General Smokehouse Questions

bobank03 · Jul 31, 2014

I am considering building a small smokehouse in the backyard. I have a nice spot for it and I think it will look great there and get me away from the house. The smoke from my ECB gets towards the house sometimes and we get smoke inside. Not that it bothers me, of course.

My question related to the shelves/ racks used in the smokehouse. I have looked around the web and searched the forum and I'm not finding my answer, though I am sure it is probably right in front of me.

Where do you get the racks? I would think the smokehouse would need to be a reasonably standard size to accommodate "aftermarket" racks.

If anyone else has a general question about smokehouse, feel free to jump on here and add your question. I might even know some answers by then!

twisted minds · Jul 31, 2014

Old oven racks work great in a smokehouse. Source them through used appliance or repair shops and build your smokehouse to accommodate.

daveomak · Aug 1, 2014

You can use wood dowels or rebar or ?????? what ever in the smoke house THEN put food racks on those..... soooo, racks can be of pretty much any size...

wade · Aug 1, 2014

In Europe we have a standardised sizing for catering racks, containers etc. called Gastro Norm (GN). I think it may be the same standard in the USA too. Providing the smoke house racking is set to accommodate the GN sizes you should be ably to buy a wide variety of different types of wire and solid shelves and containers from any catering supply company.

jarjarchef · Aug 1, 2014

When I built mine I used cake cooling racks I can buy at Walmart. They work well, but I wish my shelves would slide out. They are small and I can soak them to clean, but not very durable. When it needs to be replaced, not any time soon they way it looks, I will use either the old oven racks or the racks we use for roasting on our sheet trays in commercial kitchens.

bobank03 · Aug 1, 2014

Twisted Minds said:
Old oven racks work great in a smokehouse. Source them through used appliance or repair shops and build your smokehouse to accommodate.

That makes sense and I will surely look into that.

DaveOmak said:
You can use wood dowels or rebar or ?????? what ever in the smoke house THEN put food racks on those..... soooo, racks can be of pretty much any size...

I saw the different constructions using dowels and I think I will use a similar system to help support the racks, depending on what I use.

Wade said:
In Europe we have a standardised sizing for catering racks, containers etc. called Gastro Norm (GN). I think it may be the same standard in the USA too. Providing the smoke house racking is set to accommodate the GN sizes you should be ably to buy a wide variety of different types of wire and solid shelves and containers from any catering supply company.

In looking through a few websites, they seem to be basically 3 or 4 different size configurations for oven racks, catering racks and the like. I was thinking about the catering racks too.

Quote:

jarjarchef said:
When I built mine I used cake cooling racks I can buy at Walmart. They work well, but I wish my shelves would slide out. They are small and I can soak them to clean, but not very durable. When it needs to be replaced, not any time soon they way it looks, I will use either the old oven racks or the racks we use for roasting on our sheet trays in commercial kitchens.

I definitely want to be able to slide out racks.

I'm not planning on building a large smokehouse, just one on the smaller size, maybe 5 feet tall and then whatever size based upon the racks. Maybe a rock mortar foundation with a field stone-ish look. Nothing too jazzy. When I'm done with it I want it too look like it was always there and not too bright and shiny.

I do like the propane burner from Northern tools you guys are using, but I think that is going to be too much burner for me.

I have seen some really great builds in this forum and I have gotten a lot of great ideas. I'm sure I will be asking some more questions. Thanks for your help so far!

dirtsailor2003 · Aug 1, 2014

I like the dowel system that Dave mentions. When I get to build mine I plan on using dowels the are removable. That way I can remove the sausages with the dowel to hang while they bloom etc. I like to hang chickens hams etc, it will be easy to do from the dowels. When I need racks I'll just sit them on the dowels.

bobank03 · Aug 2, 2014

dirtsailor2003 said:
I like the dowel system that Dave mentions. When I get to build mine I plan on using dowels the are removable. That way I can remove the sausages with the dowel to hang while they bloom etc. I like to hang chickens hams etc, it will be easy to do from the dowels. When I need racks I'll just sit them on the dowels.

For sure, thats a solid idea. Anyone have their dowels sag or is the key to use multiple dowels?

dirtsailor2003 · Aug 2, 2014

I would use 5/8" or 3/4" dowels. I also would use multiple for holding racks. The system I envision would have 1x boards on the side walls with half circles for the dowels to sit in. Spaced every 2"-3" inches. FYI an easy way to make those support is to drill all the wholes down the middle of a board then cut the board in half. With my drill press and table saw I can do 4 boards at a time. Stack the boards screw them together drill the holes run the stack through the saw, done!

jarjarchef · Aug 2, 2014

I have 2 for each shelf, I do have spaces for 3 on each shelf. I made them from 2x4. I split the 2x4 to form a square rod. Then trimmed the corners with a 45 degree cut to form an octagon shaped rod. I made mine because I am too cheap to spend the money they wanted for the dowel rods. I also like the concept of a larger diameter rod fo sausage making. When I can ever get the money for a stuffer.......

twisted minds · Aug 2, 2014

Jarjarchef, if you used pine 2x4's you may want to wrap them with foil depending on the type of smoker you have. You wouldn't want any of the saps or pine wood smoke getting onto your meats. As a side note, I use hardwood limbs for my hanging rods. They seem to be not only stronger but are free, just need to find straight ones out in the woods.

driedstick · Aug 2, 2014

When I did my fridge, I custom made them with expanded metal, and 1/2 angle iron around the edges works great also fits right on my gas BBQ for easy cleaning when needed also at the time was very in-expensive. Be sure to let us know what you did and show off the smoke house would love to see it.

A full smoker is a happy smoker

DS

bobank03 · Aug 2, 2014

Twisted Minds said:
Jarjarchef, if you used pine 2x4's you may want to wrap them with foil depending on the type of smoker you have. You wouldn't want any of the saps or pine wood smoke getting onto your meats. As a side note, I use hardwood limbs for my hanging rods. They seem to be not only stronger but are free, just need to find straight ones out in the woods.

I like that idea. I have hard maple trees all over the place and you know there is this one in my backyard that's choking out too much sunlight and hey those branches are pretty straight and ...brrrr,,,brrr (chain saw on pull one and two, one more primer bulb push and... )

bobank03 · Aug 2, 2014

dirtsailor2003 said:
I would use 5/8" or 3/4" dowels. I also would use multiple for holding racks. The system I envision would have 1x boards on the side walls with half circles for the dowels to sit in. Spaced every 2"-3" inches. FYI an easy way to make those support is to drill all the wholes down the middle of a board then cut the board in half. With my drill press and table saw I can do 4 boards at a time. Stack the boards screw them together drill the holes run the stack through the saw, done!

That's huge. I don't have a table saw, but the 30 year old master mechanic circular saw is like cutting butter, in my hands! Now for drilling those holes... One of the things that stinks about living in the Northeast. On a slab. No garage... I have a shed that is like 12 x 20 inside I need to clean it up so I have someplace to work!

bobank03 · Aug 2, 2014

driedstick said:
When I did my fridge, I custom made them with expanded metal, and 1/2 angle iron around the edges works great also fits right on my gas BBQ for easy cleaning when needed also at the time was very in-expensive. Be sure to let us know what you did and show off the smoke house would love to see it.

A full smoker is a happy smoker

DS

I certainly will post my build as I go through. My issue at the moment is not if but when. I am hoping to get going this fall, but I might build it over the winter.

pc farmer · Aug 2, 2014

I want to build a smokehouse soon.

I will be watching.

bobank03 · Aug 2, 2014

My next thought was foundation? I'm still deciding, although I might just put it on a field stone or something similar foundation. Thinking maybe C Block and some of that fancy rock veneer? My goal is to make this baby look like it has been there all along. I was thinking of going with wood shingles on the exterior, but I would hate to build it out of nice pine boards and cover them up... I also am thinking venting. I think a roof ridge vent would look the most natural.

So now I'm thinking the other end and getting air to the fire (if you wll) How do you control your intake air?

driedstick · Aug 2, 2014

We will be watching and remember

Good luck!!!!!

A full smoker is a happy smoker

DS

bobank03 · Aug 3, 2014

c farmer said:
I want to build a smokehouse soon.

I will be watching.

That would be a great addition to your smokers.I'm sure finding some good reclaimed wood for your project would be easy!

bobank03 · Aug 3, 2014

driedstick said:
We will be watching and remember

Good luck!!!!!

A full smoker is a happy smoker

DS

Thanks DS, I will be sure to document the build for sure. I have to try and win over the other half on my idea. But I have a part of the yard that sees little use and I can get away with building it there. I might need to change my landscaping a bit, but I will include plenty of pics.

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