How to Build a Propane Barbecue Smoker
Barbecue smokers may be utilized year-round for smoking Thanksgiving turkeys, Christmas hams or a roast in the summer. The wood smokers provide a special flavor to any meat cooked in them, and substituting apple wood chips for mesquite or other types can change the flavor. Barbecue smokers can be expensive, but most do-it-yourself people can construct a propane barbecue smoker by following these easy steps.
Items Needed:
- 250-gallon propane tank
- Bracing iron
- Crossbars
- One-fourth inch metal plate
- Pencil
- Six-inch pipe
- Soap
- Three-inch pipe
- Torch
- Water
- Fill a 250-gallon propane tank with soap and water and let it sit for two weeks.
- Cut a small slit along the seam of the tank, still full of water, utilizing a torch.
- Drain the water and blow the tank out with air for about 30 minutes.
- Finish cutting the tank in half along the seam with the torch.
- Construct the legs and frame of 3 inch pipe and bracing iron.
- Weld the legs and frame to the bottom portion of the tank.
- Fill in three of the four threaded holes on the top part of the tank, so that smoke cannot escape. The fourth hole will be utilized for a drain for the smoker.
- Assemble the one-fourth inch metal plate to form a firebox for the wood chips. Thinner metal plates will warp due to the heat.
- Draw out a door for the smoker with a pencil. The pencil marks can be erased later.
- Cut only the top slit for the door with a torch.
- Weld the hinge in place before completing the cuts for the door. This will prevent the door from warping.
- Attach a 1 inch strip around the door by welding the strip to the edge to seal the door when the door is closed.
- Cut a round hole in the top of the tank for a piece of 6-inch pipe and weld in place. This will be the smoke stack.
- Utilize a small piece of metal for the rain cap by bending the edges to fit securely over the smoke stack.
- Weld crossbars to the inside of the bottom half of the tank to rest the barbecue grate. A grate from an old grill will work fine and may be cut to size with a torch.
Warning: There is a potential for a propane tank to explode when cut. It is best to utilize a water tank for this purpose.