Where to place vents?

[Nermin]

Hello friends,

I am currently building a smoke house. I wanted to ask for your thoughts on where to place the vents. The two ideas i have, is to place them front under the roof or on the side between the rafters. I have about 3.5 inch x 14 inch gap there that i could utilize? Lastly how many are needed for cold smoking. I was thinking of just putting in one that is about 3.5 x 10 in. Thank you for your help.

-Nermin

 

[Winterrider]

My larger 3x3x7 smoker I have 1 1\4"vent holes down on bottom right and 3" vent hole top left to provide good airflow throughout.

My door does not seal tight so your application maybe different.

 

[SmokinEdge]

What will you be using for a smoke/heat source?

 

[Nermin]

What will you be using for a smoke/heat source?

I will be using little fire box/grill that will be on the side of the smoker attached by a 4in x 4ft pipe.

 

[Winterrider]

Is that strictly a cold smoker unit ?

Edit: whoops missed your last post.

 

[SmokinEdge]

I will be using little fire box/grill that will be on the side of the smoker attached by a 4in x 4ft pipe.

Not sure of your location and altitude but personally I would put a vent in each of the gable ends. These can be something close to 4x10, make sure they are screened on the back side and I would opt for style that can be closed or adjusted. That way you can control the draft. If cold smoking only draft isn’t as big of an issue but you still may have to deal with humidity or moisture so more exhaust capability is better than less.

 

[Nermin]

Thank you i have noted that down.

 

[JckDanls 07]

I agree on the gable ends and being adjustable...

I would also rethink the pipe size coming from firebox... 4" is gonna be a little restrictive... I would do a 6" or even an 8" ...

 

[SmokinEdge]

I agree on the gable ends and being adjustable...

I would also rethink the pipe size coming from firebox... 4" is gonna be a little restrictive... I would do a 6" or even an 8" ...

I agree Keith, but with his description of his firebox as a “small grill” I am imagining something like a smoky Joe. But not sure of the “firebox”

 

[JckDanls 07]

Yea... The OP didn't specify if it's going to be a cold/warm smokehouse... Or a hot smokehouse

Edit to say.. I reread the OP... He does say for cold smoking... For that I would say even the more reason for a bigger pipe... When cold smoking the air/smoke travel slow as there is no big heat draft to suck it on through... So any restrictions/friction is going to hamper the results... IMO ...

 

[Nermin]

Hello all...thank you for your suggestions. To answer few questions...this will be a cold smokehouse. I plan on using this firebox for fire see here Link. It has a port on the side that can be opened. I plan to slightly modify it so i can fit a pipe to it and then send it to smokehouse.

I finished siding and doors today. Tomorrow i plan to finish the roof, and finally attach the fire box to it. Hopefully by end of week i can do test run and see how the smoke is circulating.

I am in Midwest and we got high 83F today...unreal. Waiting for the temps to go into 40s which should not be to long.