Cedar smokehouse construction

[atcnick]

I started construction on a new smokehouse several weeks ago. Its going slow, never seem to have enough time to work on it. Im making it out of ceder, it will sit on a row or 2 of cinder blocks and have a seperate firebox with smoke/heat piped in. My plan is to have this function as a hot smoker AND a cold smoker when I need it.   It will be similar in design to Cowgirl's smokehouse.

Here's what I have so far.

CC990DC2-611E-4E5E-B67D-64B45B120F61-2429-00000166

• atcnick
• Nov 15, 2012

5D80AC2C-24D7-4D29-8313-CC208CF3FE83-2429-00000166

• atcnick
• Nov 15, 2012

19780095-9694-4A9B-B231-8C456B366E8B-2429-00000165

• atcnick
• Nov 15, 2012

 

[bama bbq]

NIce start.

 

[oldschoolbbq]

Nice, looks like it's gonna be an eye catcher...good work and good luck on the rest of the project.

Stan, have fun and...

 

[daveomak]

Nick, evening,.... that is a nice size smoke chamber....   before you set it on the blocks, add another plate on the bottom made from treated lumber... and think about overlapping the butt joints on the existing plate....   concrete holds moisture and a bottom plate of treated will extend the life of your smoker....    Dave

 

[atcnick]

Dave, good idea on the treated wood.  What exactly is an overlapping butt joint?   Is that the same as a half lap joint?

 

[daveomak]

Overlap the existing joint..... where the front board ends at the side board, make the new front board long enough to go all the way to the side...  More support that way......  You might do the same on the top plate for support when moving to the block base....  

 

[atcnick]

Gotcha. Thanks

 

[gmc2003]

I agree with the overlapping for added strength, but if you are using cedar 2x4's the natural oils in the cedar will prevent rotting all by itself. I would be hesitant using the treated lumber anywhere near food and heat. Looks like a great start to your smokehouse.

chris
 

 

[atcnick]

06E6DF12-9533-49D0-B5D9-0E1F37EB74B4-8697-0000052E

• atcnick
• Nov 21, 2012

3389994E-ED24-4D86-806B-260893C02611-8697-0000052E

• atcnick
• Nov 21, 2012

 

[diesel]

I think that looks great.  Can't wait to see the finished product.  Keep up the picts of the steps if you will.  I have been working myself up to building a smoke house and also using cowgirl's design.

thanks for the post.

aaron

 

[atcnick]

I think that looks great.  Can't wait to see the finished product.  Keep up the picts of the steps if you will.  I have been working myself up to building a smoke house and also using cowgirl's design.



thanks for the post.



aaron

You bet!


-Nick

 

[pit 4 brains]

That's really gonna be a great smokehouse.

Now I have a thought that may be considered. Those planks of sheathing are going to contract after a while and you will have "gun slots" in between each one. You may want to rabbet the edges of the planks so that they overlap each other. You can even incorporate a tongue and groove on one surface of the rabbet for added sealing. The rabbets will also help in shedding water out of the grooves. If you can find ship-lap cedar planks that are untreated, they would work and look awesome. Give that baby a nice coat of linseed oil on the outside every spring and fall and it will weather for years.. 

 

[atcnick]

9A31CE02-98E2-4505-B33D-456FEEC95E44-11122-0000070

• atcnick
• Nov 24, 2012

DBC4D075-E5C4-41A3-B307-BC63015A21D4-11122-0000070

• atcnick
• Nov 24, 2012

936DC83A-D210-4576-A855-CE333BA0D689-11122-0000070

• atcnick
• Nov 24, 2012

7ED6E70A-3B4D-4979-B6A3-5911FFE7EC07-11122-0000070

• atcnick
• Nov 24, 2012

B19A3647-4E9C-4A4D-8520-3A2C80720C78-11122-0000070

• atcnick
• Nov 24, 2012

I've got half the cinder block resting on the black stove pipe.  Im not sure of a better way to support the cinder block.  Any ideas guys?

 

[atcnick]

Im trying to decide whether or not I should put a ceiling inside the smokehouse at the base of the angled roof Im going to build. It would be less area to heat, but not sure if that would make that much of a difference.

 

[atcnick]

I decided to add a lintel over the pipe and mortar the blocks. This is my first try at masonry. I have decided I do no like it. Lol.


-Nick

 

[hdflame]

I decided to add a lintel over the pipe and mortar the blocks. This is my first try at masonry. I have decided I do no like it. Lol.
-Nick

I've always wanted to be able to do masonry but was always intimidated to try.  I've watched it done a lot, just never got up the nerve.  You have given me the encouragement to give it a try!  I like your build.  Are you going to put the fire box in the ground or just keep it ground level?  Keep us posted with pics!

 

[atcnick]

Question for the experts, how long do you should I make the black stove pipe from the firebox to the smokehouse?   Im planning on hot smoking up to about 180F and also cold smoke by installing one or two dampers in the pipe to help regulate temps when cold smoking.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[daveomak]

For cold smoking, you might think of the AMNPS....  A true cold smoker using fire, runs the pipe underground for up to 30'...  Usually in clay tile and has a "tee" in the pipe at the firebox so the heat goes up and smoke is sucked into the smoker using natural draft...  With a fire at 700-1000 deg, a pipe just won't get rid of the heat adequately...    Dave

 

[atcnick]

Thanks Dave. Amnps will be a last resort for me. I really think I can control the temps low enough with dampers and fire size. I know it's not the easiest way to do it.

 

[atcnick]

I've always wanted to be able to do masonry but was always intimidated to try.  I've watched it done a lot, just never got up the nerve.  You have given me the encouragement to give it a try!  I like your build.  Are you going to put the fire box in the ground or just keep it ground level?  Keep us posted with pics!

It was something new for sure. I watched a few YouTube videos before I started. It's not as easy as they make it seem that's for sure. One thing I learned is the importance of a good level foundation to start on. I didn't do that and it made it difficult.