Cold/hot smoker idea

[aris]

Got this from a chap on another forum:
[click on thumbnails for a larger picture]
<a href="http://img180.echo.cx/my.php?image=smoker13qn.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img180.echo.cx/img180/8002/smoker13qn.th.jpg" border="0" ></a>

<a href="http://img180.echo.cx/my.php?image=smoker27hx.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img180.echo.cx/img180/488/smoker27hx.th.jpg" border="0" ></a>

<a href="http://img180.echo.cx/my.php?image=smoker37bx.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img180.echo.cx/img180/5395/smoker37bx.th.jpg" border="0" ></a>

<a href="http://img180.echo.cx/my.php?image=smoker41kx.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img180.echo.cx/img180/7826/smoker41kx.th.jpg" border="0" ></a>

[Paul Kribs]

Look at all that lovely smoked fatty belly.. Looks great.

Aris

I understand the concept of the two galvanised dustbins with holes through from the bottom to the top. Where do you put your wood chippings/sawdust. Does it go on the base of the top bin, or is there some other arrangement beneath the lower bin that allows the smouldering wood to smoke through to the top bin. I take it your BBQ is the heat source.

I am going to hot smoke some pure beefburgers later today, never tried them before.

Regards, Paul Kribs

[aris]

I've not made one yet - but here is what i'm told:

The one bin has had the bottom taken out of it, and the other has holes in it. They are wedged together.

For the fire, he uses a small BBQ - or you could use any sort of shallow metal container, in which he puts charcoal. This is lit and when hot, he puts loads of damp wood chippings on it. The bin is put on top, and this starves the charcoal a bit so it does not burn the chippings to rapidly. If it is on an even surface, you may need to drill some holes in the sides of the bin to allow enough oxygen in, or put something underneath so a bit of air comes through.

This should work as a cold smoker - and as a hot smoker, just use the one bin, or remove the bottoms from both bins to let the heat through.

[Old Holborn]

and it cost me a mere �25 to build, took 30 minutes of my time to put together and will hot and cold smoke anything.

Wait till you see my Xmas ham.

Hot smoking means you put the bbq in the top bin. Cold smoking put it in the bottom.

so easy, it should be illegal

many thanks to Hugh Fearnly Whittingstall for the idea.

Go forth and multiply.

[aris]

Ah, you've decided to join the forum - good

The only problem i'm having is finding two galvanised bins for 25 quid - they are about 25 quid each at my local B&Q.

[deb]

Didn't I read somewhere about not using galvanized bins for smoking because of noxious fumes or some such thing? I've probably got the wrong end of the stick, I hope so anyway as this looks like a really good idea and I certainly want to give it a go. As usual though, better to be safe than sorry.

[Oddley]

deb I think the same job could be done with a couple of new 25 gallon steel drums. You know the ones, they make percussion instrument out of them, use them in the notting hill carnival.

[Paul Kribs]

Deb

I believe it was me who mentioned the dangers of heating galvanised metal, and couldn't understand why they sell galvanised metal dustbins for incinerators. My fears are founded on the directives of welding. There is much information on the web regarding same.
http://www.tr6web.com/Documents/tr6/weldGalvanized.html

"Breathing in metal oxides such as zinc and copper can lead to an acute flu-like illness called 'metal fume fever'. It most commonly occurs when welding galvanised steel; symptoms usually begin several hours after exposure with a thirst, cough, headache sweat, pain in the limbs and fever. Complete recovery usually occurs within 1 to 2 days of removal from the exposure, without any lasting effects."

All the directives I have read are aimed at welding at obviously higher temperatures, whether this applies to the lower heat of a galvanised bin I don't know.
I would say that smoking would not heat the zinc sufficiently to break it down. Don't mean to scare-monger.

Regards, Paul Kribs

[Shaun]

Looks quite good, can you still get metal dustbins? If so how much are they?

[Old Holborn]

I paid �12.50 each at the hardware shop for mine.

[aris]

They are 25 quid at my local B&Q - I think I need to shop around!

[Old Holborn]

Try farmers stores. They are usually wherever farmers are.

Big places that look very unfriendly to anyone who doesn't own a landrover