A friction smoke generator is a device that produces smoke entering the smoking chamber due to friction. A block of wood falls on a driven drum and, under the influence of friction, heats up and produces smoke. The quality of the smoke produced by this type of smoke generator is much higher than that produced by burning sawdust.
How are the products smoked?
Cold and hot methods of cooking smoked meats are a process in which the products are exposed to smoke from slowly smoldering wood. It is the smoke that kills bacteria and gives the final product a unique smell. Without a special smoking installation, made independently, this effect cannot be achieved.
To make it yourself, you will need the following components: a box for placing products, a smoke generator, a compressor (supercharger).
Hiking option
- Take an electric stove, turn it on at full power, place a metal container with fruit wood shavings on the stove.
- You will also need a metal barrel.
- The bottom of the barrel is removed (it has no bottom or lid).
- This barrel is placed above the electric stove (the electric stove stands in the place where the bottom of the container was).
- Holes are drilled in the middle of the barrel (4-6 at one level), a grate is lowered into it (the products for smoking are laid out on it), rods are inserted into the holes, they will hold the grate.
- When the tile heats up, the chips begin to smolder and smoke, and the smoking process begins.
- The barrel is not completely covered tightly with a sheet of plywood or something else.
This is a quick fix option. Such smoking will not be beneficial either for a container for wood chips or for an electric stove. But if you use this method not every day, but once or twice a season, then it is quite a worthy country option.
Smoke generators: from application to operating principle
The name of this device - a smoke generator - speaks for itself. With its help, smoke is produced and supplied to the smoking cabinet.
Description of the operating principle
Sawdust is placed in the lower part of the chamber, usually made of heat-resistant material. Then, through a special hole (blower), they are set on fire. The draft is also regulated by the blower.
As a result of sawdust smoldering in a closed chamber, the required amount of smoke rises upward. At the same time, air is blown into the chamber by a small compressor connected by a hose to a pipe.
The air allows smoke to enter through the tube - the chimney - into the chamber with the products placed. Such a device is called an ejector. The smoke temperature at the outlet is low, since the fire burns slowly and the product is cooked under almost ideal conditions.
Smoking
Preparation is followed by an equally important part of the process, smoking. The main thing is to try to avoid oversaturation with smoke, not to use too many wood chips, since excess smoke must be removed through a special chimney. You should think about how the products will be placed. The smoke should evenly cover the entire batch. It is worth spreading the meat evenly on a wire rack or hanging it. It is necessary to install a tray under the product for fat, in which it will accumulate. In the future, you can occasionally open the cabinet to lubricate meat or fish with marinade.
When using a steam generator, the following points should be considered:
- when building a home smoke generator, it is recommended to make sure that it does not violate fire safety rules;
- the device should be automatically turned off in case of any problems;
- all elements capable of self-ignition and various wires must be placed as far as possible from points with high temperatures;
- priority should be given to metal material with a heat-resistant coating;
- The structure can only be installed on a fire-resistant surface, for example, on a metal plate, but in no case on a wooden floor.
Types of smoke generators by ejector location
Smoke generators come with an upper or lower ejector.
The main advantages of the top-mounted option are as follows:
- Increased combustion area volume. The result is more stable smoldering.
- Economical. The wood chips smolder slowly, which reduces firewood consumption.
- Longer pipe life. Being located at a sufficient distance from the place of heating, the parts of the device are less exposed to the negative effects of temperature.
The disadvantages of this type of smoke generators include the need for additional smoke filtering due to the high draft in the chamber.
If the ejector is located at the bottom, large particles of fuel may enter the chimney. Its length must be increased. This is not always feasible in a small summer cottage or the territory of a private house. In addition, exposure to high temperatures reduces the service life of the ejector.
Smoke generators of both types have found their use among smoking enthusiasts. However, in home smoking it is better to use the top type of device.
Manufacturing
Finding a ready-made drawing for making a generator is not difficult.
To build a smoke generator with your own hands, you must first acquire the following materials:
- container, which should look like a container;
- ejector device;
- compressor;
- raw materials.
Each point needs to be considered in more detail.
How to choose a container?
The container will serve as a combustion chamber where the sawdust will smolder and create smoke. There are no special requirements regarding container volume.
It is worth taking into account several recommendations from experts
- In a small container, sawdust will burn out quite quickly. In order to maintain the smoking process, you will need to regularly add them.
- Any container will do as a container. The only thing is that it must have fire-resistant properties. For example, an already used fire extinguisher or thermos.
- It is recommended to choose a future container with a pipe diameter of 8 to 10 centimeters and a length of 40 to 50 centimeters.
- In order to connect a compressor with air, a hole of small diameter (10 millimeters) is made at the bottom of the container.
- To avoid excessive air suction, the upper part must be left in a vacuum format.
Ejector device
The generator will be based on metal tubes. They are connected to each other by welding, threading and soldering. The ejector device can be placed at the lower or upper base of the container.
For a small smokehouse, it is worth placing the ejector at the bottom of the container. Due to the characteristics of the smoke generator, the lower ejector device goes out. Therefore, the combustion chamber requires a height limitation. The working hours of the device are reduced. Also, if you place the lower ejector, it will not create natural draft, because the smoking and receiving tanks are located at the same height. When the compressor is turned off, no smoke will enter the smoker. It would be more practical to choose the top installation of the ejector device.
Compressor
Almost any pump can perform the compressor functions of a smoke generator. For the smokehouse, old aquarium compressors with a power of approximately five watts are used. They are an excellent replacement for commercial compressors, as they are designed for long-term operation without constant human supervision. The positive aspects can also be added to the low cost and silent operation of the compressor. Real masters of their craft make a compressor from a plastic container and a cooler located in the computer system unit. But the simplest and most affordable option is to purchase a ready-made device.
Raw materials
In order to smoke a product at home, you will need raw material responsible for the presence of smoke. In this case, the raw material will be sawdust. To smoke food, it is not recommended to use sawdust from evergreen trees - spruce, pine or fir. For the raw material of the smoke generator, other grades are perfect. If pine or similar sawdust is used, the final smoked product will be very bitter.
Smoke generators for industrial production
If it is not possible to make a generator for a smokehouse yourself, you can consider purchasing a smokehouse. Numerous stores will help you make a choice, because their range is quite wide. Below are prices for several cold smoking models from popular manufacturers:
- HANHI, Zmei. Price 9800−10800 rub. Fuel container with a volume of 10 liters. One load is enough for 10 hours of work. The power of the built-in electric heater is 1 kW. The presence of a filter, thermometer, air coil for cooling the smoke.
- Smoke. Price 4700−5200 rub. Fuel container with a volume of 0.5 kg. Case material: AISI 304 stainless steel. Operating time up to 6.5 hours. Compressor and connecting hoses included.
- UZBI, Dym Dymych 01M. Price 2800−3900 rub. One load is enough for 15 hours of work. Compressor included.
- Smoke 2.0, Smoke House. Price 1440−1800 rub. Fuel container with a volume of 2.5 liters. Case material: stainless steel, thickness 2 mm. Working time 3-6 hours.
- Merkel, Premium. Price 9900−10800 rub. One load is enough for 12 hours of work. Case material: stainless steel, thickness 2 mm. A filter and a special lighter are included.
For a more detailed study of the issue of making smoke generators with your own hands, it is recommended that you first study similar diagrams and drawings on the Internet. Based on them, it is advisable to prepare your documentation, which takes into account all the features of your design. Then the smoking device you make yourself will be of high quality, highly productive and safe.
What can you cook
Many products can be smoked using a friction device. It can be any type of meat and fish. Smoked cheeses, sausages and sausages also have an original taste. Fruits and vegetables cooked in a smokehouse are considered culinary delights. Through the experimental method, using various marinating methods, it will be possible to achieve the ideal taste and aroma of dishes prepared with your own hands.
| What can you cook with a friction smoke generator? | |||
| Fish | Pork | Beef | Goat meat |
| Chicken | Goose | Vegetables | Mutton |
| Duck | Game | Eggs | Salo |
A universal and practical solution
A friction smoke generator is a practical and functional unit that will help you easily create masterpieces with your own hands without high costs and delight your family and friends with the original taste of smoked meats.
