Do-it-yourself smoke generator for auto repair

In detail: do-it-yourself smoke generator for auto repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Currently, many different devices and installations can be used to diagnose vehicle systems. Moreover, each of them can be used for specific purposes. One of these mechanisms is a smoke generator device. How to make a smoke generator with your own hands and what is the principle of the system's operation - read about this below.

What is the device of the smoke generator, what is the principle of the system? How to make an installation with your own hands, what drawings and diagrams can be used for this? First, let's look at the issue of purpose and functions.

A smoke generator is a device that is used for self-diagnostics, in particular for checking the tightness:

intake systems;
waste gases;
the exhaust tract of the power unit;
cooling systems;
for detecting punctures in rubber;
to diagnose the tightness of headlights, if they began to fog up, etc.

As for the principle of operation, the operation of the smoke generator for diagnostics is based on the use and formation of thick white smoke and its further supply to the diagnosed systems. In order for the smoke to enter all the tested units, it must be supplied with a low pressure, this is a prerequisite, since this will allow the smoke to look for possible damage and leakage. Due to the pressure, the device will make it possible to detect even small microcracks that cannot be visually identified.

The device of such a generator set may be different, depending on the specific purpose and manufacturer.

Video (click to play).

The simplest smoke generators consist of:

pump;
pressure gauge;
hose;
fitting for connection;
wires;
evaporation device;
clamps for connecting to a storage battery or adapter for lighting;
more advanced systems are also equipped with a control unit (the author of the video is the TEXaS TV channel).

First, let's look at the main advantages:

first of all, it is the ability to promptly detect possible leakage violations in the operation of certain vehicle systems;
ergonomics and reliability of devices when it comes to branded installations;
due to the presence of a control module in branded devices, the car owner during diagnostics can independently change the value of the smoke density;
if the device is equipped with a timer, this will prevent overheating of the heating component and, accordingly, its breakdown;
branded devices have a special reservoir that allows you to store smoke fluid for a long time;
if necessary, the device can be placed in the engine compartment, as well as on the wall in the garage, etc.

As for the shortcomings, if we are talking about proprietary systems, then their cost is not as low as we would like. If you decide to build such a device with your own hands, then you must understand that for this you will need certain skills and knowledge.

If you strictly follow the instructions, then the procedure for making a smoke generator for a car will not cause problems. In general, there are a lot of designs and schemes for such devices, but we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the production of a generator set from a syringe and solid lubricant.

To do this, you will need:

the syringe itself;
glow plug, such as are used on diesel engines;
wiring with terminals, required to connect the candles;
shrink paste;
branch pipes with clamps, as well as rubberized sealing gaskets;
copper tube, its diameter should be approximately 6 mm;
drill and set of drills;
air flow connection;
you will also need a metal mesh for washing dishes (the author of a video review of a simple homemade smoke generator is the ZP GARIK channel).

How can you make a smoke generator for a car from such materials:

Hello everyone, pikabushnichki and subscribers! This topic is for motorists who prefer to repair their car with their own hands. This device allows you to look for air leaks in the air line of a car (check for integrity). Today I will tell you about the smoke generator ala "kolkhoz-samopal".

Since it became necessary to have a smoke generator available, I decided to assemble it myself, since I like to design (to make it work) and the abundance of information on the Internet on this topic. I have not invented the bicycle and do not claim to be laurels, but I am creating a post for fellow motorists who may someday need a similar device. And so, we ended up with a construction budget of 1000 rubles. We need to achieve this result (diagram)

I beg your pardon for the diagram, I tried to portray it in Photoshop.

To create we need

1. Syringe for solid lubricant per 100 g - 300 rubles.

2. Glow plug from a diesel engine (from Peugeot best) - 200 rubles.

3. Wire, crocodiles, heat-shrinkable clamps - 180 rubles.

4. Hose clamps, nuts, copper washers, rubber washers, nipples, nipples for rims - 200 rubles.

5. A grid for washing dishes - 20 rubles.

6. Drills of the required diameter and a piece of copper tube (6mm in diameter) 100 rubles.

And now, step by step. To begin with, we need a syringe for solid lubricant, I took this one:

From it we only need a body that ideally fits the container for the smoke generator. Next, we need to disassemble it completely (the process was not photographed, as unnecessary, everything is clear there), until such a state

For further work, we need only the lid and the container itself, where the smoke generation process will take place.

Next, we prepare a cover for our smoke generator, for this I glued a piece of copper tube 6mm in diameter and 160mm in length into the existing technological hole on epoxy, it turned out like this:

With the help of a copper tube, it is necessary to set the direction of the air, in order to have effective smoke output, we should immerse the copper tube in the oil (ATF), the air passing through the oil. it will be more efficient to squeeze the smoke out (this process is shown in the diagram). The diagram also shows how to glue the copper tube, i.e. it must be inserted into the existing technological hole to the end in order to block and direct the air, to move precisely along the tube. Next, we need to not completely drill out the copper pipe (marked with a red dotted line), and make a hole for the smoke to escape (marked with a blue dotted line):

Thus, we directed the movement of air. In the inlet (air inlet), I screwed in and put on glue, a nipple with a nipple from the rim (after cutting off all unnecessary) like this:

The final photo will show its location. Now let's move on to preparing the electrical part, our smoke generator. I decided to make crocodile wires to power the glow plug from the battery. There are no problems with the manufacture of wiring, the process is simple - cut, clean, solder, squeeze, shrink with heat shrink -), it turned out like this:

I bought a transparent tube to see the smoke coming out, and I also bought a brass adapter from the thread - to the “tree” under the clamp. Collected together:

The tip used the one that came with the syringe in the kit (do not go to waste).

We collect the candle with wiring and put it in place:

The candle is inserted into the technological opening of the container located at the bottom. Do not forget to use washers and rubber pads so that the oil does not ooze from below (I used this one):

We collect everything in a heap and get a smoke generator -)

I beg your pardon for the clumsy presentation, I will answer all questions. I also beg your pardon for the quality of the photos, I had to shoot with a glow plug, holding it in my teeth 0_o. Thanks to all. I also apologize for the lack of a video report on the operation of this device. I'm not familiar with video blogging yet. I will mention it again - I will answer all the questions.

How to make a smoke generator for a car with your own hands? An interesting way to diagnose

How to make a smoke generator for a car with your own hands will tell you for those owners who do not want to spend money on its purchase, but want to have such a device. Their designs are varied and easy to manufacture, do not require large financial or material investments, and the device can be made in just a few minutes. The benefits of this device will be undeniable, especially for owners of used cars.

This device, whether it is factory-made or self-made, is used to test the tightness of various systems and components of cars. With its help, the engine cooling systems, as well as the intake or exhaust tract of the engine, are checked. In some cases, it is possible to check the optics of the machine for leaks, it is useful to do this in the case when its fogging is noticed.

The principle of operation of such devices is based on the formation of white smoke and its subsequent supply to the tested systems. This will require creating a small amount of pressure so that the smoke “searches” for possible exit routes from the confined space. This allows you to detect leaks even through microcracks, which are simply impossible to see with the “naked” eye. It is not difficult to make such a device, so if you decide to build it yourself, read our story and feel free to get to work.

To create it, in addition to the desire to build, you will need some materials and tools. There are a lot of designs of such devices, but we will consider the option of manufacturing from a syringe for solid lubricant. In addition to the syringe, you also need to prepare the following details:

Wires with quick-detachable terminals for connecting a candle;

Hoses, clamps, rubber gaskets;

Copper tube with a diameter of about 6 mm;

Metal mesh for washing dishes;

Air supply connection.

For those who make diagnostics on their own, it will be interesting to know how to make a smoke generator for a car with their own hands. Any modern car consists of a large number of various components and assemblies that require timely and high-quality service. But, despite this, sometimes malfunctions occur, for the detection of which diagnostics are required on special equipment. In some cases, it is quite possible to do without it, for example, to check the tightness of some systems.

The principle of operation of such devices is based on the formation of white smoke and its subsequent supply to the tested systems. This will require creating a small amount of pressure so that the smoke “searches” for possible exit routes from the confined space. This allows you to detect leaks even through microcracks, which are simply impossible to see with the “naked” eye.It is not difficult to make such a device, so if you decide to build it yourself, read our story and feel free to get to work.

Glow plug from diesel engines;
Wires with quick-detachable terminals for connecting a candle;
Shrink paste;
Hoses, clamps, rubber gaskets;
Copper tube with a diameter of about 6 mm;
Set of drills;
Metal mesh for washing dishes;
Air supply connection.

Further, the manufacturing procedure can be as follows. The syringe should be disassembled, the blower tube and pumping device removed. You only need the syringe body and its cap. The process of formation of smoke will take place in the tubular body. There is a technological hole in the lid, which is needed for work. A piece of copper tube with a length of about 160 mm should be glued into it on epoxy resin.

Through this tube, compressed air will be supplied to the oil, usually used ATF, which will promote the formation of smoke and squeezing it out of the case. Insert the tube all the way to block the air passage. After that, a copper tube should be drilled through the inlet device. This will direct the air flow in the right direction, that is, into the generator housing.

A compressed air connection should be installed in the second hole. After that, you can start manufacturing the electrical part of the device.

Install a glow plug with gaskets in the lower cover and tighten it well to prevent oil leakage. At the same time, wiring with quick-detachable clamps is connected to the candle. In the hole through which the lubricant was supplied, an adapter for the smoke supply hose must be installed.

It is best to use a transparent hose for this, this will make it possible to control the supply of smoke to the system under test. As a tip, you can use the one that was installed in the syringe when you bought it. Remove the check valve ball from it. Depending on what source of compressed air is used, it should be possible to regulate its supply, and also install a check valve in the supply hose.

This completes the manufacturing process, the device is ready for use. In order to get smoke, oil should be poured, its level should be slightly higher than the candle. After 2-3 minutes, smoke will appear in the outlet nozzle of the handpiece. The supply air pressure can vary from 0.5 to 1 bar, it is selected experimentally. If a stationary compressor is not available in the garage, other sources of compressed air can be used.

As such sources, you can use a spare wheel of a car or a Chinese-made pump from air mattresses. There are also other options for such products. We tried to tell you how to make a smoke generator for a car with your own hands. After reading the article to the end, decide which option is right for you.

Hello tubers! Here I want to show off a new stray. A bit of prehistory ... I, like everyone, probably constantly Volgar, that something does not suit the work of my native Volga and something just asks to be improved, repaired, disassembled, assembled, etc.))))) So, I don’t like running my engine at idle. Shakes up a little. I probably already tortured everyone with my questions and the like. I wrote a question to AllGaz, of course, there was no sarcastic approach ... it was not without, but in essence the question asked, I was advised to look for air leaks, preferably with the help of a smoke generator. One tuber gave a link to his invention. Looked, damn it, as always in life, "Everything is ingenious, just to the point of disgrace!" Who cares here is a link to a source... In general, I decided to collect this very pribluda. At first I was looking for the right glow plug from a diesel engine for a long time. I found it, though for as much as 330 hard-earned money, but in the heat of excitement, the plaintive cries of the TOAD were not heard. Then he went to castorama for sanitary and pneumatic goods. In castorama it was bought:
1.extension cord 12 by 12 (just the candle was screwed in perfectly) - 2 pcs.
2. Reducing coupling from 12 to 38 - 1 pc.
3.adapter from 38 to 14
4. adapter from 14 to a pneumatic hose.
5.the tubeless nipple
in the photo everything is in this order

Unscrew the nozzle from the candle and take out the filter mesh - it will only interfere with us

when assembled it looks like this. Candle-Extension-Extension-Coupling-Adapter and next to the adapter for the pneumatic hose, but it will not twist hard - oil will be poured through it.

We put on the sealing ring from the nozzle on the pneumatic adapter. It is quite difficult to set up, but reliable.

This is how it looks in the final assembly. The hose and gun are also castor. Air is supplied through the nipple from the compressor to inflate the wheels. In the future, the nipple was also secured with a clamp, for greater reliability.

Unscrewing the adapter with an elastic band, fill in the oil. We wrap the adapter by hand and the device is ready for use. A valve on the adapter prevents oil from leaking out. Everything is sealed and reliable.

I chose the wires of a serious cross-section, I connected everything reliably - the load is not weak, the thin wires will warm up.

This is how it is still stored))))

That's all. The principle of operation of the device is as follows: Oil is poured inside. I flooded the transmission. The candle is connected to the battery and begins to heat up. After 20-30 seconds, turn on the compressor and open the pneumatic gun. From which comes a stream of excellent smelly, thick, white smoke. We muffle the DMRV (on the advice of the author, I pulled it out, put it on a kind of cellophane bag and pushed the sensor back into the pipe), open the oil filler neck and pump the smoke into the engine through some kind of hose (I blew it through a hose that goes to the side of the cover to the pipe under the IAC, another the end naturally drowned out), until thick smoke comes out of the neck. Close the neck and give pressure NOT MORE THAN 1 ATM. , otherwise it can squeeze out the thread, for example, oil seals. And we see how confident, noticeable plumes of smoke are creeping from all the cracks. I showed a very serious leak through the throttle shaft.

By the way, in addition, I got a pressure gauge for measuring the pressure of fuel, oil and everything liquid))))

I now also have a compressor for measuring the compression in the cylinders.

So he boasted. I would like to express my special gratitude to the author of the creation of "chavoito 161" from AllGaz. The man himself collected, chewed everything up how and with what to repeat.

Judging by the keen interest shown by forum visitors to the possibility of self-manufacturing of this device, it was decided to arrange the description in the form of a separate article.

To begin with, I suggest you watch the following video, which tells you what a smoke generator is for.

How the generator works:

In my version, the body was an old gland mandrel with some modifications. The lid of the smoke generator was the lid of a 20 liter aluminum canister, which we used to grind ourselves. Minimum turning work.

And finally, the final version of the device:

The mechanical timer for the smoke generator is taken from an old washing machine. Timers from microwave ovens are also suitable.

For normal operation of the device, the required pressure should be 0.8-1 atm., Which can be obtained from any compressor.

Here are the drawings of my smoke generator (basics). Structurally, it can be done in another way.

I will immediately answer frequently asked questions.

Can you use a hole in the candles to supply air?

Yes, you can. However, the air supply tube must be above the oil level.And the candle must be placed in the sarcophagus, otherwise, with such a supply of air, oil will fall along with the smoke.

Why are the air and smoke fittings at an angle?

Because the body was made from an already existing blank, but it was also justified constructively. No kinks in hoses.

What should be the oil level?

The oil level should be just below the high point of the spark plug. The oil is directly poured into the housing.

What can be used as a heating element?

Glow plugs from diesel engines can be used (the service life of the plugs is highly dependent on their duration. A timer is required).

We draw your attention to the fact that this website is for informational purposes only and under no circumstances is a public offer determined by the provisions described in part 2 on page 437 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.

METHODS AND PRACTICE OF AUTODIAGNOSTICS. Handcrafted toolbox

Car Diagnostics people are not rich, but smart.

They can count money and can save it.

But when necessary, they can spend it on what their wives find "nonsense":

"Wires, boxes, wrenches" cannot be put on the dining table, -☺

And all the news in the world of autodiagnostics is read carefully and analyzed, for example:

Thanks to SMOKE MACHINE, you can:

- Identify leaks, air leaks, cracks, leaks in connections that destabilize the operation of the engine, vacuum correction systems and other systems

- Works where other traditional diagnostic tools (dealer scanners, testers) report a problem, but cannot determine its source

- Dense smoke coming out of a leak in a matter of minutes localizes the problem

- Visually understandable for both the diagnostician and the client

- Saves time on searching, dismantling parts, trial replacement of components, etc.

- Allows you to evaluate the work not for the time of diagnosis (a few minutes), but for the actually solved problem (up to several hundred dollars)

Of course, today, simple diagnostics have become a source of profit for repairmen.Withto their. At the moment, almost half of the malfunctions that arise are associated with the occurrence of certain leaks, and the number of such malfunctions is constantly growing. We used to spend about 10% of our work time finding a problem and 90% fixing it. Today the situation has practically changed in the opposite direction. That is why the use of the equipment presented above becomes even more relevant. . Lack of a smoke generator today means a waste of time in the current environment, when the need for diagnostic services is constantly growing. And time, as you know, is money (the original text has been preserved).

Yes, this is an advertisement and everything is written correctly in it, especially this:

Lack of a smoke generator today means a waste of time

But the price ... makes you wonder. You have to think a hundred times what to pay for this smoke generator several tens of thousands of rubles ...

Mikhail Evgenievich KUDRYAVTSEV, Automotive Diagnostician from Moscow, author of many publications on our Internet resource, also thought about it.

But I decided this issue in a different way. With the help of his head, hands and acquaintance with the turner. We look at the photo:

1 - compressor from an old aquarium

The green tube in the photo is “entrance”, blue is “exit”.

These positions were free,-

But I had to pay for it, 200 rubles or a little more:

This is a hollow metal tube, inside which a "ordinary cigarette" is inserted:

Then it lights up, the device is assembled and everything is connected:

- metal pipe with a cigarette

- connection to the intake manifold

The ecology is violated here, yes, but no more than from an ordinary smoker.

But the Health of the AutoDiagnost is preserved, since there is no need to light a cigarette - just set it on fire, the rest will be done by the compressor, -☺

Situations when a "smoke generator" is required in the practice of autodiagnostics are encountered, and rarely or often - it all depends on the direction of work and the "passability" of cars in a particular workshop.

Having made this device, Mikhail immediately tested it:

Mitsubishi Lancer 2005 4G18 P0505 - Idle air control malfunction (P0505) - high speed, the error is not thrown off, the bypass screw is tightened all the way.

Search method: I connected my smoke machine to the intake manifold - I saw smoke from leaks in the throttle valve:

And in the light, this damper looked like this:

The conclusion is obvious, the repair was done exactly as written at the very beginning of this material:

We used to spend about 10% of our work time finding a problem and 90% fixing it. Today the situation has practically changed in the opposite direction. That is why the use of the equipment presented above becomes even more relevant. The lack of a smoke generator today means a waste of time in today's environment, when the demand for diagnostic services is constantly growing. And time, as you know, is money

Well, how can you NOT agree with SUCH statement?

Yes, the device itself, invented by Mikhail Kudryavtsev, is not very beautiful and cannot be compared with the branded one:

However, comparing the cost: 43,000 rubles and 200 rubles, a conclusion can be made.

Car Diagnostics people are not rich, but Smart.

Kudryavtsev Mikhail Evgenievich

A car is a whole complex of different units and systems, the functioning of which is closely interconnected. In this regard, not a single vehicle is insured against unforeseen breakdowns. In the event of such malfunctions, the car must be sent for diagnostics. Drivers often mean by this word checking a car using a computer tester, but this is not always true. In some cases, the cause of the breakdown is so elementary that it can be dealt with without leaving the house. If the problem is related to the leakage of any system, you need to buy a special device - a smoke generator. Such devices are quite expensive, but you can save money by making a smoke generator yourself.

In general, the smoke generator is used to effectively inspect various engine components for leaks. This could be:

air intake system;

exhaust system;

cooling system, etc.

Also, the smoke generator allows you to detect punctures in tires or check the tightness of the optics, due to the violation of which the headlights sweat. The principle of operation of the device is based on the use of thick white smoke, which is fed into the system at a pressure of 0.3-0.5 bar and allows detecting leaks that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

To assemble a smoke generator for a car, you need the following tools:

All of these things you can buy at a hardware store. As far as the compressed air source is concerned, it is best to use a compact compressor of some kind. In this case, a wheel balloon is an alternative.

The purge gun needs to be upgraded. The inner hole, into which we will insert the cigarette, needs to be made with a diameter of about 8 mm. If this value is less, re-drill the hole with a drill.

After that, the air pressure regulator must be connected to the retrofitted gun. We connect the compressed air source here. Note that the outlet pressure should not be too high, so choose a weaker compressor. You will likely need to vary the air flow to obtain the most optimal smoke output. The pressure itself should be no higher than 0.5 bar. Otherwise, it will be more difficult to check the parts for leaks, since you will need an entire carton of cigarettes.

Next, we insert the cigarette into the nozzle of the pistol, set it on fire and screw it into the tool. That's it - your smoke generator is ready to go.You can use another more sophisticated method of creating diagnostic equipment. This will ensure that professional leak diagnostics can be carried out.

Unlike the previous method, this device is more expensive to manufacture. This will allow you to get more smoke output, and the device will be more convenient to use.

At the heart of this design is the body of the grease gun. You can buy it for 300-500 rubles at any car shop. As in the first case, the syringe needs to be modified. Mount the baffle adapter in the middle of the device. On one side, screw in a glow plug that will fit any domestic diesel engine. The voltage of the glow plug should be 12 or 24 volts. For the first, you need a power limiting circuit. A simpler and cheaper option is to use a turn relay, due to which the operating time of the candle will be halved.

Now is the time to drill a few holes in the top cap of the syringe, which will be required to supply air from one side and exit from the other. Install a pressure regulator at the inlet providing an oxygen flow of no more than 0.2-0.3 atmospheres. We install a check valve on the outlet hose, which can be taken from the power supply system of the carburetor engine.

With regard to the use of oil, any will work for diagnostics, but it is better to use Johnsons baby, liquid for concert smoke installations, or regular glycerin. So, the car smoke generator is ready to go. As you understand, it can be done quite quickly and easily, saving a large sum of money.

The device of this smoke generator for checking air leakage is somewhat more complicated to manufacture, in contrast to the simpler first option, however, it provides a much larger smoke output and is more convenient to use, which is important for professional diagnostics of gasoline engines. The case was taken from a grease gun, which can be purchased in a store at a price of 200 to 500 rubles.
The body of the syringe will need to be slightly modified. In the middle of the cylinder, a baffle-adapter is installed, into which a glow plug from a diesel engine is screwed on one side. In my design, I used a glow plug from GAZ, ZIL-5301 with an engine MMZ D-245 EURO 12V produced by ISKRA. You can also use any other 12 or even 24 volt glow plugs. For a 12V spark plug, a power limiting circuit must be used. The simplest option is a turn relay, which allows you to reduce the operating time of the spark plug by 50%.

In the upper cover of the syringe, holes are drilled for air supply and smoke outlet. An air pressure regulator is installed at the inlet, which provides a pressure of no more than 0.2-0.3 atm. A check valve from the power supply system of the carburetor engine is installed on the outlet hose.
Theoretically, you can use any oil for work, but usually Johnsons baby, ATF, glycerin or a special liquid for concert smoke installations are used.

More details about this smoke generator, as well as see its work, can be found in this video:

Smoke fish, meat or game is not just about increasing the shelf life of meat products. This is a unique opportunity to change their taste in a positive way. And although modern technology offers many options for changing taste, smoking is still a popular operation. Of course, manufacturers today offer different designs of smoking installations. But making a smokehouse and installing a smoke generator in it with your own hands is not only cheap, it is quite simple.

The most important thing is that there are no complicated devices here. Any installation can be made from scrap materials, usually used materials, and often those that are supposed to be thrown into the trash. After all, the smoking technology is very simple.It is based on the fact that the smoke from burning wood enters the chamber where meat products are hung. Being impregnated with smoke, they are canned and get the same extraordinary taste and smell. Of course, the wood species used in the smoking process will play an important role. Experts recommend choosing chocks from fruit trees for this.

The smokehouse scheme is simple. This device consists of two parts:

Firewood is burned in one. In this case, they, in principle, should not burn. The main process is decay. That is why it is so important that there is little oxygen (fresh air) entering this chamber.

In the second chamber of the smokehouse, carcasses (fish, poultry, pieces of meat) are hung.

Both chambers are connected by a pipeline through which the smoke from the smoldering wood will move. At the same time, the more smoke comes into the second chamber, the more intense the smoking process will take place. In the same chamber, a small hole must be made to remove excess smoke. The same hole will serve as a chimney to create a rarefied atmosphere inside.

There is, however, one negative point in this smoking installation. In order for the pledged products to be smoked inside for several hours, it is necessary to keep the firewood smoldering all the time, throwing additional lumps into them. Therefore, you have to be near the smokehouse all the time. You can get rid of this by making a smoke generator for cold smoking with your own hands.

The smoke generator circuit is simple. So that you understand what is at stake, take a look at the photo below. It clearly shows how this device works.

It turns out that between the chamber of the smokehouse, where the firewood is smoldering, and the chamber in which the meat products are hung, a small cylindrical device is installed. A branch pipe with a branch inside is soldered into it, through which air is supplied under low pressure. Creating a stream moving towards the second chamber of the smokehouse, the air pulls along with it the smoke from the combustion chamber of the smoke generator. In this case, the smoke is completely absorbed, without remaining on the walls and without leaving the combustion chamber. That is, it is the most efficient form of smoke consumption, practically without losses.

So here is a combustion chamber with an intermediate element, which creates a directed flow of a mixture of air with smoke, and is a smoke generator. It is clear that the larger the combustion chamber, the longer the smoking process will take. If we talk about household installations, then for this you can use various household items. For example, an aluminum milk can, a used fire extinguisher, an old out-of-order thermos. But the optimal solution is a smoke generator for cold smoking from a steel pipe with a diameter of 80-100 mm and a length of half a meter.

On the one hand, it is tightly closed with a lid, this is done by welding. On the other hand, it is left open, only a half-hole (round, rectangular) is made on the side, which will be used to ignite wood chips. A hole is also made on the side, to which a branch pipe is connected. Air will be driven through it. By the way, to create a directed air flow under pressure, you will need to purchase an air compressor. For example, the one used in aquariums. Here is such an uncomplicated smoke generator device.

Now, regarding the location of this branch pipe. It should be closer to the fuel combustion zone or vice versa. The best option is if the branch pipe is higher, that is, farther from the combustion zone. The thing is that with a reverse installation, several negative actions occur.

First, the height of the combustion chamber is limited. And this is the direct reason for the damping of firewood.

Secondly, intensive smoke extraction leads to rapid fuel combustion, which reduces the life of the smoke generator.

Thirdly, the draft inside the smoker is reduced, especially when the compressor is off.

Fourthly, the low fit of the nozzle creates conditions under which unburned chips get inside. And this blocks the passage.

Fifthly, low fit is the location of the nozzle in a zone with a high temperature, which reduces its service life.

The intermediate element of the smokehouse, which is also part of the smoke generator, can be made from ordinary pipes with a diameter of 20-25 mm. You can simply weld it to the combustion chamber of the smoke generator and to the smokehouse chamber, and in the gap install a branch pipe from the same pipe to which a pipe of a smaller diameter is welded. Through it, air from the compressor will be supplied to the smoke generator.

In principle, the intermediate part can be made in different ways. Here are just some of the variations:

A connection is made between two pipes with a thread, where a fitting in the form of a tee is installed between them. A squeegee is inserted into its free hole, onto which the adapter from the pipe to the hose is screwed. Through the connected hose, air will be supplied to the smoke generator.

Instead of a hose, you can solder a copper tube.

Install a tee fitting on top of the combustion chamber using the installed squeegee. One side of the fitting will be directed into the chamber where the products are hung, the other will be supplied with air.

Some modifications of such a connection are shown in the photo below.

By the way, the method of attaching the nozzles to the combustion chamber of a smoke generator for a cold-smoked smokehouse, made by hand, can be done not only by welding or soldering. The same photo clearly shows the threaded mount. That is, there are many options for how to make a smoke generator. But the device, made correctly, will serve faithfully for many years.

As mentioned above, an aquarium compressor can be used to supply air to the smoke generator. This is a small device of low power (4-5 W), which is quite enough for the smoking household unit to work efficiently.

But the craftsmen do not stop at one place. Save so save. Here's how to make one of the types of compressors for a smoke generator with your own hands. To do this, you need a computer fan and a five-liter plastic bottle.

The bottom of the bottle is cut off.

A fan is inserted into the resulting hole, which is fixed with self-tapping screws.

A hose is attached to the bottle cap through the cut hole.

The fan is connected to the electric current network.

Simple and effective solution. The main thing is to ensure the sealing of all joints.

In principle, this is all about an apparatus such as a smoke generator made by hand. There is only one question left, how to smoke meat and fish products.

There is only one limitation on the choice of firewood for the smoke generator. Do not use softwood chips for smoking. They contain resin, which gives the meat a bitter taste. All other tree species can be used without restriction.

As for the size, there are no prohibitions here either. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the ability to move the smoke through the laid and smoldering pieces of wood. Therefore, when small chips are put into the smoke generator, it is recommended to install an additional element inside the device, along which the smoke will freely move towards the outlet pipe. It can be a perforated tube or a spring of the required length and width. Smoke will move between large chips on its own.

Making a smokehouse chamber with your own hands is as easy as making a smoke generator. This can be a metal barrel in which the door is made. It can be a box welded from steel sheets with the same door. Or you can use completely ordinary household items. For example, an old refrigerator. It closes tightly, completely sealed, its cabinet is insulated, it has a ready-made door with a good seal. So for a smokehouse chamber, this is ideal.It remains only to connect a smoke generator to it.

On this topic about a homemade smoke generator can be closed. Be sure to read the video and drawings - how to correctly make one of the options for a smoke generator for cold smoking with your own hands. An original and simple design that works great.

And the last thing. Your own smoke generator and your own smokehouse are great opportunities that open unlimited horizons in cooking. Smoked homemade sausage, fish, chickens and just pieces of meat are even today delights that not everyone can boast of on their table.

Video (click to play).