I need help building a smoker!!

[jkpotillo]

My mom and I decided we want to build our own side box smoker and i have been searching online for blueprints and any help and i cant find anything good.  does anyone have suggestions on where to get plans for a side box smoker or know of anyone that can help.

 

[rbranstner]

I know there is a calculator around here somewhere that will help you will figuring out how big your fire box needs to be  with what ever size cooking chamber you have.

 

[daveomak]

jkpotillo, afternoon and welcome to the forum.....  You have landed in the right place for smoking information.... great folks with great ideas and they are willing to help....   Your new found hobby will probably turn into an obsession... enjoy the long smokey ride....

There are many tools here to help you in your endeavor of building a smoker.... I have linked a few usefull tools to help you out (maybe)...

The first link is to our section on smoker builds... the 2nd link is about theory ( why stuff is done in certain ways)

3-4-5 & link 6 are builds that members have done..... There are so many and they are all unique to their builders....

The last link is a calculator.... it is necessary to get a good start....  Determine your smoking chamber and it tells you what the rest of your smoker needs to come close to as far as dimensions for the critical parts..  some final adjustments may need to be made, but they will be close....  A fellow smoker called "alien" I do believed develope it.... It is a very handy tool....

Figuring out where to start is the hard part... probably what to use for the smoking chamber is a good place to start....  Search the forum for ideas and then start another thread asking questions so we can help....  

All of this may be overwhelming.... probably necessary to get a satisfactory build.. There are so many skilled folks here to help, it is amazing.....   enjoy the reading.....   Dave   

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/f/197/smoker-builds

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/54542/building-an-italian-offset-smoker/20

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/104220/my-new-build  - I love this smoker by rubbinbutts... if I was younger, I would build one....

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/106876/new-build-finally-finished- part #2

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/104979/rear-facing-reverse-flow-barbecue-trailer  - A great build by spankerchief

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/...-2-almost-ready-to-mount-the-handwashing-sink  ---solaryellow built this one and it was almost free.....lol

http://www.feldoncentral.com/bbqcalculator.html  - This is a calculator to help with dimensions and proper air flow....