Smoke house do's and don'ts

[boats0001]

As stated in the roll call forum, I am from Botswana and busy building an outdoor kitchen. Have got no idea about smoking or building a smoker but have found very nice ideas and tips here. Had my own restaurant and just love making food. The smoker will be build out of bricks on the concept of the wood panel smokers I have seen here with two doors and mainly used for hot smoking but was thinking of building a fire box as well for cold smoking ( not sure if it will work). Would like to be able to use gas as well as wood for the heat source. I would like information on what to look out for “do’s and don’ts” when building the smoker like

• the vents, what size it must be and where it must be located,
• the shape of the roof "does it play a roll",
• the chimney "the size of the chimney and where it must be fitted"
• and so on.

 

[mballi3011]

If you look in the wiki section you will find a build sectio in ther and that should give you alot of info on your soon to have new smoke house.

 

[solaryellow]

As stated in the roll call forum, I am from Botswana and busy building an outdoor kitchen. Have got no idea about smoking or building a smoker but have found very nice ideas and tips here. Had my own restaurant and just love making food. The smoker will be build out of bricks on the concept of the wood panel smokers I have seen here with two doors and mainly used for hot smoking but was thinking of building a fire box as well for cold smoking ( not sure if it will work). Would like to be able to use gas as well as wood for the heat source. I would like information on what to look out for “do’s and don’ts” when building the smoker like

• the vents, what size it must be and where it must be located,
• the shape of the roof "does it play a roll",
• the chimney "the size of the chimney and where it must be fitted"
• and so on.

Just my opinion, but I would start with the materials you are going to use to build it. They have to be able to withstand the temperatures and the temperature changes (expansion and contraction) that you will put the smokehouse through.

By vents, I am assuming you mean air intake(s)/inlet(s). How big of a smokehouse are you planning on building? Go a bit bigger than you think you will need and make it adjustable. In order for them to be effective though the smokehouse will need to be sealed up fairly well.

The roof shape is pretty minor but heat and smoke rises. If it were me building a smokehouse of any significant size I would do a roof shaped like /\ and put the chimney at the top.

Chimney size is going to depend on the size of your smokehouse. Chimney size and length will affect the draft assuming the smokehouse doesn't leak much.

 

[boats0001]

Decided to give it a go, have extended the patio, done the foundation, slab and build up till the working top. Smoker will be build with two doors the bottom one for the fire pot and above the working top a bigger door for access to hang the meat. 

 

[SmokinAl]

WOW! That looks like a great start!

 

[scarbelly]

Man that is going to be a beauty - and you did all that in a weekend. That is amazing ! 

 

[vikingboy6956]

oh my........

 

[alelover]

That is going to be sweet.

 

[boats0001]

Took me two weeks to get this far, did it during the December holidays, cant find any fire bricks or the right type of cement here for the pizza oven and its back to work so the progress going to be slow from now on. Busy with the boundary wall and garage as well. I love this forum cant wait to try some of the recipes and idees posted here.

 

[boats0001]

Eventually had some time to do a bit of work, but still a long way to go

 

[joshrichards]

Looking great!

 

[brdprey]

wow looks like your off and running, keep us up todate

 

[alelover]

Looking great.