Sounds a bit dodgy.......
If you have a tall enough 'box' and the fuel is only smouldering, the same principle will work OK. A tall, narrow wardrobe, with 'smoke escape' holes near the top (not IN the top) and NO FLOOR, plus a biscuit tin to contain the fuel (I used peat, woodchips would be as good). Stand the whole thing on a concrete base (out doors, or in the middle of a draughty car-free garage if rain threatens). The traditional way to get the fuel to smoulder is to add a lump of heated metal to the 'firebox' and pour more fuel over it. Make sure that nothing which will get hot can touch the wood! Put the 'to be smoked' on a rack (or hang from rods) just below the escape holes. Get it lit, and leave it until it goes out (a few hours). Repeat if you want things very smoky.