A new smoker for the Christmas feast

Smoking meat has been a longtime hobby of mine, and these hands have built countless homemade smokers over the past 20 years….Since my brother Greg has an unbelievable passion for grilling and smoking meat these days too, I volunteered our services for preparing the upcoming Christmas feast – with every bit of it being cooked outdoors. He’s got all kinds of deluxe model charcoal grills and smokers – whereas my old electric Brinkman smoker has seen better days. So, I decided to do some research on various models – then construct my own. What I discovered was an easy one to make from a metal garbage can – although there sure wasn’t a shortage of critics concerning it’s safe use with food contamination from zinc poisoning…..
However, most people forming their opinions on the matter have never worked in a maintenance environment for the past 26 years, and also with the privilege of welding or cutting galvanized metal on numerous occasions. That’s where I come in - True, hands-on experience and with more metallurgical intelligence than the average Alabama redneck….Lol. The claim is that the zinc coating from the metal garbage can is released in vapor form when subjected to the moderate temperature inside the homemade smoker which is generated by an electric heating element – therefore subjecting meat cooked in it to harmful zinc exposure which is bad for humans consuming it. Sigh………..This is the point where I seriously have to tell myself not to scream.
Fact: Zinc coating is easily removed from metal by applying the flame from a torch or welding electrode. I’ve  done it tons of times, and what happens is a white, fluffy substance is released from the zinc – as well as some white/yellow smoke. Have I inhaled it? Of course. Everyone that works with cutting or welding galvanized steel does. If exposed by alot, you simply drink a glass of milk afterwards to keep from getting sick from it. Period. Keep in mind – these tasks are being performed at temperatures well above 800 degrees. This little heat source in the smoker? Sheesh. A person would shout with joy if they could somehow build a temperature of 250 degrees inside the can. So, is there a possibilty that meat cooked inside it under these circumstances could become exposed to zinc poisoning? Um, definitely not…..
So, with all of that said – I have built one. For about $60, I made this garbage can smoker in no time at all. Sure, I could purchase another Brinkman for another $15-$20, but what fun would that be? Plus – this one will hold more meat, and also use less electricity.

It’s pretty simple – just sit a single element electric cooking thingy in the can with the cord ran out the side, and place a smoker box on top with wood chips inside it that have been saturated with water, plug it in, and you have smoke.

I placed 2 cooking racks at strategic locations inside the can – which of course are supported by 1/4″ bolts fastened to the sides. Because of the sheer weight of a turkey, I would definitely place it on the bottom rack if cooking one. However, chickens and ribs would be placed on the top rack.

Anyway, I’ll season the entire inside this coming weekend with a test run on a pound of bacon, then this little dude will be ready for some action at Christmas. I’ll let you know how it turns out.

Jeff