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DIY Smoker | How To Build A Smokehouse From Pallets for Less than $100

December 17, 2017 by adminPO

 

Yes, with a pile of old pallets, less than $100 and a bit of work, we built this really cool smokehouse. 3′ x 3′, it is big enough to smoke a whole animal, or at least a few big trays of meat plus some links of sausage.

I love this project – It still amazes me what you can build with repurposed wood and how great it looks. We really wanted to make a big DIY smoker, but most of the plans we looked that showed you how to build a smokehouse were too small and/or they called for using quite a bit of expensive materials. We never found plans that really met our requirements, so we ended up making our own.

Our considerations for DIY smoker plans were:

  • Size – it needed to be big enough to a lot of items at once and also smoke large items
  • Cost– it needed to be as inexpensive as possible while still allowing you to smoke meat well
  • Skill level required – it needed to be something you could do with basic woodworking knowledge

I don’t know if you have ever smoked meat before, but it is a rewarding, yet time consuming task. Since your meat will be preserved, and therefore good for a long time, it makes the most sense to be able to smoke a lot at once. After determining how much wood we needed for a decent size smoker, we decided to go with repurposed pallets. For less than $100, we were able to put together this great smokehouse that can hold a ton of meat. Multiple racks for smoking as well as a place to hang sausages, you can even hang a whole deer in it if you like.

Here are the supplies you need to get started and the instructions and video for this cool project:

How to Build A Smokehouse:

  • 20-30 pallets, deconstructed (need pallets? read our post about finding free pallets and our post about finding the safest pallets to use for your project)
  • 2 1/2 inch screws *you should choose a good outdoor screw, we used plastic coated decking screws
  • 1 1/4 inch screws
  • aluminum flashing
  • corrugated tin for roof (4’x3′) *this must be raw metal, not galvanized
  • heavyduty tin foil
  • roll of aluminum screen
  • handle (for door)
  • hinges (3)

Tools You Will Need to Build A Smokehouse:

  • reciprocal saw with bimetal blade (used to take pallets apart)
  • drill gun, preferably a cordless one
  • drill bits 1/8 bit and countersink bit
  • measuring tape
  • metal/tin snips
  • utility knife
  • Skil saw or table saw
  • Staple Gun
  • Safety Glasses
  • Work Gloves
DIY smoker: Supplies and tools you will need for the project
Deconstructed pallet pieces, cut to size, aluminum mesh screen and corrugated tin for roof. (Only use raw metal, not galvanized.)
Pictured are the deconstructed pallet pieces, both the pallet panels (shown on left) and the 2×4 pieces of pallet, all cut using the dimensions in our cuts list.

Check out our project videos for this DIY Smokehouse:

How To Build a DIY Smoker

 

Directions and Instructions for Homemade Smokehouse:

 

Step 1 : Select Your Pallets and Deconstruct Them

There are a few challenges when you use free, repurposed materials. The wood you get is not consistent, often very dry, sometimes warped. It splits easily. It is far from perfect, but it is free. You will need 20-30 pallets for this project. We recommend you spend some time looking for ones without too many broken slats and without wood that is too visibly warped. It is fine if you do not do this or are not able to find perfect pallets (those do not exist) You wood may be a little warped, but that is fine. Your smokehouse will not be perfect, but it will smoke meat. You will want to get a few more pallets than you think you need in order to get the best materials. Pallets usually range from 42″-48″ and 3’x3′ design should allow you to build this when you use pallets in this size range. The 2x4s in most pallets are typically 4′ – 5′ long and they have cutouts for a forklift. The cutouts are fine. If you need to, you can sister two boards together, which we explain further in our DIY Smoker Video.

Pallets come in many shapes and sizes. Each one is little bit different, and some are in better shape than others.

Deconstruct your pallets. We recommend you use a reciprocal saw with a bimetal blade that cuts through nails to do this. Trust me, this is the easiest way. View our tutorial and video on The Easy Way To Deconstruct A Pallet for step by step instructions.

A reciprocal saw with a bimetal blade makes pallet disassembly much less work than a pry bar.
You place the blade under each slat and cut, leaving you with the 2×4 planks that are between the slats.

 

Step 2 : Cut Clean Ends on Board and Make Cuts Below

Once you have your pallets deconstructed, you need to make your cuts. Start by making clean cuts on the ends of all your pallet boards. You should only need to remove a little bit. We chose our 3′ design to accommodate for this loss of wood from your pallets.

CUTS LIST

Cut these from 2x4s

(part 1) 2 top braces front and back @ 33”

(part 2) Door frame 2 pieces @ 70”

(part 3) Door frame 2 pieces @ 29”

(part 4) Wall frame front 2 pieces @ 6’

(part 5) Wall frame back 2 pieces @ 5’ 6”

(part 6) Back frame 2 pieces @ 5’4”    1×1

(part 7) Shelf supports 8 pieces @ 33”

(part 8) Shelf frames 8 pieces @ 32 ¾”

(part 9) And 8 pieces @ 30 ½ “

 

Cut these from Pallet Panels

(part 10) Left side @ 36 ¼ “

(part 11) Right side @ 34 ½ “

(part 12) Door @ 35 ¾”

(part 13) Back @ 35 ¾”

(part 14) Roof @ 38”

(part 15) Vent covers 2 pieces @ 18” to 24”

(Part 16)  Bottom front brace 1 piece @ 36”

Corrugated Metal roof 4’x3’

You will want to make clean cuts on the ends of your pallet boards. You should not need to cut too much off the ends.
When you remove the split ends of the wood, you should have a clean cut that looks like this.

 

PREDRILL AND COUNTERSINK SCREWS: 

Depending on the condition of your wood you may need to pre-drill and counter sink ALL screws to ensure the wood does not crack. We highly recommend you do this when using repurposed wood.

Step 3 : Layout and secure racks and frame for left and right sides

You will be making two sides frames here that also have cross pieces that will hold your racks. This DIY smoker utilizes  a neat design – the racks make the structure itself, and you can even easily adjust the rack heights in the design. The parts that hold the racks in place end up being the ribbing that holds the frame in place. We marked ours at 24″, 36″, 44″and 52″ so we could place bigger meats close to the fire and smaller meats further away. You can even add hooks at the top for sausage if you allow enough room to hang. The only important consideration is your firebox, which we set at 24″ NOTE: Make sure your fire box fits under the 24” bracing. Adjust your shelves as needed. These measurements are not set and can be placed at any useable height as long as you allow ample room for your firebox.

Assemble and secure:

Take one each of (part 4- Wall frame front,  6’)and (part 5 – Wall frame back , 5’ 6”) square the bottoms, and secure 4 pieces of (part 7- Shelf Support, 33″) at 24”, 36” 44” and 52” When securing parts 7 to part 5, leave a 1 ½” gap for part 6. You will repeat these same steps for the second side, leaving you with the frame for the right and left side of your smoker.

Measure and mark part 4 and part 5 at 24″, 36″, 44″ and 52″ These measurements are adjustable if you wish your shelves to be at different heights than this.
Lay out one each of parts 4 and part 5, then mark your measurements one both at 24″, 36″, 44″ and 52″
You will secure your shelf supports (part 7, 4 pieces, 33″ for each side) at the four measurements you marked.
You will want to square up the ends to make sure your racks and your smoker is level.
Your will attach four shelf supports (part 7, 33″) to each side
We countersinked our screws before attaching these pieces. We highly recommend you do this so your wood will not split.

Step 4: Build frame for door

Take parts 2 and 3 (part 2 – Door frame, 2 pieces @ 70”) and (part 3 – Door frame, 2 pieces @ 29”) and screw them together to create door. We used a homemade jig so we could easily get our screws in at an angle. Use four screws on each corner.

Take two of your 70″ pieces (part 2) and two of your 29″ pieces (part 3) and screw them together to make your door.
We used a homemade jig to get our screws in at an angle on the frame.
The jig allows us to get the screws in at an angle. Use four screws on each side.
Our finished door frame looks like this.

Step 5: Stand sides and door up, then secure

Stand the walls and door together and temporarily screw the door to the face of the walls so you can hold them together.

Temporarily screw the door to the frame so you can hold it together.

Step 6 : Cut angle for roof

Using a piece of panel, set against the top of the left and right wall, draw a line to create the angle for the pitch of the roof, and cut off excess to create the pitch of the roof.

Use a piece of panel to draw a line for the angle of the roof. Cut along this line on both sides, making them even.

Step 7:

Screw in part 1 (part 1 – two (2) top braces for front and back @ 33”) at the top of the walls front and back.

Attach part 1 (2 top braces for front and back, 33″) to the top of the wall, along the angle you cut in step 5.

Step 8 :

Add in part 6 (part 6- Back frame 2 pieces @ 5’4”    1×1) to the back of the frame, screw into part 5 (Wall Frame Back).

Place the back frame piece (part 6) next to the back of the wall frame(part 5) like this.
Secure back frame piece (part 5 ) to wall frame (part 6 )with screws.

 

Step 9 : Add paneling

Paneling. Add the back paneling first from the ground up. Repeat for the right and left sides.

Remove door from frame. Screw in hinges and re-hang the door. Leave at least a ½” gap at the base of the door.

Add paneling to door, then add paneling to roof last.

NOTE: Right side is shorter so that hinges have space to rotate. Also, Left side is longer so the door sits inside the paneling.

Starting from the ground up, add your paneling to the sides of the smoker.
Continue adding paneling until you get to the top.
Repeat and add paneling to other side.

Step 10 : Attach wood for roof

Screw roofing materials (part 14 Roof @ 38”) onto top to make roof.

Place roofing boards (part 14)  on top and secure with screws.
Screw the roofing materials onto the roof so they look like this.

Step 11 : Finish door

Put door frame back in place. Attach hinges to one side of door frame. Add pallet panels to door. Attach handle to front of door on opposite side from hinges.

Attach your door frame to the smoker and add hinges on one side.
Starting at the bottom, attach the pallet panels to the door.
Continue attaching the pallet panels to the door like this.
Attach panels until you get to the top. In this photo, we have already drilled the vent holes.
Attach your handle to the door on the side opposite from the hinges.

 

Step 12 : Construct racks

Screw rack parts together. (part 8 – Shelf frames 8 pieces @ 32 ¾”) Staple screen onto rack. Once you have two sides stapled, be sure to pull the screen tight as you staple the other two sides.

Screw the pieces for the rack frames (part 8,) together to make your smoking racks.
Lay a piece of screen over the rack to get the right size.
Cut the aluminum screen to size using your metal snips.
Staple the screen onto each rack.
After you staple two sides, be sure to pull the screen tight like this as you staple.

 

Step 13 : Cut vent holes

Select 2 panels from the door, one at the base and one at the top. Remove the panels, screw part 15 (part 15 – Vent covers 2 pieces @ 18” to 24”) to the face and drill holes using a hole saw. Make sure to leave enough space between the holes that they will be able to be closed off. Remove screws and build a brace to hold part 15 in place.

 

Step 14 : Line inside with foil

Line the interior of the smoke house with heavy duty tin foil. Make the structure as air tight as you can. Expect to use 2 to 3 rolls of foil. Use a staple gun to secure the foil to the walls.

NOTE: do not use any galvanized metal in the smoke house as it is toxic.

Line the entire inside of the smoker with heavy duty tin foil. Secure foil with your staple gun.
Insert your racks into the smoker.
Just imagine what you can smoke in here.

 

Step 15 : Attach tin roof

Attach tin to roof and secure with screws.

Your cut piece of tin should fit nicely on the roof. Secure it with screws.

Step 16 : Admire your finished smoker

Your DIY smoker is complete and ready to smoke meat!

Your DIY Smoker is complete and ready to smoke meat.

 

Be sure to check out our step-by-step project videos:

How To Build a DIY Smoker: Part One

How To Build a DIY Smoker: Part Two

How To Build a DIY Smoker: Part Three





Filed Under: Knowledge & Skills, Wood and Metal Working

How To Make A Bookshelf | DIY Personal Projects

December 14, 2017 by adminPO

I think a bookshelf is one of the most commonly-made woodworking projects, especially for those who’re just getting started with woodworking. Knowing how to make a bookshelf automatically delves you into the basics of woodworking, from knowing the structure of common items like shelves, drawers, and cabinets, to knowing the different techniques of working with wood. In this project, I am about to share with you a very straightforward tutorial on making your own bookshelf.

Now, when we’re talking about woodworking, we automatically assume that it’s going to be a lot of work, and it is. Bookshelves are no exception, as you need power tools like a power saw, driller, and sander to complete the project. This tutorial on how to make a bookshelf will focus on the basics and what you need to do to create the shelves. Take note that you can also follow the principles mentioned in this tutorial and apply them to your preferred size and shape of the shelves. It’s really up to you.

Tools and materials : 

  • Saw
  • Drill
  • Sander
  • Wood screws
  • Glue
  • Wood
  • Wood stain
  • Rag or piece of cloth
  • Paint brush
  • Wood putty

Step 1 – Plan and sketch the design

Start with planning and sketching the design for the bookshelf. Decide on the height and width that will fit the room where you are going to put it.

Step 2 – Gather the tools and materials 

Gather all the tools and supplies you need for this project.

Step 3 – Choose and cut boards 

Take your time in choosing a straight board.

Cut them down to size using a saw. You can use whatever kind of saw that is available. Cut the two long boards for the sides of the bookshelf. Then, cut six boards that are all in the same length for the shelves.

Step 4 – Sand the boards

image via familyhandyman 

Sand the boards to smooth them out and remove rough edges using an orbital sander or a hand sander.

Step 5 – Assemble the frame 

Assemble the outside frame. Attached the top board within the ends of the two side boards.

Apply a little amount of glue to ends to attach the boards. Pre-drill with a small bit then use 3-inch wood screws to connect the boards. Use three screws for each connection.

Step 6 – Install lower shelf 

Measure 3-inches from the bottom and mark it for the installation of the lower shelf.

Once it’s in place, you can glue it, pre-drill and screw in the boards from each side.

Step 7 – Install the shelves

Continue measuring up from the bottom of the vertical boards on each side to find out the placement for each shelf. You can double-check as shelves are added to make sure that the spacing is correct. For this particular project, the shelves are about 13 inches between each other and spaced evenly. Follow the same process when attaching the boards then glue the screw in place.

Step 8 – Sand the boards again

Once everything is in place, sand it again to smoothen rough surfaces to prepare for the finishing touches.

Step 9 – Stain the bookshelf 

This is also a good time to use wood putty to fill in the screw holes. Then apply the wood stain using a rag and a brush for hard to reach areas. Apply one to two coats until you reach your desired look. Your DIY bookshelf is done!

Watch this video from DIY PETE for full details on how to make a bookshelf!  

There you have it, Your own bookshelf! It didn’t even take a week to complete the entire thing, did it? At most, it would probably take up one Saturday morning and afternoon. I suggest you get a pair of helping hands to speed things up and to help you manage the assembly.

Filed Under: Knowledge & Skills, Wood and Metal Working

11 Cool DIY Wood Projects For Home Decor | DIY Projects

December 1, 2017 by adminPO

DIY wood projects for home decor are perfect for completing the look and feel of your home! If you want your home to come to life, then keep on reading!

There’s nothing more calming and inviting than DIY wood projects adorning your home. When I was decorating my home, I made sure there was at least one DIY wood project in every room. It’s all about knowing how to treat your wood and the right craftsmanship. Moreover, these DIY wood projects are an investment. You save so much by creating something beautiful that will last a lifetime! So, let’s get craftin’! Check out the complete list to pick your favorite wood projects:

 

1. Wooden Triangle Shelves

image via The Merry Thought

When I first saw these wooden triangle shelves, I thought they were not organized enough for my taste. I want my shelves to resemble a neat grid. But, boy, have I ever been more wrong! The minimalist aesthetic of these shelves is perfect for decluttering and embellishing your home!

 

2. Geometric Wood Headboard

image via I Spy DIY

I find a lot of headboards that are boring. It baffles me why they’d allow something so plain to take up so much space and attention in one of the most relaxing rooms in the house! Thank goodness for DIY wood projects for home decor! Now I can make my own geometric wood headboard which certainly redefines what a headboard should look like!

 

3. Pallet Coffee Cup Holder

image via One Little Bird Blog

DIY wood projects for home decor are not only for aesthetic purposes. They’re also here to make your life easier and more efficient! Mornings can be tough, so here’s a pallet coffee cup holder so you won’t have to scramble every morning for that first cup of coffee!

 

4. Wooden Dining Table

image via I Heart Nap Time

I consider the dining room to be a very special place in the house. It’s where the entire family gathers to share good food and stories. So, I make sure I have DIY wood projects to complete the look in my favorite room. This wooden dining table is so elegant and charming, everybody stays a little longer for more chit-chat!

 

5. Wooden Toy Bins

image via The Merry Thought

Having kids at home can be tough. And I’m not even talking about the real stuff like school and parenting. Sometimes, simply cleaning up after your little one can be so stressful. Let DIY wood projects for home decor help you! Make these wooden toy bins today to organize and declutter their play space!

 

6. Wood-Framed Mirror

image via The Wood Grain Cottage

It doesn’t hurt to have a beautified reflection of yourself! Seeing your reflection in this lovely wood-framed mirror will make you look twice as good. An instant boost of confidence thanks to DIY wood projects for home decor!

 

7. Wooden Wardrobe

image via A Beautiful Mess

I love this wooden wardrobe because it’s so simple and, not to mention, very sturdy! Ever since I made this wooden wardrobe, I no longer feel overwhelmed when choosing what to wear because everything looks so neat and organized!

 

8. Wood & Leather Wine Rack

image via The Merry Thought

Wine is already fancy enough, you don’t need to spend more just to store it! With this simple wood and leather wine rack, your wine bottles get the classy and sophisticated organization they deserve without breaking the bank!

 

9. Wooden Plant Stand

image via Live Free Creative Company

We put plants inside our houses because, no matter where we are, we want a bit of nature with us. Well, this wooden plant stand achieves that and more! Placing your plant in this stand amplifies the feel of nature, making your home even more relaxing!

 

10. Wooden Coffee Table

image via A Beautiful Mess

A good coffee table is very important in any home! I usually take my guests to the living room, the center of which is this wooden coffee table. It’s so beautiful, it can start a conversation! Pair it with good coffee and you’ve got yourself a great time!

 

11. Wooden Bath Mat

image via I Spy DIY

Who says your bathroom doesn’t deserve these beautiful DIY wood projects? The best decision I’ve made is making this wooden bath mat. My bathroom has never been cleaner and more pleasing to the eye!

 

Watch this video from Simply Handmade for more DIY wood projects for home decor:

Have you taken your pick? I know it’s hard, so why not just make all of these DIY wood projects for home decor! Sure, it can be quite tiring, but the rewards are worth it! Imagine living every day in a space adorned with these gorgeous furniture and decor. You might not want to leave your house ever again! Always remember to ask for some help because when it comes to these DIY wood projects for home decor, good teamwork usually gets the job done. Also, make sure you know how to maintain and take care of them. Good DIY wood projects go a long way, and you’ll thank yourself you took the time to make them!

Filed Under: Knowledge & Skills, Wood and Metal Working

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