This smoker is made with five pours of concrete using 6-10mm rebar for the grill and slightly bigger chunks for the sides. It uses a Universal BarBQ Hook to make it easy to remove the grate every time after use, instead of having to clean around it as with standard hooks which require removing. The base also allows you to drill extra holes for drains if needed. I used this method in my previous smoker but now I love it even more because we don’t have to carry rainwater or vinegar – another great tip is to use two layers of aluminium foil for cooking times longer than 2 hours at 244 degrees.
Determine the size and shape of your smoker by measuring the zone you want it to fit. The shape of your smoker can be round, square or rectangular. Next, pick your concrete blocks and layout a diagram of what you want the structure to look like.
I know what you’re thinking: “Why would I want to build a DIY Smoker from concrete blocks when I could just buy one?” Well, there are actually several reasons you might want to build your own smoker: it’s cheaper than buying a high-end smoker, it’s more customizable than a store bought model, and it’s an excellent way to use up any concrete blocks you have lying around. But most importantly, if you’re like me, then you love working with your hands. There’s nothing quite so satisfying as designing something yourself, working out the kinks in the design as you go along, and then seeing your creation come to fruition. With that said: let’s get cooking on this project.
What you’ll need:
Materials
- About 40 concrete blocks, with each block measuring 14 inches by 14 inches x 7 1/2 inches. Concrete blocks are basically hollow bricks made of cement and sand. You can buy them online or at your local hardware store. You’ll need enough to make a rectangular box that is 4 feet high, 3 feet wide, and 5 feet long (that’s the equivalent of 12 blocks). It’s important to use these dimensions because they’re what makes this smoker so efficient at retaining heat. The bigger the smoker, the more meat you can cook in it—but it’s also harder to keep it going for long periods of time without having any smoke escape (and not everyone wants their backyard smelling like barbecue). So if you’re planning on cooking for a big crowd during summertime barbecues or holidays like Thanksgiving—or if you just want something large enough for parties where people serve themselves from buffet tables—then go ahead and build this large! If not, then consider making yours smaller by reducing either its length or height by one block each way (which will still allow plenty of room inside).
Step one: Mark and prep your blocks
- Make sure you have the right tools and materials for your build.
- Mark the blocks with a pencil and use a level to ensure they are level when laid out on their sides.
- Use a hand-saw to score each block, then chisel out pieces of brick until it is removed completely from its position in the wall (the remaining mortar will not be visible on finished product).
- Repeat steps 1 through 3 until all bricks have been removed from wall, leaving only holes where they once were; these holes will be filled with new mortar later in construction process so they don’t need to be perfect.
Step two: Assemble the base of your smoker
With the base level and in place, use a spirit level to ensure that it is sitting evenly. If there are any gaps between the blocks, use your mortar to fill them.
To make sure that your smoker is completely square and sturdy, it’s important that all of the blocks are sitting snugly together. Use your trowel to apply mortar in between each block so it becomes one solid surface, then wipe away any excess with a damp rag or sponge before moving on to step three.
Step three: Add in some space
Next, fill in the gaps with concrete. Use a trowel to smooth the concrete and make sure it’s flat on both sides of your smoker.
Use a level to check that your smoker is level across all four sides. If necessary, use a wet saw to cut any blocks that are too high or low and even out the height of each block wall as needed.
Once you have an even base for your smoker walls, remove any excess concrete from around each block using a chisel or hammer so there aren’t any sharp edges sticking out from underneath them when they’re stacked next to one another later on.
Step four: Fill in the gaps and top your foundation off
- Fill in the gaps: Use mortar to fill in any gaps between blocks and make sure that your foundation is sturdy.
- Trowel smoothness: Use a trowel to make sure your foundation is level. You can use a level or eye-ball it, but I recommend using a level since it will be easier than trying to eyeball everything.
- Brush excess mortar off: Use a brush with long bristles (or even just some old paintbrushes) to clean off excess mortar that may have gotten on top of your smoker box or firebox (depending on what you choose).
Step five: Building out your chimney
- Build a chimney that’s tall and narrow:
- Builders often use a stack of concrete blocks that is two bricks wide and one brick tall, but you can build your stack of blocks to any proportions you like—just make sure the walls are at least 1/2 inch thick so they won’t crack when they dry. This will help your smoker last longer.
- Build a chimney that is deep:
- The deeper your chimney is, the more smoke it can accommodate before needing to be refilled or emptied each time (which isn’t as fun). If building out of foam insulation board instead of concrete blocks, you may want to consider using another material for this step instead—foam board doesn’t hold up well enough against high heat over time like block does!
- Build a chimney that’s wide:
- Concrete blocks are pretty heavy; if yours weren’t securely attached before starting this step then they might break apart while moving them around later on in construction process which could cause serious injuries if not handled properly first time around (because we all know accidents happen).
Step six: Seal it up
To seal the smoker, apply a layer of sealant to both the inside and outside of your smoker. Sealants are available at most hardware stores, and you should choose one that is compatible with concrete. Apply it using a brush or roller according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Also be sure to build your smoker on a level surface so that water does not pool inside during use.
Step seven: Season your smoker and get cooking.
Once your smoker is assembled, the next step is to season it. Seasoning the smoker will help prevent rust and mold. It will also prevent food from sticking to the walls of your smoker.
Seasoning is important for health reasons as well: it ensures that harmful toxins don’t build up in your new smoking system. This can be especially beneficial for smokers who are planning on smoking meat regularly, since eating poorly-prepared meat has been linked with many serious health problems including cancer and heart disease. In addition to preventing these diseases, seasoning also makes sure that everything runs smoothly when using a smoker or grill; anything less than perfect performance could result in disasterous results such as oversmoked foods or even fire. emergencies (this doesn’t mean you should skip out on safety precautions).
You can learn to cook on a DIY Smoker from concrete blocks.
Concrete blocks, because of their dense construction, are easy to work with. They’re inexpensive and fireproof, which means they won’t burn down your house while you’re busy cooking sausages. They’re also easy to seal, season, clean and store making them an ideal choice for a DIY smoker project.
Concrete blocks come in all shapes, sizes and colors so it’s fun to experiment with different looks for your smoker.
Final words
When you’re done with your smoker, it’s time to use it! This step is arguably the most fun of all. Be sure to season your smoker correctly before you start cooking on it, and then enjoy every delicious meal that comes out of this new meat-cooking machine.
