Getting ready for Christmas...

[beepbeepmyredjeep]

Last year I gave out homemade wine for Christmas.

 

This year, in addition to a new batch of Strawberry wine (mmmmmm....), I've decided to give out smoked cheese.

 

Many of you probably saw my barrel smoker post. Unfortunately the barrel smoker burns much too hot to smoke cheese.

 

So, this weekend I built a "cold smoker" which generates smoke, but does not actually raise temperature inside the smoke chamber.

 

Here are a few pics, and an overview...

 

 

 

 

Smoke Chamber:

An old microwave

 

Smoke Generator:

Tin can with a soldering iron, filled with wood chips.

 

The soldering iron is a brand new Radio Shack selectable wattage soldering iron. It is capable of producing heat from 554 F to 900 F, so that I have an adjustable thermostat for the smoke generator.

 

How it works:

 

See http://www.freewebs.com/natuurkundewaves/microwaves.htm for a diagram of the inside of a microwave.

 

I completely removed all electronic components from the old microwave, leaving the wave guide intact (the metal piece above the tin can in my pictures). On this model microwave, the microwave emitter was above the wave guide, so it was necessary to use a Dremel Drill to cut ventilation holes in the bottom of the wave guide, then cover the top hole with aluminum foil. I also covered a side ventilation hole with aluminum foil.

 

I also removed the cardboard cover over the wave guide which is on the inside of the microwave.

 

I filled the smoke generator with a small amount of wood chips (this is just a test burn), and then placed the smoke generator under the wave generator. I turned the soldering iron on to maximum, waited a couple minutes, and smoke started pouring into the microwave.

 

A word of caution: Never disassemble a microwave plugged in. Even after the microwave is unplugged, the components may still have a potentially DEADLY electrical charge. You may want to contact a qualified electrician to discharge all components for you prior to dis-assembly.

 

As you can see from the last pic, the smoker worked very well during the test burn. I just need to clean it up a little more, and I'll be ready to smoke some cheese!

[dakal]

very cool

[btm24]

so when is mine coming? :brows:

 

Brandon

[Darren]

Wine shipped to 98674?

[beepbeepmyredjeep]

Wine shipped to 98674?

Unfortunately, even if I did operate a licensed winery, Maryland is a no-ship state for alcohol. Can't ship wine directly to consumers from Maryland, and can't ship wine directly to Maryland consumers.

 

:fs1:

[btm24]

Wine shipped to 98674?

Unfortunately, even if I did operate a licensed winery, Maryland is a no-ship state for alcohol. Can't ship wine directly to consumers from Maryland, and can't ship wine directly to Maryland consumers.

 

:fs1:

 

That is just ghey. i meant the cheese lol

 

Brandon

[kyleag89]

Maryland :shake:

[beepbeepmyredjeep]

Maryland :shake:

I know Kyle. I was really hoping you guys would secede, and Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties follow...

 

We could form West Maryland! Hey, West Virginia did it...

 

And for those who don't know what I'm talking about...

http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/marylan ... -Md-031410

[pilotblake]

It is legal till the bottle breaks in shipping :chillin: Bubble wrap is goood.