The Wild Pig Smoker

Step 18 Done

Now you can dress her up with some nice heat resistant paint, some handles and whatever you can think of. You can see the round gauges I mounted in both the horizontal and the vertical cookers. These are regular BBQ thermometers and have half inch iron pipe threads. Just cut or drill a hole big enough for the probe to go in, get a half inch black iron coupling, cut it in half and weld it to the hole you drilled. then you can just screw in the gauges. Cutting the coupling in half will make two adapters for the gauges. This makes it much easier to monitor your internal temperatures.

Remember, low and slow. Low temps (200-250) slow cook (4-10)hours) = Good eats!

I have affectionately named my smoker The Wild Pig.

Comments

[Screamindeuce]

What a Great article. Since I was unable to download the PDF, I did a Cut and Paste, text, pictures and all. I have been wanting to build a great smoker but was not sure of the cutouts and placement of all the various pieces. I did notice that the smoker is offset on the trailer. Does this present any problems when you are pulling it from one site to another.

[purplewg]

No problems with it being mounted offset on the trailer. I wouldn't make a fast right turn though.

[Neil2009]

Brilliant idea for total control from hot oven to cold smoking cheese. Great execution and great project explanation. This jumps me a long way toward building my own custom smoker.
Thanks very much for taking the time and trouble.

[purplewg]

Thank you for the comment. I am pretty proud of it.

[wendilane]

Question ... one of the things I learned very quickly after building my cooker was grease management. After 8 years, I finally added angle iron across the bottom of my cook chamber with a ball valve underneath. Although I didn't see anything in your pics, have you put in some type of grease management system? If so, will you post up some pics? Thanks! Lane "Smokin'L" Smith AZ

[purplewg]

I was fortunate in that the propane tanks had it gauges and regulators screwed into the tank. When I built it, I put these holes down and have plugs in them. If/when I need to clean it out I just pull the plugs and wash her out. My plenum plates are in three pieces which allow me to remove them for cleaning. I also foil the top of the plenum before cooking to capture as much drippings as I can, which is most.

[hybridracers]

already asked this on the first step but Im still curious.........any tips on finding tanks?

[electra96]

Craigslist for sale and you can place a wanted ad. You can also check with the propane suppliers in your area. Some have tanks they want to dispose of.

[misterwelder]

You did a FANTASTIC job. Thanks for sharing that.

[TForward]

Best of all that baby is portable.

[vhcl]

Man what a beauty !!!! And an excellent Instructable.

[HobbyistX]

That's a good looking smoker!

[Crackersouth]

That's awesome, I'm so envious, your neighbours must love you. NOW, dress up that trailer with checkplate and make compartments for all the supplies.

[purplewg]

Good idea but I don't cook for a business. I just cook for myself and some friends. And thanks to all for the kind words.

[jeff-o]

That is one badass-looking smoker! Can I come to your next BBQ? ;)

[osgeld]

ditto lol