Making Summer sausage (And Smokehouse build..kinda)

[92xj]

I found a few photos, but not all of them. I do not have any measurements at the moment, but you can tell width and depth by counting cinder blocks.
Note, during the build, I had 3 rows of blocks. Once I got the smokehouse out and set, 3 was too tall, so I went to 2 rows.
I also don't have the exhaust holes cut in these photos, but you can see them in the cooking photos. Each hole has a cover over it. I adjust each to really get the temps dialed in.
I also do not use wood in the cast iron on the burners anymore. I keep the cast iron in there to deflect the heat, but the smoke comes from a pellet tube that I place in the air intake hole on the outside.

 

[92xj]

and random food it has cooked...

 

[92xj]

 

[jmez]

. Patience is definitely needed if you do it correctly. First couple times I did the crank it up I'm sick of this thing. Dry and crumbly. Now, it's done when the smoke alarm goes off. Usually around 20 hours.

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[stump06]

@92xj Thank you for the photos! Did you build it out of pine or another wood?

 

[92xj]

@92xj Thank you for the photos! Did you build it out of pine or another wood?

Just plain ol Pine. I wanted to use cedar, but that was expensive. Plus, after a round or two with smoke, the inside gets pretty seasoned and all is well.

 

[Elite]

Thanks for adding the smoker build pics, So you are essentially heating it with the propane burners inside and then you have a external smoke pipe coming into it?


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[stump06]

@92xj You da man!

 

[92xj]

Thanks for adding the smoker build pics, So you are essentially heating it with the propane burners inside and then you have a external smoke pipe coming into it?


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Correct. The propane burners do all the heating and temp control. And the smoke tube adds zero heat. When doing cheese, I leave the propane burner off and just use the smoke tube with zero heat.

 

[Elite]

Correct. The propane burners do all the heating and temp control. And the smoke tube adds zero heat. When doing cheese, I leave the propane burner off and just use the smoke tube with zero heat.

What is burning for the smoke tube to work? Any pictures or description on the smoke tube set up?


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[BBob]

What is burning for the smoke tube to work? Any pictures or description on the smoke tube set up?

Smoke tubes get filled with pellets. You light them with a propane torch and just let them burn on their own.

 

[92xj]

What is burning for the smoke tube to work? Any pictures or description on the smoke tube set up?


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It’s just a metal tube that holds wood pellets. You light one end of the pellets with a torch, blow the flame out and they smolder producing a perfect thin blue smoke.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/A-MAZE-N-1-Adjustable-Length-Stainless-Steel/1001294708?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-sol-_-ggl-_-PLA_SOL_119_Grills-_-1001294708-_-online-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gbraid=0AAAAAD2B2W_kemvITMtEQpZIPoqXkru3f&gbraid=0AAAAAD2B2W_kemvITMtEQpZIPoqXkru3f&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyfuJ-MPS-wIVIWpvBB32jQ6yEAQYAiABEgLtsvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Elite]

It’s just a metal tube that holds wood pellets. You light one end of the pellets with a torch, blow the flame out and they smolder producing a perfect thin blue smoke.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/A-MAZE-N-1-Adjustable-Length-Stainless-Steel/1001294708?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-sol-_-ggl-_-PLA_SOL_119_Grills-_-1001294708-_-online-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gbraid=0AAAAAD2B2W_kemvITMtEQpZIPoqXkru3f&gbraid=0AAAAAD2B2W_kemvITMtEQpZIPoqXkru3f&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyfuJ-MPS-wIVIWpvBB32jQ6yEAQYAiABEgLtsvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

That’s simple enough! What kind of burn time do you get out of the tubes? And is it placed right in the smoker?


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[92xj]

mine last 2-3 hours. I do not place it inside, though you could. They don't work well on small smokers or pellet grills because there is not enough oxygen flow inside the cookers to keep it smoldering good. Unless you have an intake port and you put the tube close to it.

On my smokehouse, the pellet tube is placed outside the smoker right at the air intake hole. Once you have heat going you have created a draft with the warm air. Oxygen is pulled into the air intake where my tube sits, pulling in the smoke.

 

[Ceo]

Thanks for all the info and time to post everything.

 

[afilko]

thanks for sharing

 

[PaHunter86]

How do you control the heat? Just watch the temps and manually adjust the propane flow or is it done with a thermostat control tied into the burner?

 

[92xj]

How do you control the heat? Just watch the temps and manually adjust the propane flow or is it done with a thermostat control tied into the burner?

I just watch my thermometer and when it needs adjusting, I turn the propane regulator whichever way is needed. I will also adjust the exhaust holes to get the temps as close to even as possible. I run a probe high and a probe low, I want those temps as close to each other as possible. Closing off some exhaust holes helps accomplish that goal.

 

[PaHunter86]

Thanks. I was just curious bc I'm going to be building one here shortly and wanted to makes sure I have it right the first time.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Good recipe, I made it recently and the feedback from friends and family has been a great. Even the ones I thought would be hesitant with wild game.

Now I just have to ration what I have left for scouting season this summer....