Awesome homemade smokehouse idea you can build yourself
Be inspired to build your own smokehouse!
If you enjoy smoking and preserving your own food, odds are you want a smokehouse. Our original smokehouse we figured was 25-30 years old. The person who built it knew what he was doing.
One of our favorite smoked meat is salmon and Hubby knows how to smoke fish. It's not rubbery or fishy. The flavor is to die for. On a summer afternoon, a chilled glass of Chardonnay or Pinot Gris with fresh smoked salmon...mouth-watering.
And with summer coming, it was time to build a new smokehouse.
This post contains affiliate links which means I may receive a small commission if you buy something through my link or ad. This does not change your cost it just helps keep this blog running. Thanks for your support! See my full advertising disclosure here for more information.
It was sad to see him burn The Samish Smoker. But, it inspired The Samish 2.0 smoker which is pretty amazing! I knew it would be awesome considering the cottage style greenhouse he built me a few years ago.
As you can see, our original smoker had seen better days. The top door swung upward and required a stick to keep it propped open while checking on the meat.
The base doors opened kind of wonky. The top one was where the hot plate rested. Hubby would use his shoulder or a stick to prop the door up whenever he added new wood chips. As you can see the hinges are completely rusted out and the doors no longer close the way they were intended.
The bottom door opened downward. This was intended for additional storage and has completely rotted.
The racks were built pretty close together. The only thing salvageable were these racks and we're pretty sure they were homemade.
Hubby basically took the original idea and modified to improve it's function and look.
He wanted it taller so that he didn't have to bend down as much. Hence the front is 7' tall while the back is six feet. It's also 32" wide by 30" deep.
The front doors open outward rather then upward and are kept shut with a simple latch.
The bottom door swings to the left. This is where the hot plate will be positioned.
He found the vents on Ebay which were handmade. There is one vent on each side of the smokehouse.
The racks are no longer so close together. For each rack to slide in and out, untreated cedar 2x4s were used.
Solid color stain was used with a light colored stain which added contrast to the structure. First he stained and then he added the stained trim boards with finishing nails.
To secure the bottom door, Hubby attached a heavy duty paddock latch. Underneath he drilled a hole, pushed the propane hose through the hole, and then added the rubber grommet.
Below you get a closer look at the vent and trim boards.
The below area looks like this...
Two old cinder blocks used for the hot plate to rest. An old frying pan is used to slowly burn the wood chips. The white stuff is the spray foam sealant used to fill in the cracks.
Before actually smoking the meat, he gave the new smokehouse a good long smoke to cure the new wood.
Here is the viewpoint of the smokehouse roof. Cedar shingles were used after the roof flashing was attached.
Also notice the corner trim used.
This homemade smokehouse will most likely out live both of us. Looking forward to tasting the season's first round of smoked fish.
most of the smokehouse materials used:
- birch plywood 3/4" (3 sheets)
- cedar 2 x 4s
- 2 vents (Ebay)
- 1 1/2 x1 3/4" cedar trim board for top of smokehouse and bottom of top doors
- 1 x 3 cedar trim board for bottom
- corner trim
- 1 bundle cedar shingles
- roof flashing (1 piece)
- 6 hinges
- 3 handles
- heavy weight padlock
- front door latch
- 2 cinder blocks
- 1 can spray foam sealant (fill in the cracks)
- rubber grommet for propane hose
- finishing nails
- wood screws
- 1 gallon of stain and 1 pint of wood stain
Hope you are inspired to build your own awesome smokehouse. A share and/or pin would be much appreciated!
Hey, and drop us a comment letting us know whatcha think of The Samish 2.0 Smoker. Thanks!
Cheers,
