So, a buddy of mine suggested I should build a smoker. He said it’s not that hard and it is kinda cheap, so I thought, why not? Let’s give this a shot.
First things first, I gathered all the stuff I needed. The main thing was bricks, and lots of ’em. I hit up a local hardware store. Also, I checked online and found some used ones.
Figuring Out the Plan
Next up, I had to figure out how big I wanted this thing. I mean, I love a good BBQ, but I’m not feeding an army. I sketched out a few ideas on paper, nothing fancy, just some rough drawings. I measured my backyard to make sure it fits, and it looked like I had enough space.
Getting Down to Business
With the plan sort of in place, I started laying down the bricks. I made a solid base first, just stacking them up and making sure it was level. Then I started building up the walls. It was like playing with giant LEGOs. I took it slow, making sure everything was even and sturdy.
Choosing the right Materials
- Bricks: I used regular bricks, and they work just fine.
- Metal: I added a metal door, just a simple one I found.
- Others: I heard some folks use fancy fire bricks, but I think they are just for show. As long as the bricks are clean and don’t soak up water, they will be fine.
Setting up the inside
Inside, I needed a way to hang the meat and hold the charcoal. I got a couple of metal grates – one for the meat and one for the charcoal. I fixed them in place with some brackets and screws. Easy peasy.
To start the smoker, I decided to use a chimney starter. I filled it about 3/4 full, crumpled up 3 pieces of newspaper, drizzled a bit of cooking oil on them, and placed them at the bottom. After lighting the newspaper, I waited around 20 minutes before placing it on top of the unlit coals.
The First Test Run
Finally, the moment of truth. I fired up the smoker with some charcoal and wood chips. I tossed in a few pieces of chicken to see how it went. The temperature took a while to get steady, but once it did, it was smooth sailing.
And there you have it, my very own homemade brick smoker. It wasn’t rocket science, just a bit of elbow grease and patience. Now, I can smoke meats whenever I want, and it tastes way better than anything store-bought. Plus, I built it myself, which is pretty cool if I do say so myself.
