Okay, so, I decided to build a smoker with bricks in my backyard. It turned out to be a great experience, and I want to share my journey with you all.
First off, I had to figure out the size I wanted. I measured my grill set, which was about 700mm x 400mm, and that helped me determine how many bricks I’d need. I wanted it big enough to handle a decent amount of meat but not too big that it would take over the whole yard.
Once I had the size in mind, I started gathering the materials. Bricks, of course, were the main thing. I also picked up a gas burner ’cause I decided to go with a gas heat source. I figured it would be easier to control the temperature that way. And I got a heavy cast iron pan that would sit over the burner and hold the wood chips for smoke.
Building Process
Laying the bricks was a bit of a challenge, I won’t lie. I made sure to create a solid base and then started building up the walls, one layer at a time. It was like a big puzzle, making sure everything fit together just right.
- Started with the base, making it strong and level.
- Built up the walls, layer by layer, checking the level often.
- Placed the gas burner in the base, ensuring it was secure.
- Positioned the cast iron pan over the burner, ready for the wood chips.
I kept going, adding more layers of bricks, and then I put in my grill set. I also added a thermometer to the side so I could keep an eye on the temperature inside. After all, that’s pretty important when you’re smoking meat.
Finishing Touches
With the main structure done, I focused on the finishing touches. I added a simple door at the front to make it easy to add wood chips and check on the meat. And I made sure the whole thing was sealed up nicely so the smoke wouldn’t escape too much.
After everything was set, it was time for the first test run. I fired up the gas burner, added some wood chips to the pan, and put in some meat. Then, I just waited and watched as the smoker filled with that lovely smoky aroma.
It took a bit of tweaking to get the temperature just right, but eventually, I got the hang of it. And let me tell you, the first batch of smoked meat that came out of that thing was amazing! It was totally worth all the effort.
Building my own brick smoker was a really rewarding experience. It took some time and effort, but now I have a custom smoker that works exactly the way I want it to. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter when I have friends over for a BBQ. If you’re thinking about building one yourself, I say go for it! Just be prepared to get your hands dirty and have some fun along the way.
