New to smoking meat in Ohio

Hi.  My name is Phil and I am planning on building an electric smoker.  I currently have a Brinkmann charcoal grill (don't even talk to me about grilling with gas).  I just finished building a water-powered sausage stuffer and would like to start making some smoked sausages.
I live in north central Ohio, in Lorain.  I am a chemist for the city, but that just pays the bills.

My motto is "Beef...it's what's for dinner...breakfast and lunch too."