A motor oil drum is fine, just wash it well. First with solvent and then soap and water or car wash, and then burn it out. I made my mini out of an oil drum.
Newbie here, Ive read 200 pages so far and cannot find a method for cutting the top out of a 55 gallon closed drum, so it can be reused for a lid. it seems that most use a webber lid. I am cheap and don't want to buy one. If this is the only option the cheapest lid/grill I can find is home depot for $60.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Masterbu...harcoal-Grill-20042711/203596576?N=5yc1vZbx8h
It is a Masterbuilt and not a webber…. will it work?
I am nearly at the same stage of progress as you are, so I can't contribute an answer to your question. But I'd like to pose a question to you - how did you determine/measure the correct length to cut the 2 x 1/8 aluminum. I keep coming up with lengths varying up to a half inch. It loks as if you hit it on the button. Nice job, hope you get quick answer to your gasket question.
3.14167 X the actual dia.= the circumference This is the length of the StripI am nearly at the same stage of progress as you are, so I can't contribute an answer to your question. But I'd like to pose a question to you - how did you determine/measure the correct length to cut the 2 x 1/8 aluminum. I keep coming up with lengths varying up to a half inch. It loks as if you hit it on the button. Nice job, hope you get quick answer to your gasket question.
Thanks, 068 What did you use to make the cut? I have a 4" grinder but I am thinking maybe a cut off wheel would be more surgical. Smells, yeah if I can get the top cut to reuse it till I find a deal. Thanks!
Practice and patience. Originally, I ordered the 1.5" x 1/2" size as I had seen this used as well but I got a little too eager and didn't factor in that my drum has a rather substantial lip and that might potentially be a pain to deal with when inserting the screws so that 1/2" of the aluminum rose above the drum. It was at that point that I realized that the extra 1/2" was crucial and and I moved on to the 2" size and took my time. Lesson learned. I even drilled the holes in the aluminum first, so I have a guide for the drum.
I deliberately made it a tad too big to start, then shaved it down slowly; first by taking roughly 1/8" off of each end with the jigsaw, then switching to a file for fine tuning. Now it looks nice...with just the slightly loose lid.
I could probably hold off, bolt it down, then seal it with Permatex and see how it holds up when I go to season it but I was curious if anyone has tried something other than fiberglass, as that stuff is a pain to work with and I'd rather not have the safety risk.
Newbie here, Ive read 200 pages so far and cannot find a method for cutting the top out of a 55 gallon closed drum, so it can be reused for a lid. it seems that most use a webber lid. I am cheap and don't want to buy one. If this is the only option the cheapest lid/grill I can find is home depot for $60.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Masterbu...harcoal-Grill-20042711/203596576?N=5yc1vZbx8h
It is a Masterbuilt and not a webber…. will it work?
It depends on what you want and how you like to cook. If you want a lot of grate space, no need for messing with trying to hold a temp for hours on end. Like the flavor of cooked over a real fire. Then yes they are great! I'm selling one of my other style smokers and building a 3rd UDS which I will modify for doing not only the low and slow, but also cooking pizza's, just my next version of UDS as I can do all those thing now.In all honesty, are these things that great? I have only used traditional smokers and Webers.
I would defiantly be open to something cheap and awesome, that is efficient and does the job.
DO you have any pictures of this? I'd be interested in seeing them. My weber lid doesn't fit perfectly. It works, but I can easily slide it around on top of the drum.
It depends on what you want and how you like to cook. If you want a lot of grate space, no need for messing with trying to hold a temp for hours on end. Like the flavor of cooked over a real fire. Then yes they are great! I'm selling one of my other style smokers and building a 3rd UDS which I will modify for doing not only the low and slow, but also cooking pizza's, just my next version of UDS as I can do all those thing now.