Homemade Sausage Making

I started construction on a new smokehouse several weeks ago. Its going slow, never seem to have enough time to work on it. Im making it out of ceder, it will sit on a row or 2 of cinder blocks and have a seperate firebox with smoke/heat piped in. My plan is to have this function as a hot smoker AND a cold smoker when I need it.

Here's what I have so far.

Be sure to install your stick racks before you get it all closed in. looks good so far.

you should maybe use stainless steel screws nick you don't want to have them "bleed " on all that nice cedar.JMO ,nice so far.orf...

ssorllih wrote:Be sure to install your stick racks before you get it all closed in. looks good so far.

Started drilling the holes for the dowel racks today.

you should maybe use stainless steel screws nick you don't want to have them "bleed " on all that nice cedar.JMO ,nice so far.orf...

Thanks orf. I thought about that. The box the screws came in says guaranteed not to rust. It's the rust that bleeds and creates the streaks, right? Or am I wrong?

The new generation screws have coatings that resist the chemicals in the wood preservatives. They keep very well.

Hi.
If you have treated wood in the construction of your smokehouse, isn't this detrimental to everybodies health.
Something harmful must adhere to whatever you are smoking, Hot or Cold!!!!!!!!!!!!
Regards,
Jan.

This wood is cedar and it is naturally durable. Not chemically treated.

yes .you got that right.I used drywall screws in mine but as you see by the pic's I'm not concerned about rust streaks,it' kinda on the rustic side. Your's however is nice cedar and the streaks wouldn't fit in very well.IMO. carry on .orf...

Nick, actually it is the acids in the wood that reacts with the iron in the steel that makes the stain but the new coatings prevent that. You are good to go.

Looks good, Nick!

After double checking my screws it looks like I did in fact pick up the wrong ones. I appreciate you guys bringing it to my attention. I guess I was just looking at too many different ones that day at Lowes. Luckily I wasnt too far into the project so replacing them wasnt a problem.

That is a pretty good helper you have. I bet he can fetch and hold as well as any adult and better than a few.

ssorllih wrote:That is a pretty good helper you have. I bet he can fetch and hold as well as any adult and better than a few.

You better believe it!! He LOVES to help and build things. I told him we'll build a bird house soon.

Hey Nick, it looks great. And little Evan... isn`t so little anymore! He`s a good lookin` kid. Hey Nick, did you know that Ross and El Ducko built a smoker much like yours. Ross was havin` a fit one day while putting those screws into the cedar boards. He was throwin` half of them away and saying some naughty words too!
Anyway, El Ducko ran down to the smoker to see what was going on with all the commotion and fuss that Ross was kickin` up.
"What`s the matter with you?", asked El Duck.
"These screws are no good! Half of the heads are on the wrong end", Ross screamed.
The Duck looked puzzled for just a minute while he considered Ross` carpentry skills.
Then, rubbing his chin, El Ducko said to Ross...
"Well, don`t throw them away - save them to use on the other side of the smokehouse"!

Keep up the good work Nick,
Best Wishes,
Chuckwagon

Some of them only work on the sides. The ends of the smoke house need north south screws and the sides need east west screws