How to Build a Smoke House

Smoked meats and fish are summertime favorites for many people. With a little elbow grease and a free weekend, you can build a smoke house in your own backyard. Even if you're not an experienced builder, this task can encourage your do-it-yourself spirit and give the family a project to build together.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Two 2 inch by 4 inch boards
• Chalk line
• Wood chips, soaked
• Eighteen 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch pine boards
• Cast iron pan
• 1 5/8 inch deck screw
• Utility knife
• Sheet steel
• Five 1 inch by 6 inch by 5 feet 9-inch tongue-and-groove pine boards
• Pencil
• Measuring tape
• Saw
• Two 4-inch strap hinges
• Screwdriver
• Fifteen 1 inch by 6 inches by 6 feet tongue-and-groove pine boards
• Burner

1. Build the side panels by fitting together five tongue-and-groove boards for each side. The top of each side should then be graded from 6 feet to 5 feet 9 inches by snapping a chalkline from the highest point to the lowest along the top edge and cutting to size.

2. Cut two 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch boards to brace the top and bottom of each side piece. Cut another piece to brace the 5 foot 9 inch side of each side panel. Attach with deck screws.

3. Build the back wall by fitting together five 5 foot 9 inch boards. Cut four 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch boards to brace the back wall along the top and bottom edges and attach with deck screws.

4. Attach the back panel to the two side pieces using deck screws through the bracing pieces of the side panels.

5. Brace the front of the smoke house by cutting the 2 foot by 4 foot boards to fit along the top and bottom edges. Attach with deck screws to the front edges of the side panels.

6. Attach four shelf supports of 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch board cut to fit on either side of the inside of the smoke house evenly. Cut sheet steel to serve as shelves within the smoke house.

7. Attach the roof of sheet steel to the top of the smoke house using deck screws and leaving a 1/8 to 1/4 inch gap between the roof and the top edge of the smoke house.

8. Attach the door, built of the remaining 6 feet long tongue-and-groove boards braced in a "Z" fashion with the remaining pieces of 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inch board, using two 4-inch strap hinges.

9. Place the burner and wood chip pan at the base of the smoke house.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not use pressure treated lumbar and galvanized metal sheeting when making a smoke house.