newb question

promisekeeper

Fire Starter

Original poster

May 13, 2008

31

11

• Jan 27, 2010

• #1

I'm new to smoking, but am really intrigued by the home made ones on here! These old conversions are cool! So far I haven't seen anyone post on how much a person could sink into one of these? Is it a money saving thing....a larger smoker....or just the satisfaction of doing it yourself? You've got my wheels turning! It seems like the ones you buy all require a mod or two to work, so why not tweak your own? I'm thinking I'd like to go the electric route. Just curious as to how much I'd have in it. Thanks!

Scott

 

rbranstner

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Oct 18, 2007

5,698

39

West Fargo, ND / Northern MN

• Jan 27, 2010

• #2

I have not converted a fridge or freezer yet but I did build my own out of a big crate at work. (my signature pic) I think I have around $300-$350 into it since I had to buy everything and I the toung and grove siding wasn't cheap.

 

coffee_junkie

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Feb 17, 2009

1,144

18

Helena, MT

• Jan 27, 2010

• #3

I am in the process of building a fridge conversion, I am thinking I will be around $200 when all is said and done, and I am pretty thrifty when it comes to finding materials.
One can build a UDS for around $100 or less depending on your personal resources (i.e. scap metal, welder etc) A great option for the DIY, you really don't even need a welder to make one.

 

silverado2100

Fire Starter

Oct 23, 2009

36

10

Bad Axe

• Jan 27, 2010

• #4

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=88126

weve got about $500 into ours after you add up all the nickles and dimes

 

mulepackin

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Dec 27, 2007

1,328

13

Central Montana

• Jan 28, 2010

• #5

I've never added up the total, but I'm thinking I've got around $500 or so in my current freezer. These are the main things I had to purchase to make mine work the way I planned it:
1) Heating element, Brinkmann conversion $45
2) Control, Allied/Kenco $160 now (about $120 IIRC when I got it)
3) Thermometer, $45
3) Steel for shelves and racks $90
4) Damper, flue, misc. sheet metal used App. $30
5) Misc items; screws, rivets, various elec. boxes and fixtures, calking $30
6) Hot plate for smoke generator $15
There were probably another $50 or so in things I've added, but this gives you a general idea. It is the way I want it for what it was designed for, which is smoking sausage, bacon, jerky, cured poultry. It will work for BBQ smoking, ribs, brisket and so forth, but I prefer charcoal/wood for that type of work.

 

mulepackin

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Dec 27, 2007

1,328

13

Central Montana

• Jan 28, 2010

• #6

I've never added up the total, but I'm thinking I've got around $500 or so in my current freezer. These are the main things I had to purchase to make mine work the way I planned it:
1) Heating element, Brinkmann conversion $45
2) Control, Allied/Kenco $160 now (about $120 IIRC when I got it)
3) Thermometer, $45
3) Steel for shelves and racks $90
4) Damper, flue, misc. sheet metal used App. $30
5) Misc items; screws, rivets, various elec. boxes and fixtures, calking $30
6) Hot plate for smoke generator $15
There were probably another $50 or so in things I've added, but this gives you a general idea. It is the way I want it for what it was designed for, which is smoking sausage, bacon, jerky, cured poultry. I can get 50 to 100 lbs in it. It will work for BBQ smoking, ribs, brisket and so forth, but I prefer charcoal/wood for that type of work.

 

crazydazz

StickBurners

Jan 7, 2010

35

10

WHOVILLE, NEBRASKA

• Jan 30, 2010

• #7

The size for the price is a big part of it. $200 to $400 don't buy a very big smoker. doin it your self helps a guy feel good and with all the trial and eras it real has helped me understand how everything works...

 

countrysmoked

Smoke Blower

May 20, 2009

132

10

Kansas

• Jan 30, 2010

• #8

I think I have $400 in mine

$100 for the pellet feeder

$200 for the digital controler

$100 more in thermometers and stuff

 

dasbear

Fire Starter

Feb 25, 2013

73

10

Snohomish, Washington

• Mar 18, 2013

• #9

Sometimes asking "How much" is a loaded question because it can depend on so many OTHER things like starting condition of refer/fridge, How resourceful you are at aquiring free componants ie.,used range for element & controls, or will you buy everything new and techy? from what I have researched my control will be below $150, element $40, insulation $20-30, shelves/misc. hardware $30-40?.SMOKE?- pan w/chips?, home brew generator?, amazn, chokedaddy$$$ or a pellet pooper$$$ I just saw a frige build on here where the mods were under $100. Planning ahead will save alot of wasted $$$$$. as in buying stuff that you have to rebuy later really read through all the posts on this forum and you should be able to plan out about 90% of your costs. I have a appl. recycler 1/2 mile away that handles stuff from all over the north 1/2 of wasington state so I will be going there firstI maybe able to save $100. if it works out?????

 

papa chops

Smoke Blower

Mar 10, 2013

111

12

Modesto California

• Mar 19, 2013

• #10

It depends on how far You want to take it. I personally just built one pretty cheap and basic compared to some of these other guys. I fired it up for the first time last night and I'm pretty happy with it. I don't have a digital controller, or smoke daddy. I have a five dollar hotplate and a 40 dollar maverick. That's what's I can afford and that's what's got me started. You can start basic and build up your (CUSTOM) smoker by adding this or that. That's what I'm doing anyways. It was a lot of fun doing it too.