Lil' Smoker
 

Howdy all....I just got myself a few 55 gal open head steel drums and intend to start my first UDS build this weekend after work. The info the forum has provided is invaluable.
But I need to ask about my lids...there is a rubber gasket surrounding the lip.
Should I take that off? I'm think I should because heat plus rubber surely equals meltage and tire-like burning! All input is most welcome!!!
I also wanted to post some pics of my current smoker; Weber 18.5" with some mods... It's small but gets the job done!!!

That's too cool!, how ya like it ?

Man! That is cool - what a great concept!

Yeah, I can't imagine rubber anywhere on a smoker being A Good Thing.

Well that's slicker n chit! Real cool.

I almost forgot...finished smoked meat pron...Pork Butt and my first fatty...

That is way cool Dude. Welcome to the fray. You're gonna fit in real nice 'round here.

It turned out better than I could hope. Once it's up to temp, 250*, it cruises
for 4 and a half hours before I have to add charcoal and a few more wood chunks. The Pork Butt turned out excellant with nice bark...And the fatty vanished rather quickly.....

OK. I used to think I was the King of Cobble (aka backyard engineering).

I yield my claim. ALL HAIL N8MAN! ALL HAIL N8MAN!

So I reckon you can put meat on what was the charcoal grate too?
What kind of burn time do you get with that tiny fire box, and how hot does your cooker get?

Nice looking mod!
 

I think that looks so slick!
From all that I've seen, you will really love the drum smoker. Way longer cooking with less effort and no refueling.

It gets me thinking that maybe we can sit the whole weber atop a drum which would seal the drum...mmm well, maybe not.

For sure you want to remove the rubber gasket. I think that a bead of high temp silicone might be useful in its place, but maybe it is not even needed.

Have fun!

With the air intake set just right I can hold 250* for 4 and a half hours then it drops down to 220* about another 30 minutes. With it at full throttle I can reach 400* for about an hour and a half. I haven't tried to cook on the charcoal grate yet but I imagine it would be possible, but I think the meat would be to close to the fire and intense heat.

That is way cool.

Second that. We may have a new smoker design for the Brethren.

Thank y'all very much for the kind comments. I have one more pic to post about this cooking session. It's of my Daddy, Odell making his nummie face whilst eating on some fatty sandwich, bless his heart, he ain't got a tooth in his head....enjoy

N8man, son of Odell, son of Luther

Outstanding, I wish I was that handy. Good luck on your drum build, I love mine and will be doing another one over the summer. Ed.

Jethro Mod!

That is too sharp. Shows me that there is surely more than one way to skin a cat no matter what your doing. Like the picture of your father. Looks like he don't need the teeth and is enjoying the smoker as much as the brethren.

Well, like eveyone else has already stated, that is cool

Really neat.

Nice job N8! The meat has a nice color too!
You will love what you will be able to do with the UDS, keep us posted!

Brian

Great concept. Thanks for sharing and welcome. :mrgreen:

My rubber seal is hanging on the garage wall. When you figure what cool thing to do with it let me know...
ModelMaker

Too cool N8man...ingenious!!!

As said many times... way cool design.

On the gasket on the lid... I would definitely take it off. There was one on my last drum lid. I had to scrape it off with a screwdriver. Then when I did my intitial cleaning burns I stuck it vertically in the drum. It would melt a bit of the residue off and then I would turn it. Didn't take long to get it all off.

Best of luck...

That is Way Cool !! I can see this Mod being used by other Brothers !!

And as Daddy Odell can testify,ya Dont need any Teef to enjoy good Q!!

Sweet Smoker Nate!!

Get rid of the rubber and get started on the UDS. You will love it!

Nice smoker! I haven't seen it yet, but the way my brother descibed it, he made something like that. But he added a rotissory basket to his and is using this weekend at the Minnesota in May contest for his chicken. Keep an eye out for Shotgun BBQ in the chicken catagory.

Great pics man keep them coming!!!

Way cool N8.....welcome aboard!!!:biggrin:

Like everyone else has said, very cool. Great Job.