 90 degree exhaust

Some sort of mesh metal to make charcoal box

2- ¼ inch bolts and wing nuts

Thermometer

Handle

Two soup can lids

Steps:

1)   Weld in the straight exhaust pipe in to the bung on the top of the drum.

2)   Cut and remove top of drum.

3)   Cut hole for 90 degree exhaust pipe about three inches from the bottom of the barrel.

4)   Weld in 90 elbow.

5)   Install handle on lid.

6)   Weld ¼ inch bolts to ends of both pieces of exhaust.

7)   Drill ¼ inch holes in soup can lids and place over exhaust.

8)   Drill four holes evenly spaced about 6-8 inches down from the top of the barrel.

9)   Install 3/8 bolts into these holes, and tighten down nuts.  The bolts will hold your grate up.

10)  Drill a hole about an inch lower than your grate then insert your thermometer in this hole. 

11)  Make a small charcoal box out of the mesh metal.  Install the 4 bolts through the mesh box to act as legs.

12) Burn out any vegetable oil in the barrel.

13)  Cook and enjoy.

And, some close-ups of the very fancy tin can lids that Ryan used as air dampeners. 

They work pretty well at maintaining a consistent temperature (essentially, you can open and close them to maintain the correct air flow). I got a good laugh when Ryan was going through our recyclables looking for tin can lids.

Ryan’s parents said that Ryan’s grandpa used to do very similar things, concocting goofy gadgets and building things in the garage. I never met his grandpa, so it’s kinda fun to hear stories. I suppose someday we’ll tell our kids about Ryan’s homemade smoker. 
Life is always exciting at the Woodwards.

Comments

  4. How cool is that? I can’t wait to taste something cooked on that cool lookin’ gadget! You remain my FAVORITE son-in-law!

  6. I wish my husband was handy to make something instead of going out and having to buy something brand new all the time.

  8. You guys are awesome! I love reading about all of your DIY projects. A DIY smoker is definitely unique!

  9. We don’t eat too much meat, but this is cool. If I show my husband, he will so want to do this. And it’s so great that Ryan goes to making things before buying them.