Aluminum to skin smoker

bstomper · 09-18-2019, 08:42 PM

I am building a simple electric smoker out of a filing cabinet to smoke home made sausage and other stuff. It will be a simple concept to start with which will use a standard electric hotplate and pan for the heat and smoke generation. The cabinet will be insulated and skinned on the inside. Would there be any safety issue with using aluminum for the inside skin. Max temps would never be over 250 degrees. I can't see any issues with the aluminum as aluminum cooking pots and pans have been around for a long time, not to mention I wrap my ribs and brisket with aluminum foil everytime I cook them, but I thought I would ask the question just to make sure.

ebijack · 09-19-2019, 04:48 AM

A few things to consider.
Aluminum costs alot more than steel.
You will want to go thicker on the sheet aluminum than you would if you used sheet steel in most cases.
If you know what it takes to cut aluminum sheet. It can be easier to cut than steel. Otherwise aluminum can be a pain to cut.
Since you are doing this with insulation on the inside then the aluminum. You would want to have a very good fit on all inside edges/corners etc.

Since you would be doing very low temp smokes. I wouldn't think you would want to bother with insulation and all the work/cost. But your choice.
You could put together a much cheaper and easier to build wood smoking cabinet.
Just a thought.
Post some pics of your build and in action!

Titch · 09-19-2019, 04:52 AM

Could you not use cedar type planks on the outside of the Cabinet, timber has a reasonable amount of Insulation and it could look good.

bstomper · 09-19-2019, 06:37 PM

I never even considered building it out of wood. It would be much easier to build and also have some built in insulation. Thanks for the idea guys. What type of wood would be good to use.

thirdeye · 09-19-2019, 07:02 PM

I've smoked fish in Big Chiefs and Little Chiefs for 45 years, they are aluminum with a hot plate. The interior darkens up after a few cooks and there is no safety issues with the aluminum what so ever. I do like the idea of making the body out of wood, then lining it with aluminum.

Check out your local tin shops, they are the ones that typically sell the stainless sheets you see in restaurant kitchens on the walls or counter tops. They likely sell thin aluminum sheets as well. They also have the equipment to form corners or a pan for the bottom

ebijack · 09-20-2019, 03:17 AM

You can use plywood, most any of the 4X8 sheet wood HD carries.
I would not use any treated lumber.
Lots of ways to do it.
Visit Cowgirl's site to see her cold smoker. Real nice
https://cowgirlscountry.blogspot.com/
This one is not mine, just for an idea.

sarth67 · 09-20-2019, 09:11 AM

Also if it is on any other metal you could induce Galvanic corrosion.

09-18-2019, 08:42 PM	#1
bstomper Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-22-14 Location: Denare Beach, Canada	Aluminum to skin smoker I am building a simple electric smoker out of a filing cabinet to smoke home made sausage and other stuff. It will be a simple concept to start with which will use a standard electric hotplate and pan for the heat and smoke generation. The cabinet will be insulated and skinned on the inside. Would there be any safety issue with using aluminum for the inside skin. Max temps would never be over 250 degrees. I can't see any issues with the aluminum as aluminum cooking pots and pans have been around for a long time, not to mention I wrap my ribs and brisket with aluminum foil everytime I cook them, but I thought I would ask the question just to make sure.

09-19-2019, 04:52 AM	#3
Titch somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 11-17-12 Location: South East Victoria Australia Name/Nickname : Titch :-)	Could you not use cedar type planks on the outside of the Cabinet, timber has a reasonable amount of Insulation and it could look good. __________________ Some people are like a Slinky-not really good for anything, but still , you can't help smiling when you shove them down the stairs.:becky:

09-19-2019, 07:02 PM	#5
thirdeye somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-14-06 Location: At home on the range in Wyoming	I've smoked fish in Big Chiefs and Little Chiefs for 45 years, they are aluminum with a hot plate. The interior darkens up after a few cooks and there is no safety issues with the aluminum what so ever. I do like the idea of making the body out of wood, then lining it with aluminum. Check out your local tin shops, they are the ones that typically sell the stainless sheets you see in restaurant kitchens on the walls or counter tops. They likely sell thin aluminum sheets as well. They also have the equipment to form corners or a pan for the bottom __________________ ~thirdeye~ I Play With Fire and Smoke *Barbecuist ~ Charcuterist ~ KCBS Master Judge & CTC* Big Green Eggs, Big Drum Smokers, Big Chiefs, Weber Smokey Joe "Custom Tall Boy" Oil Patch Horizontal, SnS Deluxe Kettle Visit my Cookin' Site by clicking HERE Barbecue is not rocket surgery “The problem with quotes on the Internet is that it's hard to verify their authenticity” ~ Abraham Lincoln

09-19-2019, 04:48 AM	#2
ebijack Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-23-13 Location: Detroit Mi Name/Nickname : tom	A few things to consider. Aluminum costs alot more than steel. You will want to go thicker on the sheet aluminum than you would if you used sheet steel in most cases. If you know what it takes to cut aluminum sheet. It can be easier to cut than steel. Otherwise aluminum can be a pain to cut. Since you are doing this with insulation on the inside then the aluminum. You would want to have a very good fit on all inside edges/corners etc. Since you would be doing very low temp smokes. I wouldn't think you would want to bother with insulation and all the work/cost. But your choice. You could put together a much cheaper and easier to build wood smoking cabinet. Just a thought. Post some pics of your build and in action!

09-19-2019, 06:37 PM	#4
bstomper Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-22-14 Location: Denare Beach, Canada	I never even considered building it out of wood. It would be much easier to build and also have some built in insulation. Thanks for the idea guys. What type of wood would be good to use.

09-20-2019, 09:11 AM	#7
sarth67 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-17-18 Location: Perdido Beach Al Name/Nickname : Sarth67	Also if it is on any other metal you could induce Galvanic corrosion.