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.

 

[ihuntbear]

what are you people using for recipes.Some people say to put a rub on the meat and some say inject it but no body wants to share recipes ( secret sause )

 

[XxLT250RxX]

If you have not found this place you have got to check it out. Everything you ever wanted to know about smoking.



SmokingMeatForums.com - Smoker and smoking meat forums and reviews

 

[CharlieS]

probably one of the best sites about smoking is Amazing Ribs

As for the injection/rub controversy it all depends on what is being smoked and the desired result. I find when smoked properly injection isn't necessary to keep food moist though we all have our own techniques.
Learn the basic's and master them. Keep good records so something successful can be repeated or adapted.
Spend the cash on an accurate thermometer or two will be the best investment you can make.
I"d be concerned about wall thickness of a water tank. something that thin won't hold heat well and will be affected more by weather conditions and temp. holding ability. The firebox particularly would be prone to eventual burnthrough.
As for recipies, many people have worked for years to perfect their techniques, and guard them well.

 

[Mean Jean]

One of my favorite way to prepare ribs is adding a nice layer of your favorite rub then let them sit in Dijon Mustard for a day.
Easy and delicious.

 

[TheKid]

I haven't built one from scratch, but I added on to the one I picked up at an estate sale a few years ago. I used a little more than half of a 50 Gallon water heater. The add on is just used for low temperature smoking. When it's cold out I can keep the temperature under 60 which is good for smoking cheese.

The grates and water pan from my old Brinkman bullet smoker are a perfect fit.

 

[ihuntbear]

the one i'm building is of many designs.When the heat leaves the fire box it runs through the bottom of the smoker under a 1/4 inch plate to the other end then goes over the meat and exits at the other side through the smoke stack..cant wait to try it out ... the recipes look good

 

[GregbkH]

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.

That's got to taste heavenly! :licking:

 

[Canada_CT230]

I think the other poster mentioned "glass lined tank". He is correct. ALL water tanks are lined inside with a porclean glass coating to prevent corrosion. Yes, the outside is steel and fibreglass and a thin metal jacket.

If you plan on cutting / welding the tank then you will have issues with the coating. If you are not touching it then your fine. If you can drink water out of it then it would be ok for smoking.

 

[NC tractor driver]

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.

+1 on the Ugly Drum Smoker. I built mine last year and have smoked quite a few dinners ever since.

 

[ihuntbear]

so far I cut the holes for the doors,welded the hinges on ,welded the fire box to the smoker box and welded the legs on..no glass liner just steel....maybe thats why they have to replace them every five years or so because of leak from rust