The little smokehouse (DONE)!

[gersus]

Why didn't I do this sooner? 

First off, thanks to everyone who has posted their builds. 

There just isn't enough room in my MES30 to adequately hang sausage, IMO. I don't smoke a lot though either so I decided to build a smokehouse that is quite a bit bigger than my MES but not overkill either. 

I was having a hard time deciding on materials. I was wanting to use materials I already have layin around. I have plenty of OSB but I'm just not so sure about the glue... and I didn't want to spend a lot on new materials. So I did some figuring and thought I had enough or close to enough short 2x4's in the shed to probably do the whole thing with. So that's what I did.

I decided on 33'' wide by 30'' deep by 4' tall, outside measurements. 

The bottom ''layer'' of 2x4's is treated. It's below heat level and I had the treated in the garage so I figured it couldn't hurt. I then cut a piece of 1/2'' OSB for the floor. I'm covering it in ceramic tile. 

I then nailed together layers of the 2x4's until I got the height I wanted. I ended up adding an extra layer so its a bit over 4' tall at the peak. 

I went to Lowe's this morning and bought hinges, fire caulk, a grill grate, ceramic tile, a new forstner bit since mine was getting dull. 

It all went well. The day flew by though. Going to side it with plywood grooved panel siding that I had leftover from building my kids' fort. Oh, and have to install the chimney and lots of other stuff too.

I'm going to add sheetmetal to the roof when I get to our farm where we have some scrap.

I haven't decided yet on a heat source... I'll probably buy the Northern Tool burner Pops uses, but am tempted to build a pipe burner. If I had an orifice/venturi I would. 

 

[big casino]

I'm not sure If I read you right but did I see that you used treated lumber? If so I think you might be making a mistake there, treated lumber is full of chemicals and arsenic the heat from the smoke house even at low temps may cause them to be released poisoning your food

 

[solaryellow]

I would be a bit concerned about the treated lumber as well. Looks good though!

 

[alblancher]

Well as long as the treated does not get hot or wet you should be fine.  But I think it is important that it stays out of the smoker.   Like the way you made use of what you had that great!  Looking for your first Qview with your new smoker

 

[gersus]

The treated is not in the smoker. It's underneath the bottom OSB layer, where it will contact the concrete blocks I'm going to sit it on. There is no treated lumber in the area where it could get hot or warm and potentially release chemicals. 

Thanks for your concern though!

 

[big casino]

nice!  good luck with your heat source which ever you decide to go with

 

[hoity toit]

I was thinking about building one using old pallets. Do you think that wood has any bad stuff in it..Most are oak I think but dont know if they have any bad stuff in them.

 

[gersus]

The pallets I see around here are just rough cut pine. They build them as cheap as possible so treating them with chemicals is unlikely. It would work to use for a smoker but you would be pulling A LOT of staples!

I worked on my smokehouse again yesterday. I was hoping to get it pretty much finished except for the heat source. That didn't happen. I spent longer than anticipated on the foundation. It's done and level though so thats all that matters I guess. Did some little stuff to the house itself. Cut the chimney hole and fitted it, cut hole for intake vent, cut front piece of siding and installed temporarily. I'm going to remove that front piece of siding until we move it to its foundation. This thing is heavier than I expected...... moving it isn't going to be fun. After its sitting on the foundation I'll install the siding, roof, and ceramic tile inside. 

I just now ordered the Northern tool burner, and a hose and those nifty clamps from Harbor freight.Can't wait till they come in! I want to get this thing smokin!!!  

My only worry is having the burner air intake inside the house, but it works for Pops so it should be ok unless the design of the house is different enough to not allow enough air. I wonder if running a pipe or flex hose from the outside near the intake would help?

 

[alelover]

Looks pretty stout. Should last you a long time.

 

[scarbelly]

Looking good . Nice recycle of wood too. Can't wait to see the finished unit

 

[hoity toit]

The pallets I see around here are just rough cut pine. They build them as cheap as possible so treating them with chemicals is unlikely. It would work to use for a smoker but you would be pulling A LOT of staples!

I worked on my smokehouse again yesterday. I was hoping to get it pretty much finished except for the heat source. That didn't happen. I spent longer than anticipated on the foundation. It's done and level though so thats all that matters I guess. Did some little stuff to the house itself. Cut the chimney hole and fitted it, cut hole for intake vent, cut front piece of siding and installed temporarily. I'm going to remove that front piece of siding until we move it to its foundation. This thing is heavier than I expected...... moving it isn't going to be fun. After its sitting on the foundation I'll install the siding, roof, and ceramic tile inside. 

I just now ordered the Northern tool burner, and a hose and those nifty clamps from Harbor freight.Can't wait till they come in! I want to get this thing smokin!!!  

My only worry is having the burner air intake inside the house, but it works for Pops so it should be ok unless the design of the house is different enough to not allow enough air. I wonder if running a pipe or flex hose from the outside near the intake would help?

Prbobably have enough air leakage anyway so the intake

will more than likely be ok., it would be the exhaust stack I would make sure was sealed well.

 

[gersus]

Northern Tool burner just came in! Woohoo! I ordered the regulator and hose from Harbor Freight the same day as the Northern Tool order but the Harbor Freight order won't be here for another 6 days!!! Oh well, I'll steal the regulator/hose from my turkey fryer to get the house seasoned. 

I kind of like the burner without the legs on it. I'd think it needs to be off the floor some so maybe I'll just shorten the legs some? 

 

[SmokinAl]

Looks great so far!

 

[gersus]

My son and I carried the house to the back and set it on its foundation a few nights ago. This thing was heavy! Didn't know for sure if we was going to be able to carry it, lol. Luckily I had some plastic handles from a crate so I screwed them onto each side and it made all the difference. We got some snow and its 27 F right now, supposed to warm up over the weekend though. 

 

[sprky]

 Should work fine

 

[geerock]

gersus,

I, too, have an MES40 for general smokes along with a Traeger pellet muncher, but I smoked for years on an ol' stick burner.  I don't miss the babysitting of the ol' guy but do miss that distinctive taste of real wood / charcoal smoking, so I'm ready to get started on a smokehouse build of my own.  I'm using some left over birch cabinet makers plywood and a single tier of block to rest it on.  Used plenty of ideas right from this site to get general build ideas.  My idea for the heat source is an old bottom half of a charcoal kettle smoker (about 18 inches round) and using a Pitmaster IQ110 for heat control.  I really want to have that ol' time lump charcoal flavor.  I will probably go about the same width and depth, but go to about 5 feet high for easier hanging of meats and sausage.  I figure if it takes too long for heat up with the charcoal I will add the northern tool burner to help things get started.  I want to thank all on the site as every question that came to mind on this thing, and lots of other smoking questions, all I had to do was search it out and I found my answers here.  As soon as I get going on this I'll figure out to post photos and keep you guys posted.

One thing I have to ask is how do you guys moderate and control temp with the propane burner?  Or do you just keep a close eye?  Even then you have to open the box to adjust the burner control.

 

[gersus]

Yep, I wouldn't be having nearly as much fun smokin' if it weren't for the info here!

I can't really comment too much about moderating temp in a propane smokehouse since this is my first. I'm sure it varies depending on smokehouse construction, weather, and burner setup. I hope that after learning how this one is going to behave it won't be too much trouble. I won't have to open the main door to make adjustments. I'll only have to open the small door near the bottom which is right in front of the burner. I don't think it will upset the heat balance too much since its low and small. 

 

[gersus]

I managed to get some work done today on the little smokehouse. All the little stuff seems to be taking forever!

I still have to put the metal on the roof, trim everything out, finish running the hose to the burner, finish intake door.

I'm going to try the dowels running toward the door and see how that works out. Seems like it would be easier to load that way. I drilled a 1'' hole in a 2x4 at a slight angle to compensate in case they sag a bit. The dowels fit nice in the holes so I think it may work great!

I was hoping to get this thing seasoned today but it didn't happen. Soon though. Chimney is mounted. Almost ready.

 

[hoity toit]

[h1]I like your build on this. Economical and simple. The forward facing dowels should prove to be functional. Looks like your dowels are big enough where they wont sag. Moisture might be the only thing to effect that.I like your use of scrap readily available wood also. A little rustic adds to the overall "ambiance of the art of smoking." I notice the burner has 3 valves one for each rosebud.. Nice to be able to control the flame precisely.  I'll be watching this thread.  You've done good.
 [/h1][h1]

[/h1][h1]Dexter G[/h1]

 

[gersus]

Thanks Dexter! I'm so anxious to see TBS comin' out of the stack I can't see straight! Every time I open the door to work on it and smell the pine lumber smell I just shake my head, it should smell like smoke!

It was 65 here yesterday (I had to work) and today it's 33! It stormed like crazy here last night so its gonna be real muddy around the smoke house area unfortunately. The wind will hopefully dry it out some by the weekend.