Smokehouse plan, will this work?

atcnick

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Original poster

Jan 1, 2010

381

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Longview, Texas

• Sep 9, 2012

• #1

Hey guys,

Im planning on building a new smokehouse for COLD smoking AND HOT smoking.

Here's a quick drawing I made:

CE3E29EE-1B62-4775-A378-F9953154FAF3-1749-00000199

• atcnick
• Sep 9, 2012

The bottom part is cinder blocks, the top is 1" thick cedar boards.  Inside dimensions of the cinder block area will 24"x24" by about 40" tall.  The wooden part will be 40"x40"x40".  I plan to have a separate fire pit a few feet away for cold smoking (less than 75F).   and running a 6" stove pipe from the fire pit to the bottom of the smokehouse, under the ground.  I will also have a propane burner at the bottom of the smokehouse for when I plan on hot smoking, around 170F.  

My question is, will the burner give me enough heat in the smokehouse to get up to 170F?   I plan on doing this in the winter months here in TX.  I do not plan on insulating the smokehouse.

Also,  is cedar OK to use for construction to use for hot smoking  as far as any chemical leaching?

Thanks.

Nick

 

diggingdogfarm

Master of the Pit

Jun 23, 2011

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Southern Tier of New York State

• Sep 9, 2012

• #2

Why not keep it real simple like the plans below, with a propane burner and a AMNPS smoke generator inside the smoker?
Much easier, better smoke control, less complicated and cheaper to build.

http://animalscience.uconn.edu/extension/publications/build_smokehouse.pdf

~Martin

 

Last edited: Sep 9, 2012

atcnick

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Jan 1, 2010

381

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Longview, Texas

• Sep 9, 2012

• #3

Well, I thought about it but I already have a bunch of cinder blocks on hand.  And burning wood is therapeutic! I wouldnt even consider the propane burner but I cant think of any other way to build a cold smoker and hot smoker in one with just one firepit.  And I have tons of hickory on hand. 
 

 

daveomak

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Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• Sep 9, 2012

• #4

at, evening....  the whole plan looks good to me...    Plug the blocks to keep the biting, stinging, fanged creatures out of your reach.... When you are operating the gas burner, I am assuming you will still be using the remote firebox for smoke....  One thing to consider...  If the smoke travels through or near the flame from the burner, the flame will totally burn up the smoke and there will be none.... Maybe to prevent this condition, have a pipe extension to raise the smoke above the burner...  One other thing about the underground pipe... Consider enlarging it to something in a concrete culvert size, or built from cinder blocks...  regulate the flow at the firebox end....   There is a lot of friction in a small pipe... larger might be better...  Good building and pictures are a must....   Dave

 

atcnick

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Jan 1, 2010

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Longview, Texas

• Sep 11, 2012

• #5

Thanks Dave.  Never even considered the smoke would be burned away by the propane burner. 

What do you think about using cedar boards in the chamber if its going to get up to 170-180F?  Do you think it will be safe?

 

daveomak

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Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• Sep 12, 2012

• #6

Nick, morning... Wood smokers, including cedar have been used for years... albeit for cold smoking....  It shouldn't be a problem if the temps are kept "reasonable", (what ever that is).....   Dave

 

atcnick

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Original poster

Thread starter

Jan 1, 2010

381

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Longview, Texas

• Sep 30, 2012

• #7

I found this drawing that I think may work for cold and warm smoking. Tell me what you guys think and if you have any suggestions for closing of the shorter pipe when cold smoking.




-Nick

 

roller

Smoking Guru

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Mar 10, 2010

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N.E. Louisiana

• Sep 30, 2012

• #8

Post pic when you are finished Please !

 

skygreenbud

Newbie

Nov 29, 2007

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10

• Jan 28, 2013

• #9

the design is just about like my smoker i built 3 years ago.At the bottom of the smoker ,on the outside, i built a box,2'x2',connected to the smoker.An 8" opening to let the smoke into the smoker.i have a hot plate and a pie pan for wood chips or dust,I have a 45000btu pipe burner with a thermostat.The upper half of the smoker is insulated with insulation rated at 900 deg.It does an excellent job smoking. Skygreenbud

 

ldrus

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Jul 16, 2007

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Westville, Indiana

• Jan 28, 2013

• #10

Your plan looks fine to me ! Mine works like a dream, I use a Turkey deep fryer burner and in 20deg temps so far here in northwest Indiana I have had no problem hitting 170 and that's a low flame on the burner

 

Last edited: Jan 28, 2013