Build a Smoker from Odds and Ends

It all began when my son-in-law, Mitch, explained the mouthwatering virtues of smoking meat, something he does on a regular basis, particularly during football season.

“You take ribs or a cheap cut of meat, marinate or put a rub on it, stick it in the smoker in the morning, and by evening, you’ve got a meal that’s out of this world,” he said. “Plus, you get to poke around with fire for an afternoon—you can’t lose.”

That sounded good to me.

The only problem was, I didn’t have a smoker. What I did have was an old Weber charcoal grill, some scraps of ¾-inch plywood, and a weekend without much on my agenda. So, I concocted my own smoker.

Here’s how I made my “Odds and Ends Smoker” — and how you can make yours.

‘Remodel’ the Grill

Whether purchased new or used, check to make sure the grill