Cheap Building Plans

[firefighter bbq]

I'm new to this so I wanna find a cheap way to make a portable smoker. I helped a buddy finish his up and he said it was real expensive. Any suggestions on where to start without buying one?

 

[diggingdogfarm]

An UDS can be pretty darn cheap.
You could also get Lowes' charcoal smoker ($59 last I checked) and modify that.


~Martin

 

[firefighter bbq]

I've looked into that. What's a good layout for it if I wanna use wood for smoke?

 

[firefighter bbq]

Or is charcoal a better idea?

 

[vayank5150]

I have the $69 Master Forge UDS you have probably seen.  I have another probably $40 tied up in "mods" that I found here on the forums.  Just type "Brinkmann mods" in the search bar and follow those.  I still am having difficulty controlling my smoker temps, but trial and error are getting me closer.  I use charcoal and the charcoal pan (after grate addition) doesn't leave a whole lot of room for wood, but check it out and see if you can make it work and let us know how it goes, please!

 

[ironhorse07]

Not sure what you mean by portable, but you cant beat the mini WSM for a cheap, portable, good smoker.

 

[Dutch]

Firefighter, We really need more info to go on in order to help you out. 

1-By portable, do you mean something that you can toss in the back of a truck or something that you tow behind the truck?

2-How many people are you planning on feeding at a time?

3-When you say you want to use wood, what kind of wood? chips, chunks or splits.

4-In any unit that you can burn wood, you can also use charcoal.  In my Lang, I primaraily use wood splits but I have used Lump Charcoal on a couple of occaions.

5-And the BIG questions is -What is your budget.

As for cheapest, it's a toss up between the ElCheapo type smokers (also known as Water Smoker for the big ol water pan they use and a build yourself Ugly Drum Smoker.

 

[firefighter bbq]

Dutch, something I can toss into my truck. Its sounds like the UDS is the way to go to start out then later move up to something bigger. And not too many people, just the fam or the guys at work. And I was thinking somewhere around where VaYank has spent

 

[michael ark]

look up bigbabby smokers.

 

[michael ark]

look up bigbabby smokers.

 

[jimf]

UDS is the way to go.  I made mine for $150.  It can be cheaper if you can find donor 22" Webers on Craigslist

 

[firefighter bbq]

With UDS is there a specific way they have to be built?

 

[rabbithutch]

Search here for "mini WSM".

It is a Weber Smokey Joe 14.5" kettle used with a tamale steamer with the bottom cut out to make the cooking chamber. A Smokey Joe sells at Lowes for $30 but you might find one for cheap on Craigs List. The tamale steamer can be had a Wal*Mart for $20. Get some cooking grates for the Smokey Joe at Lowes or Home Depot and a few screws. You can do the whole thing for under a hundred bucks AND it makes a great little smoker but the mods don't mean you can't use it to grill, too.