Thinking of building my own smoker/grill.....

[Westdawg]

I have really lucked out with where i moved to in that a few farmers have a ton of pecan and hickory wood that i have been granted permission to get all i want for myself for however long i live here. I do not currently own a smoker, but have thought about buying one or, more so, BUILDING one for my backyard. My question is: have any of you made a grill/smoker? I have thought about going old school and making it out of brick, or possibly find the materials for metal. I have also pondered just buying a smoker of some kind. I don't have an exact or large budget , more of just wanting to get to smoking. Thoughts? I am a complete newbie on this, so i want to learn all i can before getting started one direction or the other

[SapperDawg]

One day, I will have a brick pit and plan to have a springtime, cajun style bouchere. This is also contingent upon me buying 100 acres of rolling hill land in southern TN and building a cabin, etc, etc.

Check this forum out: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=5&order=desc

Lots of great info on styles and building your own pit. I have read many of them, and they really get into the science of size, airflow, etc.

[BeastMan]

A bbq pit sounds awesome. Good advice Sapper

[BrunswickDawg]

I've had a stack of bricks in my backyard for 15 years waiting for me to do this (leftover from another project). Someday....

[Offshore Dawg]

I've had a stack of bricks in my backyard for 15 years waiting for me to do this (leftover from another project). Someday....



"The best laid plans of mice and men sometimes falter in the wind"

[BrunswickDawg]

"The best laid plans of mice and men sometimes falter in the wind"
Yeah...
My house was built in 1937, so remodeling bathrooms, kitchens, re-roofing, etc tend to get in the way of the fun stuff.

[jbjones]

I know that you're not looking for something this small, but for those that are, I'm sure SapperDawg can send you the plans for this. He built this for me a few years ago. If you're a single Dawg like myself, or just need a smaller smoker, this fits the bill to a "T". Smokes like a champ too.

http://tibbee-creek.com/images/smoker.jpg

[BeastMan]

Dang, Sapperbuilt that?! Awesome

[jbjones]

Dang, Sapperbuilt that?! Awesome

Yep. I'd say that MSU education paid off. Sumbiatch knows some shiat about grilling/smoking. At least more than I do. For now!

[SapperDawg]

Dang, Sapperbuilt that?! Awesome

This is a modification of the Weber Smokey Joe, turning it from a tailgating grill into a mini Weber Smokey Mountain vertical smoker. Super easy to put together. Parts list:

Tamale steamer pot: http://amzn.com/B00194DVJI
Thermometer: http://amzn.com/B008N4AFI2
Extra Grate: http://amzn.com/B000WEIKL0
Stainless steel machine screws, plus washer and nut. These will be used to space and hold the grates in the steamer pot - or now your new smoker barrel.
High temp spray paint. Rustoleum or Krylon makes lots of colors.

Detailed instructions are here: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=138697

This is exactly how I built it. I will let JB detail some of his specific experience using it. I have the WSM 18 and 22" models and love them.