Propane Smoker in a Wood Enclosure/Smoke House

[2Pork Sha-cure]

I have an outdoor wood fired pizza oven. Roughly 5 years ago I began building an wood enclosure "dog house" to keep the rain and snow off it. The residual moisture was causing it to crack. Making a long story short, I bailed on the project and have had a giant wooden dog house taking up space in my garage for 5 years.

I have a very basic cabinet propane smoker that I use pretty regularly. If isn't the best cooking device when the weather is cold or wet, and I live in Ohio so I get all 4 seasons. I had an epiphany a week or so ago that I could flip the dog house on its end, put doors and a back plane on it, and put my smoker inside. I put casters on the underside so it scoots around easily. I was hoping someone might have tried something similar and save me from making some mistakes as I move to the next steps. My questions/comments are -

* The "roof" isn't sloped, so even if I seal it with a decent stain/paint it'll probably let water pool and might be a problem. You think so too?
* Do I need to install a chimney? I assume, yes. If so, will I need to cut into the smoker cabinet to mount it? There seem to be a lot of right angle chimney options available, but not so many vertical ones.
* I'm not sure I need to insulate the inside? The wood is pretty thick and it seems it should be a good insulator on its own?

If anyone had any thoughts on how to make this a functional smokehouse I'd be grateful for the input!

 

[indaswamp]

No input on your build....just dropped in to say welcome to SMF and I like your online name! LOL!!!

 

[BigW.]

Good idea to repurpose the box. Should help keep temps steady in the winter winds for sure. Where is the vent on the smoker? Not sure a chimney is a must, but smoke needs to escape somehow. Either a hole, chimney or removable roof? Put a hinge on the roof so you can open it a few inches for exhaust? If the smoker ever has a flame out, propane accumulating inside the box is a concern.

 

[JckDanls 07]

Your also gonna need an intake vent as the propane burner needs oxygen to mix with the propane for a clean burn If your going to close the smokehouse up tight while cooking...

 

[sandyut]

Welcome to SMF from Colorado! Sorry no clue about your question, sorry.

 

[2Pork Sha-cure]

Good idea to repurpose the box. Should help keep temps steady in the winter winds for sure. Where is the vent on the smoker? Not sure a chimney is a must, but smoke needs to escape somehow. Either a hole, chimney or removable roof? Put a hinge on the roof so you can open it a few inches for exhaust? If the smoker ever has a flame out, propane accumulating inside the box is a concern.

Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate it.

There is a rotating disk-type vent on the top-center of the cabinet. If I cut a hole in the wood above it I can probably drop a pipe in it, with a top cover. I'll just need to find one with a damper. I think a hinge would be a lot of work (sawing) now that it's all screwed together. Would have been a good idea 5 years ago though. :-)

 

[2Pork Sha-cure]

Your also gonna need an intake vent as the propane burner needs oxygen to mix with the propane for a clean burn If your going to close the smokehouse up tight while cooking...

Good point. I'll put a screened hole at the bottom. Maybe 2.5" diameter?

 

[Fraser]

Propane/LNG + enclosed space = bad idea.
Ever see someone light a gasser with the lid down? Makes bbq more exciting than supposed to be.

 

[sandyut]

Propane/LNG + enclosed space = bad idea.
Ever see someone light a gasser with the lid down? Makes bbq more exciting than supposed to be.

Valid point!

 

[OldSmoke]

Propane/LNG + enclosed space = bad idea.

Many of these units don’t have a thermocouple to shut off the gas if the flame goes out. Inside of a box, well you can imagine the rest. Get the right fuel/air mixture, relight it, and it could level your house.

 

[2Pork Sha-cure]

Well...the last few posts are certainly a buzz-kill. Guess I'll need to re-evaluate.

Very appreciative of everyone's feedback.

 

[Fraser]

Just trying to keep you safe. And not homeless.

 

[JRC]

Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate it.

There is a rotating disk-type vent on the top-center of the cabinet. If I cut a hole in the wood above it I can probably drop a pipe in it, with a top cover. I'll just need to find one with a damper. I think a hinge would be a lot of work (sawing) now that it's all screwed together. Would have been a good idea 5 years ago though. :-)

I am considering a box around my upright smoker to stabilize the temperature swings in the winter and for those breezy days.

On my upright I removed the top vent cover/adjuster and run the top vent wide-open. The two vent holes on the top are so small they don't do much to help regulate things.

I stack a piece for 6" x 24" duct pipe over the hole. The stuff you buy in flat at the hardware store and push the seams together. I don't even bother to bolt it down. I sit it on top. I could drive a sheet metal screw or two I guess. You could drill a 6" hole in your box and stick the pipe through.

 

[JRC]

I am very happy with my upright propane smoker.

Here's my two cents on upright propane smokers being bombs in the waiting on flame-out. True.

If there is a flame-out and there are embers in the wood tray you have a bomb on your hands waiting for oxygen......like opening the door.

In my mind the equation doesn't change much building a box around it, as long as the front of the box remains open. No doors on the front of the box.

I would be fine running my upright propane smoker as you have it in the picture. Even with a closed in back. As long as the front remains open and a 6" stack is in place on top.

Aside from that, use common sense when you have a flame-out on a propane smoker and shut the valve until things air-out a little.

 

[2Pork Sha-cure]

Thanks for offering your thoughts. I'm kicking around doing something as you've proposed. I may create a 4-door front, where 2 top doors are smaller (maybe 25% of the area). And the bottom two are 75%. I'd run the smoker with the top ones open. This might provide sufficient shielding from the elements while in use, and enough ventilation in the event of a burner fault. I would probably also drill a couple 2" holes in the bottom sides, with a metal screen (to keep animals out). Since propane is heavier than air they'd provide an exit path for the gas.