Built a mini smoker yesterday...../BBQ Thread

[LuTang]

I built a mini smoker using a Weber Smokey Joe Gold and a 32qt. tamale pot yesterday. It was very easy to assemble and worked great for first cook! Does anyone else enjoy smoking/bbq? If so, post some pics!

So basically started off with a Weber Smokey Joe Gold 14.5" grill, tamale pot, an extra 14.5" grill grate and some nuts n bolts. For about $100 total, you can have a pretty kick ass little smoker that's nice n portable.

This is a stock pic because i forgot to take a pic of the stuff before I started working on it. The rest of the pics were taken yesterday as the building progressed.....

So first, took a 3/4" hole saw and drilled an array of holes.

Next, I put in some long 4" bolts in. This is used to hold a 12" aluminum pie pan which just sits on there and acts as a heat diffuser. The bottom rack sits right above the heat diffuser.

Top rack sits on the top set of 1/4" bolts.

I took out the innards and used high heat black paint. Let it dry and threw it all together. Then fired that lil sumbitch up with some coals and some chunks of hickory wood.

It held temp like a champ(240-260 degrees F). I used about 40 brickettes total if I had to guess. Chicken only took 2hrs but the coals burned at a steady 240-260 for 5hrs before dropping off.

sauced up and ready to eat.

 

[Huckleberried]

@Cramptholomew!! Dude.

 

[LuTang]

i'm not sure what that means.

 

[Neunerball]

i'm not sure what that means.

It's a way of notifying another user/member.

Nice smoker!

 

[LuTang]

It's a way of notifying another user/member.

Nice smoker!

that's what i was suspecting after i clicked on the name. I'm a noob here and haven't quite figured all of the forum features. Thanks for the heads up and comment. It was a fun little build and feels rewarding when I look outside and see it sitting out back!

 

[OBDave]

Dude that's awesome! Now I gotta find out if there's such thing as an 18 1/2" pot so I can try my hand at one. Love my Webers...

 

[LuTang]

there probably is Dave. i saw a video of a guy who made one on his 22" weber kettle. he used a 120qt pot he found on a restaurant equipment website for $99. i'm not sure what size would be compatible with the 18.5".

 

[Huckleberried]

Yeah, I was letting a pal know about it. Congrats on your build, it does feel rewarding when you make something cool like that!

And welcome to VU, btw.

 

[vaperature]

Oh boy am I going to have some things to contribute to this thread when I get into my bbq rib groove this year.

 

[Cramptholomew]

Ooooo! Didn't think of a pot to use as the smoke box. Great idea. I've been thinking of building a second small smoker out of a 55 gallon drum (that's what I use to use until I built my new one last year). Here's the one I built last year.

 

[Neunerball]

Ooooo! Didn't think of a pot to use as the smoke box. Great idea. I've been thinking of building a second small smoker out of a 55 gallon drum (that's what I use to use until I built my new one last year). Here's the one I built last year.

You must be smoking for the whole neighborhood.

 

[LuTang]

Yeah, I was letting a pal know about it. Congrats on your build, it does feel rewarding when you make something cool like that!

And welcome to VU, btw.

thanks man. i like it here. seems like a pretty cool crowd

 

[LuTang]

Oh boy am I going to have some things to contribute to this thread when I get into my bbq rib groove this year.

the more the merrier!! tis the season

 

[LuTang]

Ooooo! Didn't think of a pot to use as the smoke box. Great idea. I've been thinking of building a second small smoker out of a 55 gallon drum (that's what I use to use until I built my new one last year). Here's the one I built last year.

wow! that build is massive. like neuner said. you can throw a heck of a party with that bad boy. how much does that top door weigh? you need some counter weights on there to make life easier. i do have a larger vertical water smoker but it's a turd and rusting out. i built this little guy because i rarely cook more than 2 butts. i also wanted a small one cause i like to go camping a fair amount and wanted something portable. i can fit this mofo in the front seat of my subaru.

i would like to build a 55gallon ugly drum smoker as well. you can get pretty fancy with those too with ball valve pipes and casters and whathaveyou.

i try to post some more pics of some other cooks i've done this year.

 

[OBDave]

there probably is Dave. i saw a video of a guy who made one on his 22" weber kettle. he used a 120qt pot he found on a restaurant equipment website for $99. i'm not sure what size would be compatible with the 18.5".

Doesn't matter, I completely forgot that when I finally retired the 18" I'd been using for the last 8 years I upgraded to the 22" version. Knowing there's a pot out there for it all I have to do is wait until I have $150 or so to blow on the pot and a couple racks and supplies...then not use that money buying DIY supplies instead.

 

[Cramptholomew]

wow! that build is massive. like neuner said. you can throw a heck of a party with that bad boy. how much does that top door weigh? you need some counter weights on there to make life easier. i do have a larger vertical water smoker but it's a turd and rusting out. i built this little guy because i rarely cook more than 2 butts. i also wanted a small one cause i like to go camping a fair amount and wanted something portable. i can fit this mofo in the front seat of my subaru.

i would like to build a 55gallon ugly drum smoker as well. you can get pretty fancy with those too with ball valve pipes and casters and whathaveyou.

i try to post some more pics of some other cooks i've done this year.

I do a whole pig in it every memorial day. Just 70+ pound one. Works great for ribs and stuff too. Yes, it does need counter weights, I just haven't gotten around to them yet.

I upgraded from the 55 gallon drum smoker, because I had to cut too much of the pig off in order to fit it in. Now I just want another 55 drum for small stuff.

The week after next I plan on smoking some kielbasa in the big one, and hanging it from some big S-hooks. We'll see how that works. I tried kielbasa once, years ago, and it was not my best endeavor. I think I have a better handle on sauages now though. So, wish me luck.