I was able to do this in one day, between Target and Lowes. I went to Target and bought a stainless steel cocktail shaker. I looked at a bunch of other stainless stuff, like coffee mugs. However, they were insulated and I wanted a single layer of stainless. Then I bought everything else at Lowes.
I drilled a 1/2" hole in the middle of the bottom of the cup (that is really hard stuff!). I then bought a stainless bathtub drain screen to provide some room between the inside of the hole and the burning woodchips.
I then took a 3/4" T-fitting, a 4" piece of pipe, and the hose reducer thing (selected because the inner diameter was just enough to allow a small copper tubing to slide in and out. There was a little space left, but I found some small o-rings in the bathroom faucet isle which are PERFECT to seal the small tube inside the reducer.
I mounted the t-fitting to the top of the shaker lid (after popping out the shaker lid screen). There are many ways to do this with a large washer on the inside, or by welding a plug to the cap and drilling a 3/4" hole. Once the cap is assembled, it is really done.
To operate, I took a piece of charcoal and heated it up on the burner of my outdoor grill (5 minutes max). I then took the cup, made sure the bathroom drain screen was in place in the bottom, and I dropped the charcoal into the bottom. Then I filled the cup with dry woodchips (haven't tried anything else yet), put the cap on, and turned on the aquarium pump I use to keep baitfish alive on my dock. Now I had to slide the copper tubing back and forth to find the "sweet spot" which allowed a venturi effect to pull the smoke out the large diameter tube. Once I found it, I sat back for three hours and watched it go.
Very simple design and assembly which works beautifully.Tonight I will be mounting it to my new 40" MES and I will be in business.
I hope this helps.
Semper Fi,
Bob
