newbie needing input and suggestions

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mrpogi71

Newbie
Original poster
Apr 1, 2010
22
10
in the nati!!
hello membership. new to the forum. and have some question. as most newbies do. just recently, i was laid off. and got bored. so i was surfing on you tube. and stumbled upon home made smokers! being the tattooed trailer trash i am. i found the whole concept of smoking meat, shall we say intriguing! granted , i have heard of the concept. just never outta a old fridge or propane tank let alone filing cabinet! yes, i have come across the drum grill even saw a trash can grill. enough with the small talk. so here are my Q's

1) i'm wondering what is the best source of delivering heat? wood,electric or gas and of course charcoal?

2) being this will be my first smoker. does the membership think a 4 draw file cabinet, would be a good candidate for a starter smoker. i have access to one. and the varies parts need to customize to my liken an needs.

thanks for any input or help.
 
Welcome to smf, I'm a newbie also, as far as a file cabinet, why not, as long as you can get it to seal properly, as far as fuel source, I;m new, and I have a gosm propane vertical smoker, and I love it, but I'm sure the best smoked food will come from a wood/charcoal smoker, I like the gas, cause I don't have to babysit my smoker.
 
thanks Beer-B-Q. i'm not going to be smoking any large cuts of meat . rump roast or butts at the most. mainly steak,sausages and chicken. and of course ribs!!thanks for the thread.

northern greenhorn, thanks for your input an welcome. i am leaning towards propane. just something about electric ! cant control the heat!!

figure i have 2 draws for grills and the others 2 as hanging space for links and sausages. again thanks for the input
 
Hello and welcome to the SMF. I moved your thread to roll call, so that everyone will have the chance to say hello. It's all good my friend.
 
What a great intro!
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You know Myron Mixon will sell you a trash can smoker for about $450 I think the price was.

I have heard certain filing cabinets will work, have a few big old metal cabinets I was going to try turning into a smoker but never got around to it.
Try the link Beer-B-Q posted and see whatcha think.
 
Welcome to SMF Mrpog. It sounds like you have some very interesting ideas there. Don't forget to take pictures & post some qviews. Especially if you are going to actually build that filing cabinet smoker. I would love to see that in action.
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Oh Miss Johnson. Could you get me the Hardy file please? It's right above that "Pulled Pork" in the second drawer. Thank you.
 
Welcome to SMF glad you decided to join us. I think if I was starting out right now I'd have to look at building a UDS they are pretty easy to build and they perform pretty good we have lots of members using them heres a link to the UDS Build section

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...play.php?f=199
 
Q # 1, I would think gas or electric (maybe too low of an element) , fire aka wood or charcoal would become too hot for the thinner metal. Maybe a fire proof one?

Q # 2, 2 to 3 doors would do better, I think.

Loved the earlier post on one done, Thanks!!
 
first off thanks for all the warm welcomes...

the uds sounds cool, but i don't have a drum. however, have a file cabinet.
i will use a propane burner. i might remove the cover. and make a solid door. not certain as of yet..once again i want to thank for the warm to thanks for the warm welcome.
 
My brother made a smoker out of an old file cabinet. With a $9.99 hot plate, old cast iron pan and wood chips, he made up some pretty good food.

Gotta Start Somewhere!


Welcome!



Todd
 
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