How to Make Fireboxes

Fireboxes in smokers hold the heat source while the food is smoked.

A firebox, often referred to as a smoker firebox, is the area in a smoker where the charcoal or wood is positioned and later ignited for the purposes of smoking food. You can build fireboxes for your smokers, although it's best to have some prior experience working with metal. An arc welder, grinder and other tools will help you properly shape and connect the plates required to form your fireboxes.

Things You'll Need

• 18-by-18-inch steel plate
• 2 18-by-17 1/2-inch steel plates
• 2 17 1/2-by-17 1/2-inch steel plates
• 7 1/2-inch hand grinder for steel
• Arc welder
• Metal work table
• C-clamp

Instructions

1. Put all of your steel plates on a metal work table or bench. Keep the plates in place with a C-clamp.

2. Use a 7 ½-inch hand grinder to grind down the edges of each steel plate. Check the hand grinder manufacturer's instructions for specific operating directions. The grinder will grind down the edges of the plates, allowing them to be welded more easily.

3. Switch the knob on the arc welder to the highest possible setting. Turn the arc welder on. Loosen the C-clamp and remove one of the 17 1/2-by-17 1/2-inch steel plates and one of the 18-by-17-inch plates. Position the 18-by-17-inch plate so that it lays flat. Hold the 17 1/2-by-17 1/2-inch steel plate so that it stands vertically, while pressing against the side of the flat piece of steel.

4. Hold the steel plates in that position, and use your free hand to pass the arc welder across each end of the plates, from the inside and out. Pass the arc welder in this fashion over both sides of the plates. The arc welder will weld together the pieces to form one side of the firebox.

5. Repeat Step 4 with the remaining 17 1/2-by-17 1/2-inch plate to weld them together. Position one 18-by-18-inch plate at one end of your firebox and weld on the outside and inside of the firebox frame to attach it. The firebox will have one bottom, one end and two sides. The open end will allow you to put fire sources inside the box. Let the firebox set for a full day.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have limited welding experience, practice on a few pieces of scrap metal before building your firebox.

• Always wear safety gloves and safety goggles when working with welding equipment to avoid injury.

References

• Build Your Own BBQ Pit; The Dowell BBQ Pit; Deryl Dowell
• "Backyard BBQ: The Art of Smokology"; Richard W. McPeake; 2005

Resources

• "Serious Barbecue"; Adam Perry Lang; 2009