The UglyBox Build

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

mrmosmo

Newbie
Original poster
Aug 9, 2015
3
10
Lagrange, Ohio
Due to some circumstances I found myself without a smoker and decided to build one. After many hours of doing research I decided to build a vertical smoker using cinder blocks as a main building material. This would give me plenty of insulation, making it easier to keep my temps up during the cold Ohio winters. I started by digging down to 34 inches and pouring a footer to build on, I did not get any pictures of this. I then built up on that using cinder blocks, and then poured my cement pad to build the smoker on.

View media item 435533
I used some cinder blocks to get a feel of how big I wanted to build it.

View media item 435529
Then I started building using the cinder block and high heat mortar.

View media item 435526
A look down inside the build.

View media item 435530
View media item 435521
Cinder blocks done and the bottom lined with firebrick.

View media item 435522
Firebrick done, starting with red brick the rest of the way up.

View media item 435523
Inside brick work finished, for now. In the spring I will take the bricks the rest of the way to the top, trying to get it usable this year and the temps here are getting colder.

View media item 435519
Using a cedar door for now, it should work till spring when it will get replaced by a steel door or something as good.

View media item 435520
After a very long and hard wait the first fire.

View media item 435527
The firebox door is in and looking good.

View media item 435525
View media item 435524
The racks are done and ready.

View media item 435534
Ready for smoking some food!

View media item 435531
So that is my little UglyBox. The plan is in the spring I am going to finish the bricks inside the rest of the way up. Then use large flat stones to finish off the outside. I have smoked several items on it already and forgot to get pictures, but will be doing many more smokes on it and will get some loaded. Still doing some tweeks to make it run a bit better but so far so good.  

Please feel free to give me any feed back you might have I am open to some constructive criticism. 
 
Looks nice. I don't see any venting on your firebox door. Is there any? If not, plans for vents?

Also, I've been using wooden doors on my masonry smoker for 20 years now - wood actually works quite well - insulates MUCH better than steel! I used my new little infrared thermometer to measure the temps of various parts of my smoker the other day about 12 hours into smoking a couple pork butts and the steel fire box door was 400 degrees F while the wood top and doors hovered right around 90 degrees - it was in the low 80s outside.





 
Looks super. Where is the vent to the Hot box? Also, did you purchase or build your steel door? I built mine but didn't see anywhere to buy reasonably..

Happy Smoking Mr.
 
Not a problem - I just didn't know.  Thanks for the compliments. The smoker sure seems to work very well. Smoked three slabs of baby-back ribs today - major YUM!!!

"Where is the vent to the Hot box?"

The fire box door has a slide vent on the bottom that really opens up a huge amount of area for air intake to the fire. And then I have one six (or eight?) hole vent in the upper portion of the door. I'm thinking of adding maybe two more vents of that type, but install them at the very top of the door. I think they will function better as a cooling vent that way.

"Also, did you purchase or build your steel door?"

Built my door myself. Started with a hunk of 3/16" plate and went from there. Seems to work very well!

Terry Farrell 

Tampa Bay, Florida
 
I personally don't see anything ugly about it.   Its what comes out that counts.    Your on the right track.    

If spring ever gets here I look forward to seeing it complete.   
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky