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Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
You will not learn anything useful about good barbecue from recipes in the back of women's magazines. Click here for pictures, diagrams and video!
PM's Mike Allen built this offset-firebox smoker in a weekend. It burns a combination of charcoal and hardwood to produce classic, slow-cooked barbecue.
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Retrieving stories...For more photos, construction details and Mike's secret dry-rub recipe, click here.
Barbecue, the traditional American style of cooking, is not to be confused with grilling, although the terms have become almost interchangeable in millions of American backyards. Steaks, burgers and hot dogs are grilled. True BBQ is a different art form altogether.
BBQ-style cooking developed largely in the American Southeast. People who couldn't afford the better cuts of meat were forced to consume tougher, fattier cuts like pork butt and beef brisket. The secret is to cook these cuts very slowly, over a duration of 4 to 6 hours or longer at temperatures near the boiling point of water. Two marvelous things happen when you slow-cook at low temperatures: The tough meat becomes flavorful and succulent, and the fat is rendered out, in sort of a self-basting. A fringe benefit is that the low, smoky fire leaves the aroma of smoke permeating the meat. I burn mostly oak, but my favorite is apple, when I can get it. Any fruit or citrus wood is good. Hickory makes everything taste like bacon, so I use it sparingly. Never use pine, any softwood or any finished lumber (like old furniture).
Don't confuse this low-temperature smoke cooking, which is the essence of BBQ, with cold smoking. Meat that's meant to be preserved by curing with salt or honey and low moisture is also smoked, but in that case the temperatures don't go above 100 F or so, and the smoking period is measured in days, not hours. A properly cured ham can hang at room temperature for months without spoiling--BBQ is meant to be enjoyed immediately.
[1] Lump-style charcoal [2] Firebox damper door [3] Firebox with tight-fitting door [4] Smoke chamber with chimney [5] Stainless steel grill [6] Seasoned oak and apple wood [7] Dinner—in about 4 hours
Traditional BBQ smoking is done in a brick pit, but there are all manner of commercial smokers on the market, ranging from very inexpensive sheetmetal water smokers to giant commercial-quality stainless steel contraptions the size of a small car (and costing almost as much). A good cook can make good BBQ in anything. I'm not even going to touch on the dry-rub-versus-mop debate, the ketchup-versus-vinegar-based BBQ sauce controversy, or whether to baste. I decided after years of working with a small water smoker--and recently acquiring a vacation house--to build one of my own. This project involves a lot of welding, which might seem daunting. Maybe, maybe not--I'm a certified welder, so it was easy for me. Several wire-feed welders are sold at The Home Depot and Sears, and you can learn to do simple welding with only an hour or two of practice. Salvaged materials will be fine for your smoker's frame. You can use old water pipe, rebar or even electrical conduit.
23. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I put a rolled-up sheet of newspaper into the bottom, a little kindling, a couple of logs, a layer of charcoal, another layer of wood another layer of charcoal. Touch a match to the paper through the damper at the bottom to light it. Leave the firebox door open for a few minutes to get going. It should burn for 6-12 hours without being replenished. If it does, I just dump in some more logs and a mess of charcoal. Do not use self-lighting charcoal unless you like your barbecue to taste like a candle. --Mike Allen
22. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Website: http://www.aaroncroft.com
I was really intrigued by your design. However I have one question that doesn't seem to be addressed. How does the firebox work? I would like to see a description of how to start it and feed it.
21. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Mike, Nice DIY project. You made it look so easy. I would like to recommend that ANYONE trying welding at a beginner stage, please remove any flammables around the welding area within a 15-20ft.area. The splatter can ignite just about anything. It's also recommended that you do not remove the safety guards off of any power tools! Please think safety first. When using a wire welder like Mike suggested, you can purchase a good MIG (Metal Insert Gas)welder with a resin core wire, no need for gas. Good Luck.
20. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Nice smoker/grill...I make the "Grill-n-Barrel"from a 55 gal drum, we guarantee flame control and if you ever burn out fire disk we give you another...see us cooking on you tube...Thanks for your interest in a not so technical an issue
19. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
How can I build a brick smoker.Can I have plans. What kind of wood for fish and ribs ? Thanks FABIO.
18. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Website: yahoo
It a very good idea to build up your own meat smoking machine, but one thing I've noticed is that it disturbs the ozone layer due to the smoke from it.
17. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
nice smoker .I bought one very similar for 160$ and it works great .Just seems like alott of work and money to have one like you can buy at walmart.I am concidering building one twice that size similar to yours because I never have enough room on mine ,i like to put the veggies and taters in tin foil the last 2 hours of cooking so as there is no mess in the house.plus i tent to have 20 cowboys and thier wifes over to eat after we ride
16. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Hello! Great sight! My dad just bought a antique fridge freezer with a steel inner lining. We are leaning toward going with an electric stove top burner. Have you ever done one like that?? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!!!
15. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
a+
14. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I would like a diagram to build a smoker
13. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I purchased a smoker from the hardware store that looks VERY much like yours (Not exactly though). The problem I am having is that whenever I build my fire in the fire box with coal. The wood chips want to tend to smother the coals out. I can't keep them lite. And if I build the fire with Hickory logs, I can't get the internal temp. to the meat chamber to exceed 100 degree's. Unless I build this huge fire with the flames rolling over my pit. Any ideas would help. Thanks.
12. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I love to BBQ, but I also love to smoke other items, so your comment that "Never use pine, any softwood.." caught me by surprise. I live in the NW, and some of the very best salmon I've ever had is smoked with or on cedar. Mmm. When I'm smoking my own, I use a mix of apple, alder, and cedar (about 60-30-10), and it winds up tasting exactly like the NW.
11. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Hi, I was thinking of using an old (gutted) gas bbq to build a smoker, just by attaching a fire box and chimeny to the side. Any suggestions on how I should go about doing this, or what I need to know about building a firebox?
10. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
be careful using old 40 gallon drums! you never know what might have been in them before!
9. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Looks good but i was thinking of something a little simpler. Im out in New Zealand and was thinkin a 40 gallon drum cut in half with a lid?. Also i dont think we have hickory out here. Any suggestions
8. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Great Looking smoker
7. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
i am from Creece and i want to make for my house a smoker to smoke beef sausages and pork thanks a lot
6. Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
hello, i am a true lover of smoked foods and i was wondering if i could build my very own simple smoking machine, non electric and easy to build.
5. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
want to build at lake front site--figure we are at the lake for the day and it would be fun
4. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I would like a diagram to build my own smoker
3. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
can i build a smoker from a water heater..enjoy your site here in texas..
2. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I would like a diagram to build my own smoker
1. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Is there any program out there that I could use to design my own smoker?
I put a rolled-up sheet of newspaper into the bottom, a little kindling, a couple of logs, a layer of charcoal, another layer of wood another layer of charcoal. Touch a match to the paper through the damper at the bottom to light it. Leave the firebox door open for a few minutes to get going. It should burn for 6-12 hours without being replenished. If it does, I just dump in some more logs and a mess of charcoal. Do not use self-lighting charcoal unless you like your barbecue to taste like a candle. --Mike Allen
22. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Website: http://www.aaroncroft.com
I was really intrigued by your design. However I have one question that doesn't seem to be addressed. How does the firebox work? I would like to see a description of how to start it and feed it.
21. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Mike, Nice DIY project. You made it look so easy. I would like to recommend that ANYONE trying welding at a beginner stage, please remove any flammables around the welding area within a 15-20ft.area. The splatter can ignite just about anything. It's also recommended that you do not remove the safety guards off of any power tools! Please think safety first. When using a wire welder like Mike suggested, you can purchase a good MIG (Metal Insert Gas)welder with a resin core wire, no need for gas. Good Luck.
20. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Nice smoker/grill...I make the "Grill-n-Barrel"from a 55 gal drum, we guarantee flame control and if you ever burn out fire disk we give you another...see us cooking on you tube...Thanks for your interest in a not so technical an issue
19. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
How can I build a brick smoker.Can I have plans. What kind of wood for fish and ribs ? Thanks FABIO.
18. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Website: yahoo
It a very good idea to build up your own meat smoking machine, but one thing I've noticed is that it disturbs the ozone layer due to the smoke from it.
17. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
nice smoker .I bought one very similar for 160$ and it works great .Just seems like alott of work and money to have one like you can buy at walmart.I am concidering building one twice that size similar to yours because I never have enough room on mine ,i like to put the veggies and taters in tin foil the last 2 hours of cooking so as there is no mess in the house.plus i tent to have 20 cowboys and thier wifes over to eat after we ride
16. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Hello! Great sight! My dad just bought a antique fridge freezer with a steel inner lining. We are leaning toward going with an electric stove top burner. Have you ever done one like that?? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!!!
15. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
a+
14. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I would like a diagram to build a smoker
13. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I purchased a smoker from the hardware store that looks VERY much like yours (Not exactly though). The problem I am having is that whenever I build my fire in the fire box with coal. The wood chips want to tend to smother the coals out. I can't keep them lite. And if I build the fire with Hickory logs, I can't get the internal temp. to the meat chamber to exceed 100 degree's. Unless I build this huge fire with the flames rolling over my pit. Any ideas would help. Thanks.
12. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I love to BBQ, but I also love to smoke other items, so your comment that "Never use pine, any softwood.." caught me by surprise. I live in the NW, and some of the very best salmon I've ever had is smoked with or on cedar. Mmm. When I'm smoking my own, I use a mix of apple, alder, and cedar (about 60-30-10), and it winds up tasting exactly like the NW.
11. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Hi, I was thinking of using an old (gutted) gas bbq to build a smoker, just by attaching a fire box and chimeny to the side. Any suggestions on how I should go about doing this, or what I need to know about building a firebox?
10. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
be careful using old 40 gallon drums! you never know what might have been in them before!
9. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Looks good but i was thinking of something a little simpler. Im out in New Zealand and was thinkin a 40 gallon drum cut in half with a lid?. Also i dont think we have hickory out here. Any suggestions
8. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Great Looking smoker
7. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
i am from Creece and i want to make for my house a smoker to smoke beef sausages and pork thanks a lot
6. Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
hello, i am a true lover of smoked foods and i was wondering if i could build my very own simple smoking machine, non electric and easy to build.
5. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
want to build at lake front site--figure we are at the lake for the day and it would be fun
4. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I would like a diagram to build my own smoker
3. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
can i build a smoker from a water heater..enjoy your site here in texas..
2. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
I would like a diagram to build my own smoker
1. RE: Build Your Own Backyard Smoker
Is there any program out there that I could use to design my own smoker?
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