Do-it-yourself smokehouse from a gas cylinder
Anyone who has ever tried various smoked dishes prepared independently knows that they differ significantly in taste from store-bought ones. And this is not surprising - you can be confident in the composition of food prepared at home, and also control all stages of the process. But what to do if you don’t have a smokehouse at your dacha, and buying one is too expensive?
Is it possible to make a smokehouse yourself? What will you need for this? What should you pay attention to during the process? You will learn about all this in this article.
The content of the article
Preparing to make a smokehouse from a gas cylinder
One of the easiest ways to make your own smoker is to convert an unwanted propane, freon or oxygen tank. This does not require a large number of tools, as well as special skills and abilities, so even a beginner can cope with the task. After the work is completed, the whole family will have the opportunity to enjoy delicious dishes of meat, fish and other products that can be smoked right in their yard.
The first step is to prepare all the necessary tools, and also carefully inspect the gas cylinder for damage and corrosion. It is best to choose one that is in perfect condition. Then completely get rid of any remaining gas and condensation.
Important! Carefully inspect the area where you are going to work. It must be dry or show any signs of burning. It is best to start making in dry, sunny weather, but not at noon, when the sun is at its strongest.
How to make a smokehouse from a gas cylinder: stages of the process with photos
Now we will take a closer look at the entire process of making a smoking device with your own hands, which will not take much time. You should use a ready-made drawing. You should start by preparing the base.
Making the base
First you need to make markings with chalk or a special marker, and then make cuts, not reaching a few millimeters before the rounding of the concrete ends.
Now we “try on” the hinges in the resulting places and weld them. After this, it is necessary to weld an “elbow” of pipes on the tap side.
Important! Please note that the recommended height of the vertical section is at least a meter. This way you can ensure high-quality draft and efficient smoldering during operation of the smokehouse.
The second end must be connected to the firebox for the smokehouse. From the inside you need to weld a special tube, which will not only help the lid not sink deeper, but will also make it possible to hang meat for smoking, which is considered the main function of our future smokehouse.
Place a special tray at the bottom, which will serve to collect fat. It is advisable to line it with foil so that you do not have to constantly wash the tray.You can read how to make a grate for a homemade smokehouse here.
Construction of the stand
Now let's make legs for the smokehouse so that you can put it in your yard.
Important! If you plan to move the smokehouse in the future, you can make removable legs. This will allow you to install the device where it is needed at any given moment.
You need to attach bolts to the base of the cylinder, and nuts to the legs, which can be made from a corner or building profile. In some cases, it will be useful to install wheels rather than legs to make moving the smokehouse around the area even easier.
Smokehouse firebox
The last step will be making the firebox. For this you need a metal sheet 3-4 mm thick. Leave two holes in the opposite end walls to install the damper and interface with the smoking chamber. The third hole will serve for laying wood chips that form smoking smoke.
General recommendations for making a homemade smokehouse from a cylinder
Making a smokehouse from a gas cylinder yourself is not that difficult, but if you have never done anything like this before, you should read as much information as possible on the Internet.
This way you can learn some nuances that are of great importance. For example, you need to understand that you cannot smoke meat the first time you use a newly made device. You should first check its functionality and run it for nothing.
After this, you can try hanging the products, but be sure to taste them before consuming them. The taste should be exactly the same as smoked products.
Another important point is the length of the finished product. Please note that this way you can control the final result.Also study cold and hot smoking techniques to understand how they differ from each other. This will help you prepare a real culinary masterpiece at home without spending a lot of time and effort.
Now you know how to quickly and easily make a smokehouse from a gas cylinder yourself. Even an inexperienced craftsman can cope with the task, and if successful, you can try to make other devices for your dacha in order to significantly save on their purchase.
With a homemade smokehouse, you can cook a huge number of different dishes that you have never tried before. Excellent taste and safe composition will be the best reward for the work done.