meat smoker

[ihuntbear]

any of you guys ever build a meat smoker.I started building one yesterday.I picked up a 60 gal and a 40 gal hot water heater at the salvage yard.The 60 gal one will be where the meat goes and the 40 gal one cut in half will be the fire box.Should be completed by the week end then i'll be looking for recipes:licking::licking:

 

[NormL]

any of you guys ever build a meat smoker.I started building one yesterday.I picked up a 60 gal and a 40 gal hot water heater at the salvage yard.The 60 gal one will be where the meat goes and the 40 gal one cut in half will be the fire box.Should be completed by the week end then i'll be looking for recipes:licking::licking:

And we'll be looking for photos:thumbsup: and free samples:licking::licking:

 

[mroldstyle]

Your using a "hot" water tank?

 

[ihuntbear]

yup using hot water tanks.Thought about using propane tanks but didn't like the smell and didnt think it would be good for the meat.The tanks are 1/8 thick so they should work

 

[E/S]

Water heaters are glass lined, how are you going to handle that ?

E/S

 

[RPW]

A friend of mine built a smoker out of an old 500gal fuel tank. It hadn't had any fuel in it for years and was open to the elements. Tank is about 1/4 wall. Firebox is made out of 3/16 and 1/4 in. plate (1/4 in on the bottom). After fabricating built a V E R Y hot fire in it with oak. Let that burn for several hours. Did that about 3 or 4 years ago and it has done a great job of smoking meat. BTW we built it vertical to be different and it turns out do do a better job than the ones that are horizontal.

Good luck.

 

[tlbuser]

buggyman1 built a neat one for his outdoor kitchen, different approach
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/212108-outdoor-kitchen-17.html

 

[ihuntbear]

the tanks here are made of steel only..steel tank has aluminum cover with fiber insulation .Just remove the outer layer and fiber insulation .then start cutting and welding

 

[Mean Jean]

A 60 gallon steel drum makes a fine smoker as well.
Folks call it an "Ugly Drum Smoker"
Lots of pictures and info available online.

Make sure to add atleast 1 thermometer near the grill.
200 degrees fahrenheit is a good bench mark for smoking.

Try smoking a steak.
The first time I read that I thought...
"That's stupid, grilling is the only way to go".
I was wrong.
it tastes like angels would taste.

 

[duckhunter27]

I made one out of a 55 gal steel barrel last summer they call them UDS. I love it have smoked everything i can think of on it works great and was very easy to make.