Casey3115
Knows what a fatty is.
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2012
- Location
- Portland...
So last year I put together a cinder block pit at a buddy's house so we could cook a whole hog. I don't think I posted pics of that build or cook but it was pretty standard. Large rectangle with openings on both ends to shovel coals all day fom a separate fire pit. Probably why I didn't take a lot of photos. It was a lot of work.
A few weeks ago I decided to do something with all the cinder blocks that have been sitting around. I decided to change the dimensions a bit a try to make an offset smoker.
I have experimented a bunch and changed things around, and around while doing test burns. This version seems to be working pretty good now.
I ended up digging the firebox down one course which has worked out great. There is a sideways block under the grate from fire box to cook chamber, and the chimney starts below the grate as well on the other side. When the firebox was up higher the heat wouldn't flow well over the food because the pass through was not high enough in the fire box. Digging down allowed for the fire to be plenty low and far from the lid while also making the pass thru at the very top of the firebox if that makes sense.
I got a piece of steel for the fire box lid but still need to come up with something better for the cooking chamber lid. That corrugated stuff worked fine for the hog pit but now as a smoker that I want to draft well, it isn't great. I was waiting to make sure the design was going to work well before getting a big piece of steel to make a tighter sealing lid but after this weekend cook of ribs and pastrami I think I'll go ahead and do it.
A few weeks ago I decided to do something with all the cinder blocks that have been sitting around. I decided to change the dimensions a bit a try to make an offset smoker.
I have experimented a bunch and changed things around, and around while doing test burns. This version seems to be working pretty good now.
I ended up digging the firebox down one course which has worked out great. There is a sideways block under the grate from fire box to cook chamber, and the chimney starts below the grate as well on the other side. When the firebox was up higher the heat wouldn't flow well over the food because the pass through was not high enough in the fire box. Digging down allowed for the fire to be plenty low and far from the lid while also making the pass thru at the very top of the firebox if that makes sense.
I got a piece of steel for the fire box lid but still need to come up with something better for the cooking chamber lid. That corrugated stuff worked fine for the hog pit but now as a smoker that I want to draft well, it isn't great. I was waiting to make sure the design was going to work well before getting a big piece of steel to make a tighter sealing lid but after this weekend cook of ribs and pastrami I think I'll go ahead and do it.