Designing and constructing our smoker has become a long odyssey that is now a joke amongst our families. Although nearly finished it won’t be fired up this season (late 2006) but the plan is to complete it for next year – and how many times have we said that!

Below are a series of photos during various phases on construction.

The smoker is partially based on a commercial unit (Smo-King) and a few home-built ones we’ve seen photos of. It is built around a mild steel frame, has stainless-steel sheet on the inside and galvanised sheet on the outside. In between is a layer of high-temperature rock-wool insulation. It consists of two main sections. The lower section contains an electric element to heat up the wood chips to produce the smoke. Although only one element is fitted it has capacity for a second one if necessary. Ports at the bottom allow the input of cooler smoke for cold-smoking (in the future). A perforated sheet (not shown) separates the upper section where the sausages hang and mingle with the smoke. Finally, a variable vent at the top allows the smoke to escape.

Pete admiring his handywork.