Due to some circumstances I found myself without a smoker and decided to build one. After many hours of doing research I decided to build a vertical smoker using cinder blocks as a main building material. This would give me plenty of insulation, making it easier to keep my temps up during the cold Ohio winters. I started by digging down to 34 inches and pouring a footer to build on, I did not get any pictures of this. I then built up on that using cinder blocks, and then poured my cement pad to build the smoker on.
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I used some cinder blocks to get a feel of how big I wanted to build it.
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Then I started building using the cinder block and high heat mortar.
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A look down inside the build.
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Cinder blocks done and the bottom lined with firebrick.
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Firebrick done, starting with red brick the rest of the way up.
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Inside brick work finished, for now. In the spring I will take the bricks the rest of the way to the top, trying to get it usable this year and the temps here are getting colder.
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Using a cedar door for now, it should work till spring when it will get replaced by a steel door or something as good.
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After a very long and hard wait the first fire.
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The firebox door is in and looking good.
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The racks are done and ready.
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Ready for smoking some food!
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So that is my little UglyBox. The plan is in the spring I am going to finish the bricks inside the rest of the way up. Then use large flat stones to finish off the outside. I have smoked several items on it already and forgot to get pictures, but will be doing many more smokes on it and will get some loaded. Still doing some tweeks to make it run a bit better but so far so good.
Please feel free to give me any feed back you might have I am open to some constructive criticism.
View media item 435533
I used some cinder blocks to get a feel of how big I wanted to build it.
View media item 435529
Then I started building using the cinder block and high heat mortar.
View media item 435526
A look down inside the build.
View media item 435530
View media item 435521
Cinder blocks done and the bottom lined with firebrick.
View media item 435522
Firebrick done, starting with red brick the rest of the way up.
View media item 435523
Inside brick work finished, for now. In the spring I will take the bricks the rest of the way to the top, trying to get it usable this year and the temps here are getting colder.
View media item 435519
Using a cedar door for now, it should work till spring when it will get replaced by a steel door or something as good.
View media item 435520
After a very long and hard wait the first fire.
View media item 435527
The firebox door is in and looking good.
View media item 435525
View media item 435524
The racks are done and ready.
View media item 435534
Ready for smoking some food!
View media item 435531
So that is my little UglyBox. The plan is in the spring I am going to finish the bricks inside the rest of the way up. Then use large flat stones to finish off the outside. I have smoked several items on it already and forgot to get pictures, but will be doing many more smokes on it and will get some loaded. Still doing some tweeks to make it run a bit better but so far so good.
Please feel free to give me any feed back you might have I am open to some constructive criticism.