How to Make a Smokehouse

There's nothing like the taste of smoked meat: smoked turkey, salmon, trout, you name it. Tired of buying smoked meat? No problem. Build your own smokehouse. Read this eHow and learn how.

Things You'll Need

• 20 or more 2-by-8-inch by 8 foot boards with the tongues removed
• Strap hinges for the door
• Sheet steel for the roof
• Expanded steel for the shelves
• Angle irons
• Circular saw
• Chalk line
• Fasteners (screws and nails)

Instructions

1. Get smokehouse plans from SmokeHouse Plans or another source. Their plans are detailed and easy to follow, thus giving you a reliable smokehouse.

2. Build your own smokehouse. You'll need 10 2-by-8-inch by 8 foot tongue and groove boards with the tongues removed for the sides, 5 of the same boards for the back, and 5 more pieces for the door. You can use additional boards for the framing, strap hinges for the door, and sheet steel for the roof.

3. Clamp and fit the side pieces together with the tongue (removed) facing the back. Snap a chalk line so that the panel measures 5 feet, 9 inches at the top back of the panel to 6 inches at the front. Do the same with the other panel.

4. Rip or cut down the extra boards into 1½-by-1½ inch boards with a circular saw to use as framing pieces. Attach one piece to the bottom inside of the panel, the other to the top inside. Attach a third piece along the inside back of the panel running from the top to the bottom.

5. Create the back panel in the same fashion. This will be 5 feet, 9 inches in height. Fasten the back panel to the sides. Make all the panels square.

6. Rip brace pieces with the circular saw that are 3 and 1/8 inches wide. Notch the top outer corners to accommodate the panel's framing, then place another piece of wood the same dimensions over it to make it appear seamless. Do the same with the bottom of the front opening.

7. Make 1½-by-1½ inch shelf supports and set the first 18 inches from the floor. Place the next supports 14 inches apart.

8. Construct the door as you did the panels. Make it so that it fits snugly between the top and bottom pieces framing the opening.

9. Attach the roof with screws, leaving a small gap all the way around the top.

10. Build shelves of expanded metal braced with angle pieces. Remove any oil from the metal with a solvent before placing food upon them. Expanded metal is metal that has been slit and stretched so that it has diamond-shaped holes.

11. Generate smoke. You can do this by placing a cast-iron pan on a propane burner, then filling the pan with hardwood.

Resources

• SmokeHouse Plans has the plans you need for a smoke house.
• McNichols is a good source of expanded metal.
• The University of Connecticut provides free smokehouse plans.