Wooden Biltong Box

This is a two-part Instructable, this is how to make the Biltong Box, click HERE to see my recipe to make your own delicious Biltong.

Biltong is an awesome South African dried meat snack. It can be made with Beef or many other types of game. It was traditionally made outside, but using a Biltong Box you can make your own in your own home.

For this build you will need;

• Wood

• Wood Glue (UK)
• Wood Glue (USA)

• Countersink Drill Bits (UK)
• Countersink Drill Bits (USA)

• Wood Screws (UK)
• Wood Screws (USA)

• Sash Clamps (UK)
• Sash Clamps (USA)

• Wood Dowel (UK)
• Wood Dowel (USA)

• PC Fan (UK)
• PC Fan (USA)

• Mains Lamp Kit (UK)
• Mains Lamp Kit (USA)

• 40W Bulb (UK)
• 40W Bulb (USA)

• Metal Hooks (UK)
• Metal Hooks (USA)

• Circular Saw (UK)
• Circular Saw (USA)

• Jigsaw (UK)
• Jigsaw (USA)

• Corner Clamp (UK)
• Corner Clamp (USA)

To start with I cut down the wood to size. I will upload a .pdf plan to my website you can download for free. But you can use this idea and make it any size you want. All you need to remember that it needs to be taller than wide, and allow enough height for air to be bought in and escape at the top above the meat.

I used my circular saw to cut all the wood down to size. I was using very cheap wood, and forgot to put strips of masking / painters tape down. If I had it would have controlled some of the tear out, and I could have got some cleaner lines. It was not the end of the world, I just took some more time and sanded it all down afterwards.

I needed to glue up two separate pieces of wood to make the front door. I put some wood glue down the in between two of the pieces. Gluing two bits of end grain wood can be quite tricky, so I made sure to use plenty of glue, and put the pieces in some large sash clamps. I made sure to leave it a good few hours to ensure it was fully cured. I may have to go back and add some more bracing on the front face to support, but I am fairly confident that it will hold fine.

I am using a computer fan to blow air into the box. This is a really low powered fan so it should be fine to leave it on constantly for a good few days. I held it up against the back panel towards the bottom. And drew around the inside of the fan blades to work out what size hole would be needed to let the air in.

I used my drill with a large wood bit and drilled a series of holes around the circle. Then took my jigsaw and cut out to connect all the circles. Using my dremel with a sanding wheel I smoothed out the cut. I added another smaller hole to the right of the large one for the light fitting.

Then I used a 13mm spade bit and drilled 3 matching shallow holes either side, on the side panels. They are near the top, and will be where the dowels go later to hang the meat from.

I held the top and one side panel together with a corner clamp. While this was held in I predrilled all the holes using a countsink bit. This will make sure all the screw heads will be hidden below the face of the wood for a clean finished product.

I then ran some wood glue along the edge and screwed it together. I started with screwing the top, bottom and one of the side panels. Then slide in the bottom panel and glued and screwed that as well. It is important to do in this order so I could get the dowels in properly.

I cut down 3 pieces of 12mm dowel to just over the wide of the inside of the box. I then put some wood glue in each of the shallow holes and placed the wooden dowels in the holes. This is a little bit fiddly, I needed someone to help hold the dowels vertical while I put on the other side panel. This way the dowels are glued in and can't fall down any time. This makes them nice and secure.

Then I took the door panel I made earlier, and lined it up against the Biltong Box. I made sure to line it up against the top edge. The door just needs to look neat from the top, and needs a bit of a gap below to allow it to swing open.

Then I used a pair of hinges to attach the door. Again I predrilled the holes to avoid the wood from splitting.

I then added another 6 x holes using the same 13mm spade bit at the top of the box, these are along the top of the box. I then attached the fan at the bottom. The way it works is the bulb heats up the box and the fan blows air into the box, the air flows up through the meat and out of the holes at the top. I made sure that the fan was facing the right way, and blowing air into the box rather than pulling it out. I wired the PC fan into an appropriate plug, but make sure to read up on what power you fan needs. I have seen a few people use a USB powered fan which should help take out some of the guess work if you are unfamiliar with electrics.

I then pulled the light cable through and hot glued the light fitting to keep it secure.

I then used this catch to keep the door shut. They are a little fiddly to attach but I wanted to use a catch you couldn't see while the door was shut. I screwed one side to the inside of the box, and then the other piece on the door.

I bought a nice brass knob, but the screw was a bit too long so I used my dremel and a cut of disc to trim it down to size.

Remember to check out my recipe video on how to make your own Biltong using this box. I hope you enjoyed this guide, and if you make your own please remember to share a photo with me!

I done some very quick and rough plans. I will do something slightly better in the future I promise. But for now if you head to my website there is a button to download the pdf.

DOWNLOAD FREE PLANS HERE