Do-it-yourself smoke generator for cold smoking

Homemade smoke generators

Step-by-step instructions and detailed diagrams will help you assemble a cassette smoke generator with your own hands from scrap materials. Homemade installations can have no less functionality and safety if the assembly technology is strictly followed.

From a fire extinguisher

  1. Holes for ignition and blowing at the bottom.
  2. Cover (you can leave the original one from the fire extinguisher or make it wooden).
  3. Hole for the pipe under the cover.
  4. Inside there is an ash pan and an ash tray.
  5. Spring for dosed supply of chips and avoiding jamming.
  6. Outside the pipe is a chimney.
  7. Flexible hose for connection to the compressor.

The advantage of such a homemade device is that it has sufficient volume for autonomous smoking for 10-12 hours.

From the pipe

In this case, the device diagram looks like this:

  1. The lower part is an electric stove.
  2. A pipe is installed on top.
  3. Fuel is placed on the stove; it can be poured onto a baking sheet.
  4. In the middle of the pipe, fittings are inserted onto which a mesh or grate is placed to accommodate the products.
  5. A simple cover is made of plywood or sheet metal on top.

Such a smokehouse is quick and easy to construct, but it is not airtight, which leads to smoke leakage. In this regard, it should be placed exclusively outside, so that acrid smoke does not permeate things in the house.

How are the products smoked?

Cold and hot methods of cooking smoked meats are a process in which the products are exposed to smoke from slowly smoldering wood. It is the smoke that kills bacteria and gives the final product a unique smell. Without a special smoking installation, made independently, this effect cannot be achieved.

To make it yourself, you will need the following components: a box for placing products, a smoke generator, a compressor (supercharger).

Various accessories for smoke generator

To improve the quality of smoke, a smoke generator with additional accessories is suitable.

Smoke generator injector device

The most important and complex part of the device is the ejector. The quality and quantity of smoke and the operation of the entire installation depend on its manufacture and settings.

The operating principle of this device is as follows:

  1. the air flow moving through the chimney creates a reduced pressure inside it;
  2. Low pressure in the chimney pipe draws smoke from the smoke generator and creates additional draft through the lower holes.

Thus, the operation of the ejector increases the flow of smoke into the smoking chamber, the smoldering of wood chips and the intensity of smoke emission.

Design and self-assembly of the ejector

This device can be made from a water tee. The middle part is connected to the smoke source, one of the outer parts is connected to the smoking chamber, and a plug with a tube from the compressor is screwed into the opposite part. The temperature is relatively low, so the cork material can be anything: plastic, rubber or metal.

The tube for supplying air to the ejector is taken with a diameter of 6-10 mm and such a length that it extends 8-10 cm into the chimney.

It is important to ensure alignment of the nozzle and the chimney. To do this, it must fit tightly into the plug - it is inserted into the rubber one, and screwed into the metal one with a thread.

Cooler for smoke generator

Cold smoking uses smoke at room temperature, and it comes out of the generator up to 120°C, especially with a lower chimney connection. To reduce its temperature, a cooler or cooler is installed.

This is a cylindrical or square chamber similar in size to the smoke generator body. Once in this chamber, the smoke slows down and cools down. For greater efficiency, the entrance to the cooler is made from the top, and the exit from the bottom.

When cooling, condensate is released from the smoke, which accumulates at the bottom of the cooler, so in addition to it it is necessary to install a condensate collector.

Filter for smoke generator

To improve the quality of smoke, it should be cleaned of resins, soot and other substances. To do this, a filter is installed in the chimney.

Structurally, this is an extension of the chimney filled with steel shavings or metal scourers for washing dishes. This extension can be made in the form of an additional chamber with a cover for replacing the filter or a pipe of a larger diameter than the chimney. In this case, to replace the chips, the chimney will have to be partially disassembled.

Compressor for cold smoked smoke generator

One of the important components of a smoke generator is the compressor. It directs the air flow through the ejector. This flow carries smoke into the smokehouse, creating a vacuum in the combustion chamber and additional draft.

Making your own compressor

The simplest compressor can be made from a computer cooler and a plastic bottle:

  1. a hole is cut in the bottom of the bottle corresponding to the diameter of the cooler;
  2. a fan is inserted into it and secured with tape;
  3. a hole is made in the lid for the connecting tube;
  4. the tube is inserted into the lid, and the connection point is also wrapped with tape;
  5. The cooler can be connected to any 12V DC power source.

DIY liquid for a smoke generator

In addition to smoke generators designed for smoking products, there are devices that create smoke on theater and concert stages.

In these devices, smoke is produced when a special solution hits the heater and evaporates, that is, it is not smoke, but steam.

The composition may be different, for example:

  • glycerin – 15%;
  • alcohol – 10%;
  • distilled water – 75%.

Naturally, the steam from such a solution is not suitable for smoking food.

Safety precautions when working with a smoke generator

Smoke generators used for cold smoking are not considered fire hazard devices. But, despite this, safety precautions during operation should still be observed, because the device produces smoke and uses an electric compressor to operate.

  • If the smoke generator is used in a residential building, then you must use a hood.
  • The device is installed exclusively on a horizontal surface.
  • If the chips catch fire, you should immediately use a water spray.
  • If you notice a burning smell from the compressor, the smoke generator must be immediately disconnected from the network.
  • When servicing the device you are using, you must use special gloves.

Let's look at the main cooking mistakes

  1. Incorrect salting. To prevent food from spoiling, they must be thoroughly salted. For high-quality salting, take 2-3% salt for every kilogram of meat or fish. It is better to take nitrite salt or a mixture of nitrite and table salt. This way, moisture is better removed from the products.
  2. Pre-drying. Salted meat contains a lot of moisture, so it should be dried before placing it in the smokehouse. Prolonged drying will result in a dry product. It is enough to keep the meat ventilated for 6-10 hours.
  3. Using the wrong wood chips. Using wet fuel will result in a bitter taste in smoked meats. The same effect is possible if the smoke generator operates too intensively, so its performance must be monitored.

Considering these simple tips, everyone will be able to prepare stunning masterpieces that will delight even demanding gourmets with their taste, and the cost will be several times cheaper than store-bought dishes.

How to use a smoke generator correctly and avoid common mistakes

A smoke generator is a fire-hazardous device, so it must be used with caution, taking into account all safety requirements. Factory-made devices are usually equipped with an automatic shut-off system. A homemade generator needs to be constantly monitored. The device should be installed on a hard, flat surface covered with heat-resistant material.

It is important to ensure that there are no flammable objects or electrical wiring near the generator that could melt from the heat.
It is important to ensure that there are no flammable objects or electrical wiring near the generator that could melt from the heat.

What mistakes do beginner smokers usually make?

ErrorsDescription
Not enough saltIf meat, lard or fish are not salted enough, they will simply spoil during the smoking process. If you don’t know how much salt you need, take the GOST standard as a basis - 2.3% per kilogram of product. If it seems salty, then reduce the amount of salt to 2%, but not less.
Lots of moistureYou cannot smoke a fresh product; it must dry out a little. Excess moisture will cause the meat to be smoked only on the outside, while the inside will remain raw, since moisture will not allow smoke to penetrate inside.
Using regular table saltTo preserve the smoked product, it should be salted in nitrite salt or a mixture of nitrite and table salt. Only such material guarantees the quality of the product and the absence of botulism.
Over-drying before smokingTo make smoked meats, meat or fish should be dried for 6–10 hours before smoking. Otherwise you will get a hard and dry product.
Wet wood chipsIf you use wood chips that are too wet or exceed the volume of smoke entering the smoker, the product will turn out blackened and taste bitter. Sawdust from coniferous trees is not used for smoking. Only chips from fruit trees, alder and beech are suitable.
Use immediately after smokingAfter you remove the product from the chamber, it should “air” a little. For this purpose, meat or fish is hung in the fresh air for 10-12 hours. During this time, the pungent smell will go away and the color will change slightly.

DIY smoke generator for cold smoking

The homemade design consists of a container with a lid, a tube for supplying smoke to the smokehouse and a small compressor. All components of the kit can be purchased separately. A homemade generator will cost you much less than a factory one, and its manufacture does not require any special tools. Modern “kulibins” even do without a welding machine. This device looks something like this:

Homemade smoke generator

DIY diagram for a cold smoked smoke generator

Device diagrams are easy to find on the Internet. There are several options, but they are all united by common design details:


Generator design with different types of ejection

Ejector in a smoke generator

An ejector is a device that organizes the circulation of smoke from the generator into the smoking tank. It can be made from an ordinary metal water pipe, and for the connection they use bends and angles from the same plumber's arsenal. The parts of the injector can be connected by welding, soldering or threading. The easiest way is to use threaded connections.

Ejectors are placed at the top or bottom of the generator. When placed in the upper part, sawdust decomposition products settle on the internal walls of the generator and on the wood chips themselves in the container; all this re-burns and forms a large number of carcinogenic compounds. Experts suggest giving preference in a homemade smoke generator for a cold-smoked smokehouse to bottom ejection, which provides optimally clean smoke, and the maintenance of the generator itself is greatly simplified.

Compressor for a smoke generator: is it necessary or not?

The job of the compressor is to supply smoke from the generator to the smokehouse. The result of the work directly depends on the intensity of the smoke. Cold smoking is a long process, so the compressor must work for a long time, several hours, or even days.

It is important that the home device does not consume a lot of electricity and is repairable.


An important point is adjusting the intensity of air supply. It will help you choose the right mode and duration of smoking.

For a small chamber, a compressor power of 0.8 atm is sufficient; a small device, for example, an aquarium, can easily cope with this task. For large smokehouses, craftsmen use automobile compressors or parts from a refrigerator.

Smoking chamber

For high-quality cold smoking it will take several days, but during this time harmful microorganisms can form in the chamber that can spoil the products.

That is why it is important to make the chamber airtight and organize the entire process correctly.


The simplest option is to make a chamber from a two-hundred-liter metal or wooden barrel.

It is important to achieve a sealed joint between the smoke generator pipe and the chamber. The barrel is placed on bricks, and a tray is placed at the bottom to collect fat.

Several pieces of fittings are welded inside the improvised chamber for hanging food. You can install grates on the same fittings if you want to lay out fish or cheese.

You can make a chamber from brick or sheet iron. Such capital structures are suitable for those who intend to constantly use the smokehouse or make money from it. The seams of the brickwork are carefully covered with clay.

If the chamber is metal, then it is important to monitor the quality of the welds.

Why is it needed?

Cooking food using the cold smoking method takes a long time. To implement it, you need not only a special device, but also firewood and sawdust. The cooking process can take from two to seven days. During this period, the equipment must constantly maintain a fire. A smoke generating device makes this task easier.

Some models of units are capable of operating without human intervention for several days. With their help, smoke is produced in the room temperature range.

The smoke generator creates smoke and directs it into the smokehouse, where marinated products are located, for example, poultry, fish, meat, and seafood. Smoke affects food and activates certain chemical reactions, which result in tasty, aromatic and healthy dishes.

The unit facilitates the smoking process, has a simple mechanism, and you can even make it yourself. Thanks to it, food in the smokehouse is not baked, since the cooking temperature does not exceed 20-40°C degrees.

Important points when assembling yourself

When making and using a smoke generator yourself, it is important to consider a number of factors.

Generator fuel

For high-quality smoke, wood chips or sawdust from fruit trees are suitable: pear, apple, plum, alder, hazel. Cherry and oak chips are also popular.

It is strictly unacceptable to use coniferous and other resinous wood chips. A pungent odor and unpleasant taste can ruin an exquisite delicacy.

It is best to use small wood chips, chopped by hand or using a garden shredder. Sawdust fractions that are too small will smolder unstably and may ignite.

Cooling smoke

When independently designing a device for cooling smoke to a given temperature, it will be necessary to carry out full-scale experiments with pipes of different lengths and a thermometer installed at the outlet. Both too hot and too cold smoke will not allow the full flavor of the smoked product to emerge.

Safety regulations

When using a smoke generator, it is important to follow the following safety rules:

  • do not store or place flammable materials, including wood chips or sawdust, within a radius of 5 meters from the device;
  • When lighting the firebox, do not use liquid fire starters;
  • when opening the smokehouse for visual inspection, the face and hands must be held so that they are not burned by the escaping hot air or steam;
  • When working with the smokehouse, use protective gloves and thick clothing.

Where to mount the ejector

Do-it-yourself smoke generators for smokehouses use two ejector placement options: top and bottom.

Bottom placement provides greater productivity, but there is a risk of sawdust burning too quickly. Experienced craftsmen advise letting the sawdust smolder naturally, and placing the ejector in the upper part of the generator, close to the outlet pipe.

Design options

There are many design options for homemade smoke generators. When choosing a specific design, the home master proceeds from the following parameters:

  • availability of necessary materials and tools;
  • knowledge of processing and assembly technologies;
  • device performance;
  • Possibility of connecting to an existing smoking chamber.


Do-it-yourself smoke generator for a smokehouse
So, if the manufacture of a spiral-shaped smoke cooler requires proficiency in plumbing and welding at a fairly high level, a less skilled home craftsman can simply replace it with a longer pipe.

Making a smoke generator with your own hands for cold smoking: video and text instructions

To manufacture the main part of the structure, you can use the drawings that were presented earlier. The following tips will help you build without errors:

  • Choose a wall thickness of the steel case of more than 2.5 mm to prevent deformation during strong heating.
  • Since the temperature in the upper part will not be high, it is permissible to use a flexible hose to connect the compressor. The boss can be made of Teflon. It performs the functions of an insulator and a connecting element. Tubes of appropriate sizes are inserted into it.


Instead of this unit, you can use suitable standard hardware

  • The bottom does not have to be removable. If desired, create a wide opening with a closing door. Ash is extracted through it. Moving the damper regulates the traction. This option is used for large case sizes.
  • The top lid must close tightly.
  • All welded joints are cleaned. To prevent rust, the outside of the body is coated with primer and paint. These compounds must be resistant to high temperatures.
  • After assembling and connecting the compressor, the container is filled with sawdust and the functionality of the device is checked.

What to look for when choosing

What advice can our editors give you for the best possible purchase?

Please note the following:

  1. Appearance of the device. This parameter mainly depends on the materials used by the manufacturer. Stainless steel looks great, lasts longer and is easy to clean. Steel of at least 1.5 mm looks optimal. Greater thickness is therefore better. Most models in today's ratings have a wall size of 2 mm.
  2. Simplicity of design. The lid should be wooden - such material will not leave burns. Also take a closer look at models with a removable bottom - this will greatly simplify the process of cleaning a dirty smoke generator.
  3. Smoke supply method. It is better if the pipe is located at the bottom of the device. Why? Firstly, this arrangement requires less chip consumption. Secondly, harmful resins from the condensate will not get onto your products. And thirdly, the smoke will get into the smokehouse faster. In general, some advantages.
  4. Buy only a fully equipped smoke generator. You want to enjoy delicious food prepared in your new appliance immediately after purchase? Then be sure to make sure that the package contains the necessary elements (compressor, mounting bolts, heat-resistant hoses, timer, smoker, lighter and wood chips).
  5. Availability of instructions and recipes. With them you will quickly master the control of the new device.

Types of homemade generators

The circuits of homemade smoke generators may differ slightly, but they are all united by a common device. They include a chamber in which the pyrolysis process occurs, a heating source, a smoke pipeline and a smoke cooling system. The device can be made using available materials. You can make a smoke generator from a fire extinguisher, an electric stove, or an aquarium compressor. Let's look at these and other ideas in more detail.

Electric stove smoke generator

If the idea of ​​homemade smoked sausage has just struck you, and you haven’t prepared for it in advance, you can find a simple and quick way: make it from an electric stove. All other parts can be found in a barn or garage: a barrel without a bottom or a piece of tin pipe, a piece of wire mesh, a sheet of plywood and wood chips.

Almost every country house has an electric stove, and it will become part of the smokehouse.

It is better to set up an impromptu smokehouse outside, then at home it will be difficult to get rid of the aromas that will permeate all things. Install the tiles in a place that the extension cord can reach. A barrel is placed on the electric stove and wood chips are poured into it. At 2/3 of the height, the barrel is pierced with two reinforcing pins crosswise, and a mesh is laid on them. This is where your products will be hung. The top of the barrel is covered with a sheet of plywood or iron. The smokehouse is ready. All that remains is to adjust the tile to the minimum temperature so that the wood chips smolder, and from time to time add fresh material for pyrolysis into the barrel.

The smoking process with such a device is not very convenient because you need to constantly monitor the situation, raise the barrel to adjust the temperature, and remove food to add wood chips.

Such a device cannot be called a proper smoke generator for cold smoking, but for temporary use the idea is quite suitable.

Generator for smokehouse from fire extinguisher

A great idea for a homemade smoke generator is to use an old fire extinguisher. You need to cut off the top of it, it will then be used as a lid. You don’t even have to remove the lever; it will become a handle. Below the cut, two holes are drilled in the body for air access and smoke exit.

Thus, you will get a generator with a top ejector. The advantage of using a fire extinguisher is that it is sealed and durable, and is the right size. This home-made cold-smoked smokehouse with a smoke generator can operate continuously for 10-12 hours.

How to use an aquarium compressor for a smoke generator

We have already said that you can use a low-power aquarium compressor to operate a small smoke generator. For this purpose, you will need an active compressor, that is, one that is installed outside the aquarium. Submersible aquarium filters are not suitable for smoke generators.

Such a device can easily serve a small smokehouse with a volume of 15-20 liters. This will ensure a sufficient supply of smoke. It is better if the device is equipped with air supply power control. It is not difficult to connect a compressor for a smoke generator with your own hands: if it has two air outlets, you need to combine the supply into one channel and insert the hose into the air supply fitting in the ejector.

Such a system can operate around the clock; the pump consumes little electricity.

You can go another way: use a fan for a smoke generator. A computer cooler is suitable for this purpose; it will provide the necessary air injection.

Smoke generator stove for smokehouse

For a large-volume smokehouse, you will need a full-fledged oven. A smoke generator stove for a cold smokehouse is easy to make with your own hands: it is a basic potbelly stove with two levels for fuel: the lower one for firewood and the upper one for wood chips. Pellets, firewood are placed in the lower part, or a portable gas stove is placed, which will heat the upper part with sawdust. From the upper part there is a pipe - a smoke duct, from the lower part - a regular hood, like for a stove.

To lower the smoke temperature, the pipeline is cooled by burying it in the ground or making a water “jacket”. To ensure that smoke enters the smokehouse, the pipe is tilted towards the stove.

Modernization

The design described above is fully functional. But it has many disadvantages and is not very convenient. Based on the results of its use, modifications and improvements were made.

Adjustable traction

One of the main disadvantages of the described design is poor regulation of combustion intensity. It can be slightly changed by adjusting the compressor performance. An adjustable blower can be added to the design. It can be made according to the gate principle:

  • In the lower part of the body (above the place where the stack is attached), weld a piece of round pipe 10-15 cm long.
  • Drill two holes that are located exactly opposite one another.
  • Take a rod that fits into these holes. Its length is 20 cm greater than the diameter of the pipe. Shiber looks like this

    Do-it-yourself smoke generator drawings and photos step-by-step instructions

  • Cut a circle from a sheet of metal (2-3 mm thick). Its diameter is slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the pipe.
  • Make a “handle” from the rod (bend it).
  • Insert a handle into the holes and weld the cut circle.

That's it, the adjustable damper is ready. Turn it, adjust the intensity of air flow, adjusting the intensity of combustion.

Ash pan

Another drawback is that ash spills through the mesh. You can place the smoke generator on a metal plate, but you can make an ash pan. By the way, the gate can be made in an ash pan. This will be more correct, since the air leak can be almost blocked, which cannot be achieved with a damper in the housing - the air enters through the mesh.

Ash pan - a small container slightly larger in size than the body

Do-it-yourself smoke generator drawings and photos step-by-step instructions

The ash pan is made from a piece of pipe with a slightly larger cross-section than the pipe on the body. If you don't have one, you'll have to cook it. The bottom is welded to a piece of pipe, and a thin strip of metal is welded to the body around the perimeter. The body is inserted into the ash pan (the legs are also welded to it).

Condensate collection

When a smoke generator for cold smoking operates, condensation occurs. This makes life difficult, especially if the temperature outside is low. You can solve the problem by making a condensate collector. For this:

  • lower the exhaust pipe of the smoke generator downwards,
  • at the lowest point we install a container for condensate, welding two pipes to it - one opposite the other;
  • on the opposite side the pipe rises again and enters the smoking cabinet.

To collect condensate, I complicate the smoke supply route

Do-it-yourself smoke generator drawings and photos step-by-step instructions

With this device, a significant part of the condensate ends up in the container. The problem is not so acute.

Hot smoked smoke generator options

The easiest way to carry out hot smoking is to place fuel on burning coals - leaves, sawdust, small branches, wood chips. Cover this structure with a box or other container in which to place the fish or meat. The smoke produced is sufficient for cooking.

An alternative is a smoke generator with an electric heater. An electric stove is used as the main element. It is installed inside the smokehouse; a baking sheet or other container with sawdust is placed on it. When turned on, the fuel will smolder and produce smoke.

A smokehouse with a heating element heater is constructed in the same way, but it will need to be firmly fixed inside the container.

Electric heater device

To assemble a smoke generator with your own hands, you will need the following elements:

  • drill;
  • drill;
  • union;
  • fitting;
  • compressor;
  • flexible hose.

You can add a thermometer to the smoke generator to monitor the temperature of the smoke produced. Assembly occurs according to the following algorithm:

  1. The smoke generator housing is selected. This could be a stainless steel pan or a can. In some cases, old fire extinguishers are used.
  2. A hole is drilled in the upper part of the container and a fitting is attached, firmly fixed with a washer.
  3. A fitting is attached to raise the smoke upward. You can order it from specialists; in this case, it is possible to improve the part. Those who ordered a fitting from a turner know that it is possible to make the part inside with an additional tube for more efficient functioning.
  4. A flexible tube leading to the compressor is attached to the fitting. You can use an aquarium or computer cooler as a supercharger.
  5. If a thermometer is provided in the design, it is attached next to the fitting.
  6. A tube is screwed into the free hole of the fitting. This is a chimney through which smoke moves into the chamber. An element of 10-15 cm is sufficient.
  7. Another hole is drilled in the lower part of the body to allow air circulation and ensure continuous smoldering.

.Following a simple algorithm, you can easily assemble the unit with your own hands.

Device and principle of operation

So, we figured out what a smoke generator is. The device, in fact, is more than simple. Its composition consists of several elements: a cylindrical body, a smoke supply pipe, an ejector (nozzle), a removable bottom, a lid, a compressor and an air duct.

How does it work? First, add dry wood chips (100 grams of fuel is enough for an average of 6 hours of operation of the smoke generator). The air duct hose should be connected to the fitting and the compressor, and the fuel should be ignited. After this, an air flow penetrates the chimney nozzle, thus creating a vacuum and drawing smoke from the combustion chamber towards the smoking volume. This is the whole operating principle of most smoke generators.

Please note that the volume of the smoke generator chamber should be no more than 20 liters, since larger chambers require a more powerful smoke source.

DIY photo of smoke generators

What is a smokehouse, design

The refrigerator is now the main component of food preservation. But in those days when there was no electricity, smoking food was almost the only way to prepare

. First of all, in this way they extended the shelf life of meat and fish. Smoked and dried fruits and vegetables were considered delicacies back in Ancient Rome. Each state has its own recipes and smoking technologies. For example, the famous English bacon, French carbonate.

In Rus', the tradition of preparation by smoking has been preserved in ancient times. Archaeological excavations and preserved ancient recipes serve as proof. The manor's estate had its own stationary smokehouse. Every hunter knew how to smoke food. And the most common method in Ancient Rus' was hanging food wrapped in rags near the bathhouse stove, which was heated “black”.

The products are distinguished:

  • hot smoked;
  • semi-hot smoking (temperature 60-70 degrees);
  • cold smoked.

Cold smoking gives the best effect in terms of food preservation.

Features of hot smoking

This is a method that involves quickly cooking the product at higher temperatures.

Two modes can be distinguished:

  1. Temperature: 35-55 degrees, time from 12 hours to 2 days.
  2. Temperature: 80-90 degrees, time from 20 minutes to several hours.

Cooking time depends on what exactly is being smoked. The shelf life of food after hot smoking does not exceed 3 days.

The principle of the device is quite simple. You need a container (smoking chamber) in which grates and hooks are installed for storing and hanging supplies. The shape of the chamber can be round or square. A fireplace is arranged under the container in which the sawdust should smolder. The smoke from them rises up, enveloping the suspended, laid out supplies. The top of the chamber is covered with damp burlap and a lid. In camping conditions, you can cover it with fresh tree branches. It is better to make a small hole in the lid to allow excess smoke to escape.

This kind of structure can be made from available household materials: buckets, barrels, the body of an old refrigerator, a gas cylinder.

The simplest smokehouse is made from a wooden stand covered with thick film.

The layout of a hot smoked smokehouse is quite simple. For home use, you can make a small-sized portable smokehouse. Best made from stainless metal, at least 2 mm thick. With certain skills, you can make such a smokehouse yourself. In a house or apartment, put a tube on the breather (exhaust hole) and exhaust the smoke into a vent or hood.

Design features of a cold smokehouse

The installation of a home-made smoke generator for cold smoking should be carried out on a plot of land with a slope for better smoke draft. But you can also arrange it on a straight section, the main thing is to ensure good traction.

Cold smoking is a longer process, but it is what ensures increased shelf life and gives amazing taste to products. Temperature conditions and terms are individual for each type of food product. Individual farms have their own smoking secrets. In the old days, proprietary recipes were kept secret.

The average temperature is 20-25 degrees, sometimes it is increased to 30 degrees, but not higher than 50. At higher temperatures the process accelerates. The duration of smoking is regulated by the degree of readiness. Food cooked at low temperatures has improved taste. The longer the chimney that comes from the source of smoldering wood chips, the lower the temperature of the smoke. Another advantage of such a chimney is cleaner smoke. Carcinogens (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs), soot settle on the walls of the chimney.

A smoke generator will provide a universal smoking method.

What is a smokehouse smoke generator: basic definitions and problem statement

Cold smoking technology involves long-term exposure of the original products to the smoke of smoldering wood. This process destroys bacteria and blocks decomposition processes. At the same time, this treatment imparts a specific taste and smell.

The limited temperature range (+16°C to +36°C) allows moisture to be removed slowly.

Using a gentle regimen helps preserve structure, healthy vitamins, and fat. Depending on the size of the pieces and other factors, the process may take several days. The information provided will be useful in creating a list of requirements for suitable equipment:

  • It is necessary to create a sufficiently large amount of smoke to ensure rapid smoking.
  • To maintain optimal temperature conditions, you need to consider a cooling system.
  • The duration of the procedure forces the use of autonomous equipment that performs its functions without careful control.
  • To reduce costs, consider creating a cold-smoked smokehouse with a smoke generator with your own hands.

(47 photos) Do-it-yourself smoke generator for cold smoking, drawings

The simplest smoke generator made from cans

Of course, this device is far from a professional gas generator, but the idea has the right to life. We will need the following materials and tools:

  • Three empty vertical tin cans of the same diameter.
  • Tee.
  • The squeegee is extended by ½ inch.
  • ½ inch locknut.
  • Hose fitting.
  • Four clamps long enough to wrap around a can.
  • Copper tube.
  • Minimum set of tools.
  • Compressor from an aquarium.

Remove the bottom of one of the cans. On the second we drill a hole with a diameter of 11 millimeters. This hole is intended for air supply. We connect two jars together. For this purpose, galvanized strips are used. They are wrapped around the cans and secured with a clamp. The third jar also needs to be connected to the others, but bottom up.

Drill a hole on the top can. You will need to screw a ½ inch thread into it. We attach a tee into this drilled slot. To one end of which we install a pipe 14 centimeters long, and to the other end - a fitting. We also install a copper pipe. A compressor is needed to supply air. We connect the compressor tube with the ejector tube. We put sawdust into the generator. The cans must be placed on a fireproof base; an asbestos blanket will do. We put the generator into operation. For ignition we use a hand torch. We direct the burner flame into the ignition hole.

If we have assembled everything correctly, then after a short period of time dense smoke should pour out of the pipe. This is a signal that the generator is working. An ordinary cardboard box serves as a smokehouse. The device is assembled, but has many shortcomings. Suitable as a trial version of the smokehouse. But it's not serious. This smoke generator does not have a condensate collection tank and does not have a cooling system. The idea is worthy of attention, but with further modifications.

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