Homemade smoked meats are organic and delicious. You can get such a product with your own hands. You can use one of the many varieties of smokehouses for this, which can be made from different materials. However, the simplest way, which involves the minimum amount of costs, is a smokehouse from a barrel.
Smokehouse device
The smoking chamber may have different materials at the base, however, the structure must have two compartments, one of which will burn firewood or chips with the formation of smoke, while the other will load s alted fish, cheese, meat or other products. These compartments can be separated from each other by a chimney, and alternatively they can be placed one above the other. In the first case, you will get cold smoked products, because the smoke will move through the pipe,being able to cool down. If we are talking about the second case, then the products will be cooked according to the hot smoking method. These manipulations are carried out at elevated temperatures.
The smoking chamber, depending on whether it is intended for cold or hot smoking, may have some differences. If we are talking about cold smoking, then the design will have a wood-burning portable stove, which is made of brick or sheet metal. The smokehouse itself consists of a barrel in which there are hooks or a grate for arranging products. The latter may be in one or more tiers. The top of the smoker should be covered with a hardwood lid. You can use a jute bag for this. The lid will prevent smoke from escaping, and water vapor will begin to be released. The furnace is connected to the chamber by a pipe, the length of which will determine the temperature of the smoke. Firewood for this smokehouse option should not be rotten and dry. Fruit tree branches are the most suitable option.
If you use a hot smoking chamber, then the smoke generated during the smoldering of sawdust or shavings will be used. They are placed on the bottom of the chamber. A wood-burning stove is installed under the smoking chambers, which should be able to remove smoke. Due to the fact that as a result of hot processing fat is released from fatty fish or meat, a tray must be installed under the grate, which should provide a gap between the walls of the chamber. This is necessary for the smoke to escape.
Preparation for making a smokehouse
The process should not be started if you have not prepared all the necessary materials and tools, the main element is a metal barrel, the volume of which can vary from 100 to 200 liters. It will be needed for arranging the lattice, it must be copper or steel, trimming the corner is suitable for making legs. But a piece of pipe, the diameter of which is 10 centimeters, is suitable for performing a chimney. We should not forget about fittings with a diameter ranging from 6 to 8 millimeters. It will need pruning. Prepare a sheet of iron, the thickness of which is 4 millimeters. He will go to the manufacture of the bottom of the smoking chamber. You will need to make a door that will close the combustion chamber, for this you will need to prepare the hinges. You can't do without an angle grinder and a welding machine in the process.
Recommended by the masters
If you will make a smoking chamber with your own hands, then you should prepare a barrel, the walls of which should not be covered with residues of chemicals and substances with a strong odor from the inside. If the product is dirty, it can be burned with a blowtorch or washed well.
Work technology
If the barrel is soldered, it must be removed from the lid using a welding machine or a grinder. The lid can be used later to make a palletdevices. The lower part of the product will act as a furnace, it is necessary to make a door in it for loading fuel and exiting the chimney. The holes for the door should be prepared with a welding machine or an angle grinder, adhering to the approximate dimensions, which are equal to 20x30 centimeters. The cut out part can be used to make a door, hinges and a handle will have to be welded to it. The latter must have a valve. After this element can be mounted on the firebox.
The nuances of making a smokehouse
When a smoking chamber is being made, longitudinal holes must be made in the bottom of the barrel, which will serve as a blower. They are used to remove ash from the firebox. Stepping back 1/3 of the height of the barrel, you need to weld the bottom of the smoking chamber using sheet iron. In order to eliminate the possibility of burning through and ensure uniform distribution of heat, it is best made of steel, the thickness of which is 4 millimeters.
The chimney will be inserted into holes that are made according to the diameter of the element. This component of the structure must be located on the opposite side of the furnace. The pipe must be bent and well welded. Its height should be small, otherwise the thrust will be too strong. Under these conditions, the temperature will be high, which will cause the active release of juice and fat.
Drawings of smoking chambers will help you to work without errors. In order for the device to be stable, you need to weld it from belowlegs, they will create a gap between the soil and the firebox, improving the quality of fuel combustion.
What a master needs to know
You don't have to make the firebox directly in the barrel by stacking it using bricks in the place where it is convenient. In this case, the bottom of the chamber will be the bottom of the barrel itself. This will increase the volume of the smokehouse. The front wall of such a firebox should be half laid out, through the holes it will be possible to lay firewood. In order to ensure the removal of smoke, you need to leave a hole in the back of the masonry.
Using sheet steel or a barrel lid, you can make a pallet, its diameter should be 5 centimeters less than the diameter of the product. This will circulate the smoke. To install this element inside, two pieces of reinforcement must be welded to the walls, placing them crosswise. The bars should be located with a retreat of 15 centimeters from the bottom of the smokehouse. Some craftsmen weld a loop made of reinforcement to the pallet, this makes it more convenient to cope with removing the element.
Additional work
If you are making a smoking chamber, the photo of which is presented in the article, then in the upper part you need to make supports for the grate. They are made from reinforcement, giving the shape of loops. You need to arrange them on four sides. These elements should not interfere with the removal of the pallet. If you make loops in 3-4 tiers, then this will increase the volume of loading products. It is important to maintain a step between the gratings,which should be about 15 centimeters. The lattice can be made of a fairly thin wire, which is fixed on the frame. In order to evenly bend the thickest possible wire, it is necessary to wrap it around the product, cut it off, reducing it by 7 centimeters. The lattice can be made of thin wire, the step between the elements should be 3 centimeters.
Operation of the smokehouse
Before you make a smoke chamber with your own hands, you must prepare all the necessary materials. However, it is also important to know how to use the device. For its operation, you can use any firewood, they can be coniferous. The smoke from combustion will be vented to the outside, while smoke from smoldering hardwood chips can be used for smoking. This will allow you to get products with a beautiful golden hue and a delicate taste that will not give off bitterness. The device of the smoking chamber was described above, but it is also important to take into account the fact that the taste of future products depends on the correct operation. Thus, you can make shavings yourself by cutting dry wood, such as plum, apple, alder or cherry plum branches. If necessary, the material can be bought in departments where gardening products are sold.
Conclusion
Smoking chambers for the home are quite often done by craftsmen on their own. Before using such a device, the chips must be laid on the bottom of the smokehouse in an even layer, and a pallet must be installed on the armature located crosswise. The grid should be placed whereits placement is supposed, products are stacked on it. They should be tied with cotton thread or twine. From above, the design is covered with a bag or lid.
Once you know how to make a smoking chamber, you can start the process, but it is important to follow all the steps of the technology. Only then the device will work properly during the entire period of operation.
