I put this question in the digital smoker section but it applies to any one of them. For those of you who have a smoker in your garage or workshed and have a fan/venting system to exhaust smoke, do you get ANY smoke coming into the garage? Or does your venting system pull all of it out, I rigged up fan and vent system yesterday and am using it today, its working great but I am still getting a little bit of smoke in the garage(very little smells good actually). If I turn up the fan it starts to suck the smoke right out of the tower and doesn't let the meat get any. But if I turn it down it come into the shop, I can't get that sweet spot where there is nothing. is this just a problem I will have to deal with, or has anyone got a fool proof system? I have a car project in here as well and was hoping to not smoke sausage and my car at the same time ;D
Corey
Hi Corey
Here's a few posts I did on my garage setup along with a few problems and modifications I made to resolve them. At first I had some smoke in the garage (not much) until I realized that a range hood with a standard fan (not a drum style blower) actually only sucks air from the very centre. So I added a piece of 4" PVC pipe and that just sits on top of the BS over the vent. It worked very well but tended to draw too much air through the unit causing it to cool down. My solution was to notch the 4" pipe at the bottom to allow it to draw room air as well. I have found that I tend to have the vent slightly more closed now due to the assisted draw on it but I have no problem maintaining temps. This picture shows what I'm talking about.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/mmike/Fishing%20Photos/IMGP0284-1.jpg)
Original setup...
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=4142.msg35849#msg35849
First changes....
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=6075.0
Current setup...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/mmike/Fishing%20Photos/SmokersinGarage.jpg)
Mike
I didn't bring my camera hometo take any photo's of my setup but your system is similar to what I did, I'm using a 5" duct fan for air movement, I took your advice and opened up an area of the plenum above the smoker to allow it to draw air from the shop and its WAY better. I am going to keep making the hole larger untill I can get a good balance. I don't think its ever going to be perfect.
I can't complain, its -9 outside today, I'm just happy my rig is working at all and the fine tuning will come i guess.
Corey
What I found just playing around with the fan and how it sucked smoke was only the very centre really has the suction. The outer portion of the fan blades just really stir the air. This was why I went with a 4 inch pipe to get the smoke more focused to the centre of the fan.
I'm sure different range hoods or vents respond differently. A friend of mine who I built a large smoker for also has it in his garage. The range hood he used was a higher end, more powerful unit and he hasn't had any issues at all.
Mike
Why not run a pipe thru the roof and make Chimney? That's what I have and no fan needed. No smoke at all except if I open while smokes going. I would love a little extra smoke to smell. Lol
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I put mine in the garage a couple weeks ago. I just run a 4" flex duct out the window. Works fine 'til the wind picks up. I still have to do a final setup before it gets too cold.
I usually leave my truck windows cracked a little so I can enjoy the smoke for a few days after. When the smell wears out, it's time to smoke something else.
I just want to remind you to regular check your smoker!
(http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h463/utahsmokin/115.jpg)
http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=19808.0
Not to as worried about checking as I use to be. I have a maverick 732 and keep an eye on that. If a fire would start smoker temp will go up fast. Or if element quits I can see that also. Oh what a life!
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Hey SouthernSmoked
Judging by your picture, it appears the heat recovery in your smoker is pretty quick. Close the door and the temps are back up in seconds!!!
Mark beat me to it (the picture).
I know a lot of you guys do this... But, indoor smoking is dangerous.
Yeahhhhhhhhh... I know some of y'all have different setups/precautions, but it ain't good for newbies (or most folks) to even think about this.
You will smoke up your garage/basement/whatever, and you will risk burning down your house.
Take it outside.
Awrighten.
Addendum...
Mike LIVES in Saskatchewan... And smokes a lot of fish...
He knows what he is doing, but I'm just trying to say that most of you (drooling over his setup) do NOT want to try to BE MIKE.
OK?
I don't care how tough you are --- FIRE can whip your @ss.
And your kids, and grandma, and your dog.
It only takes ONE grease fire.
Dang...
Quote from: hal4uk on November 07, 2011, 09:17:20 PM
Addendum...
Mike LIVES in Saskatchewan... And smokes a lot of fish...
He knows what he is doing, but I'm just trying to say that most of you (drooling over his setup) do NOT want to try to BE MIKE.
OK?
I don't care how tough you are --- FIRE can whip your @ss.
And your kids, and grandma, and your dog.
It only takes ONE grease fire.
Dang...
You are right Hal. It's certainly nothing to take lightly. You do want to take precautions and study where the potential problems are to alleviate them before hand.
I have taken a lot of precautions that have been designed into my smokers. The other things I do are always keep my smokers clean and free of grease. My garage is also detached, as it not attached to my home. Although I would just as soon nothing happened to it. ;)
Mike
Im not a prof smoker, but I am a prof fireman and the smokers belong outside. If the smoker pictured had been inside it would have been bye bye house.
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So if I understand this right - it is OK for Mike to smoke indoors because he lives in Saskatchewan and has been doing this for awhile. I am not sure if your comment regarding "Newbies" was addressed to me or not but a Newbie is simply someone that has not posted very often on this forum. That does not mean they are idiots.
I agree there are dangers attached to smoking indoors and the picture serves as a reminder of these dangers. But most importantly it shows that there are safety precautions that should be adhered to no matter where your smoker is placed and that the maintenance procedures noted in the owners manual are there for a reason. A lot of this is common sense; keep the smoker clean (IE don't let grease build up) clean the pucks out regularly and don't leave it unattended.
JZ
Nobody here is calling anybody an idiot here. We don't do that on this forum. If we did I would be called one all the time ;D
People just want everyone to know what the risk's are if you decide to go with the garage route and what has happened to some. The picture posted by SouthernSmoked says it all don;t you think. Last winter my smoker was in the garage out back. I had no problems with it in the garage but it bothered me to no end that it was out back and I couldn't keep an eye on it all the time so this year it is right outside my sliding glass door where I can look at it more often. What ever route you take just be extra carfull is all we are saying.
That picture absolutely makes the point and I am glad it was posted. It clearly demonstrates the potential dangers and the need to be extra careful if the smoker is used indoors. Heck for that matter even where you put it outdoors.
Thanks Devo, I really enjoy this forum and learn a lot from it. The people here are great and I appreciate all the advise, recipes and other information that is exchanged on a daily basis.
If I took a comment the wrong way then I apologise.
Hey, JZ, I reckon I'm the one that started this misunderstanding, but I certainly was not calling you an idiot (or anyone else)...
I just don't want to see anyone burn down their house.
Perhaps, "take it outside" was a bit "preachy". Sorry about that.
We do have a resident preacher here; his name is Friar Tuck.
He's much nicer than I am.
But, he wuzn't sitting here with me, or offering guidance to me (or my ceramic snowman) while that petrified nitwit with the carrot nose nodded approvingly as I typed and posted that babble.
Awrighten.
Well mines in the garage (unattached) I also have a fire extinguisher there. Run a PID. And monitor meat and cabinet temps. Keep it clean and im in the process of separating the smoke generator for cold smoking. But most of all I have good insurance..lol Can't be 100 percent but I do all I can. Hope this works out good. But like they say anything can happen. That goes for inside appliances too!
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Hey hal4uk, the only person that used the word idiot was me and it appears I should have phrased that differently. In any case let's forget about this and get back to enjoying this forum.
Well I for one am never going to forget what he said, cause I am just a remembering kind of guy and Hal........hold it. What were we talking about? Ok well I forgot but you can be sure I won't forget next time we discuss.......um, ah, wait a minute..... I forgot what you said but I am sure someone said "Awrighten". ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Quarlow on November 10, 2011, 05:12:17 PM
Well I for one am never going to forget what he said, cause I am just a remembering kind of guy and Hal........hold it. What were we talking about? Ok well I forgot but you can be sure I won't forget next time we discuss.......um, ah, wait a minute..... I forgot what you said but I am sure someone said "Awrighten". ;D ;D ;D
Well, I reckon, if grandma had wheels, she'd have been a bicycle. :o
Awrighten.
Been a while since i checked this thread, it took an unusual direction there for a bit. Anyways, here's what I came up with, and it works very well. Only a little bit of smell in the garage. I never plan to leave it over night, can't afford to burn the garage down. I work there on weekends so I'm always within 20ft of the Bradley at any time.
Here's a pic:
(http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u358/ComaxRacing/Various/HPIM1233.jpg)
Corey my setup is the other end of the scale from yours. The old shed is ventilated well enough so I don't worry about venting the smoker. It works really well. Come summer I'll move it back outside but this is her home for the winter. Here she is in her cold smoke rig ready to be wrapped in her blanky out of the rain and wind.
(http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb368/cathousewilly/2011_1103pastrami0006.jpg)
Mine's not fancy! Just getting started. But had to set up to continue smoking while getting things ready. The Bench will be approx 18 ft. 3/4" Melimite top.
place for my dorm fridge,dehydrator,grinder.stuffer,slicer and smoker. Will update pics later.
(http://i1229.photobucket.com/albums/ee470/viper1233/2011-11-01_16-28-31_287.jpg)
Quote from: cathouse willy on November 30, 2011, 04:31:17 PM
Corey my setup is the other end of the scale from yours. The old shed is ventilated well enough so I don't worry about venting the smoker. It works really well. Come summer I'll move it back outside but this is her home for the winter. Here she is in her cold smoke rig ready to be wrapped in her blanky out of the rain and wind.
(http://i1202.photobucket.com/albums/bb368/cathousewilly/2011_1103pastrami0006.jpg)
Cool rig, you do however have one advantage. Your weather doesn't get to -35c in January (generally) ;D
Viper, I like your set-up look llike your setting up a complete sausage/butcher area all in one. Very cool. Keep the pics coming ;D
That's basically what I'm going for. But not just sausage. bacon, ham and other smoked meats. Plus ribs,cordon blu and such are also a favorite. Just want it all in one location where its easier to keep track. The dorm refrigerator will be monitored to the best curing range. I'm also building a dehydrator out there for jerky and such. So its my man cave or fun house. Oh, nice thing is I have large sink and Bathroom out there.
Very nice 8). I already chose my big hobby (cars) my man cave is filled with that project so I don't have very much room left over for doing the smoking hobby. One day I will set up a space for doing everything like you are, but for now I have to do it where ever there is a few ft of counter space. I would be very interested to see the finished work area. ;D
Well I am very lucky. We downsized about 3 years ago when I became disabled. But the up side is I have 3 outbuildings on commercial land. One 2 car garage, one a 40-60 ft building and a 4 car with car port on one side and a car rack and concrete on other side. If this wasn't enough the wife don't do stairs well so We have this kind of a mother in law apartment upstairs and I have it too. Also I have a very large dry concrete basement. Mostly for me but their is a washer,and dryer which I do most of cause of stairs and two large freezers also. 3 1/2 acres to play and hunt and garden. If it sounds like bragging it's not.But I do realize if been blessed! Well part of it is because the wife but still. She loves her house so all is well. Sorry not meaning to go off topic. But as always my running mouth did.
No problems, sounds like your where I want to be in about 15yrs. My body is still working (for now) so I'm makin hay. I'm a city slicker so we have a little less space (one 24x26 garage) I do have a little extra space in my garage but due to the fact that my car project is in there I don't trust exposing raw meat in there for any lenght of time because of the chemicals/welding fumes etc. Although a third eye would be handy I'll stick to the two I have ;D I'm lucky I have a great wife who helps me with my butcher hobby (as much as she can) Plus she eats the finished product so its only fair (right) :-\.
Keep the pics coming
Corey