Ugly Drum Smoker

Piedmont · Jan 22, 2007

Another approach to coal/ash access.

Bigmista said:
I try not to tend. If themps are hanging between 225 and 235 (like they usually do) I don't open the lid. At about 2.5 hours I'll check to see if they have pulled back. I'll check every half hour until they are ready to foil.

The mods I am thinking of making are putting wheels on it, having the holes drilled instead of burned thru and putting pipe fittings or something like that in there that is easier to close off, working out some type of hook system to raise the ash pan out of the cooker instead of reaching down into the barrel.

I have two suggestions for the ash pan/coal pan, cut out the bottom of the drum except cut about 1 inch away from the edge, then take a second drum, cut it off just below the lowest ring so that you have a squat drum that is completely open at the top, set the first drum on top of the squat drum (lower squat drum holds coals/ash) and you can than remove the top cooker at any time to have full access to the coals. Make sure the lower/squat drum is cut square so that it will seal as the top drum rests upon it.

Or, Using a second drum cut a door that is 1/2 larger than the opening, fasten on hinges then, make a seal with silicon around edge of door, then get a pull - latch to hold the door tight.

Regards,
Piedmont

Piedmont · Jan 22, 2007

How much briquettes are used?

ThomEmery said:
Talk to Big Mista You dont need the door The fire will last 16 hours if built right

How much briquettes are used for 16 hour burn? and, anyone figured out briquette amounts for 3 and 6 hour burn?

Regards,

Piedmont

Piedmont · Jan 22, 2007

Coated drum

jgh1204 said:
Well, I think this going down as a failure. As I said, the drum was used to hold apple juice concentrate. Whatever they used to coat the inside of the drum is putting off a funky smell.

Not gonna que in that.

It sounds like it is a standard steel drum but has a plastic coating to keep it from rusting from the acid in the apple juice and to keep the juice from tasting like rust. Burn it good and hot and you should burn off the plastic coating then you'll be fine! Any thing that is carbon based such as plastic will smply turn to carbon if burned good, just don't stand around and sniff the fumes while it burns off!!!

Regards,
Piedmont

Bigmista · Jan 22, 2007

Piedmont said:
How much briquettes are used for 16 hour burn? and, anyone figured out briquette amounts for 3 and 6 hour burn?

Regards,

Piedmont

Round about 10lbs. Like I said I usually end up closing all of the holes and smothering the the fire. I've never burned all the way thru the coals.

thillin · Jan 22, 2007

jgh1204 said:
Now if I can just find a webber lid.

If you don't need a dome lid, check a restaurant supply. They sell pretty big flat lids. Or keep checking craigs list.

Bigmista · Jan 22, 2007

You only need the weber lid if you are cooking turkeys, whole chickens or really tall ribs in a rack.

jgh1204 · Jan 23, 2007

Piedmont, thanks for the suggestions, but you are rapidly exceeding my metal working skills!

Yep, once I burned away that plastic coating, it was fine. It was a little discouraging at first, but the swamp, thom and mister encouraged me to continue and I am glad I did.

Norcoredneck · Jan 23, 2007

Here are pics. of my fire ring

Bigmista · Jan 23, 2007

Interesting! Why did you go with taller and less wide?

jgh1204 · Jan 23, 2007

He was inspired by Abe Lincoln!

jgh1204 · Jan 23, 2007

Mista, do you use charcoal or lump. At the 9.5 hour mark, my temps just plummeted. I was cruising along at 235 then it dropped to 218 then 208 then 195 all within about 5 minutes.

The ash was choking out the fire. I had to take out the food and clean off the coals and it climbed back up to 230 pretty quickly. I was using Royal Oak.

I was thinking about using some lump, but all that is available here is Cowboy and mesquite lump. And personally, I dont like mesquite. I know you and others do.

Bigmista · Jan 23, 2007

jgh1204 said:
Mista, do you use charcoal or lump. At the 9.5 hour mark, my temps just plummeted. I was cruising along at 235 then it dropped to 218 then 208 then 195 all within about 5 minutes.

The ash was choking out the fire. I had to take out the food and clean off the coals and it climbed back up to 230 pretty quickly. I was using Royal Oak.

I was thinking about using some lump, but all that is available here is Cowboy and mesquite lump. And personally, I dont like mesquite. I know you and others do.

I use the mesquite lump. i guess that might be the only time the door really comes in handy. I can reach in and shake the charcoal basket so the ash will fall without moving the grates.

Norcoredneck · Jan 23, 2007

Mista, ring is 9" tall because material I had was that and I was lazy that day. Went narrow on flat part again because of scrap. Works out because long side centers in barrel short side clears thermometer sticking in side. Going to work on lift out charcoal pan like Mistas. Feeling old these days and tipping drum into trash can is sort of pain.

Norcoredneck · Jan 23, 2007

jgh1204 said:
The ash was choking out the fire. I had to take out the food and clean off the coals and it climbed back up to 230 pretty quickly. I was using Royal Oak.quote]

Back in past thread Thirdeye posted a set of jiggler hooks he made to shake the basket in his original BDS.

bbqjoe · Jan 23, 2007

My very first smoker was a trash can, experiment, experiment

thirdeye · Jan 23, 2007

Norcoredneck said:
jgh1204 said:

The ash was choking out the fire. I had to take out the food and clean off the coals and it climbed back up to 230 pretty quickly. I was using Royal Oak.quote]

Back in past thread Thirdeye posted a set of jiggler hooks he made to shake the basket in his original BDS.

Click to expand...

Yep, I modeled the wiggle rod after these that I made for my Eggs. I used larger 1/4" stainless for the BDS rod to make it a little more manly. LOL I get at least 2 or 3 hours more out of the lump by wiggling it a couple of times during a cook. I actually don't shake the basket, but the "L" reaches into the bottom of the basket and gets wiggled from side to side. The few times I used briquettes, a wiggle really came in handy.

Piedmont · Jan 24, 2007

Shake your coals

Bigmista said:
I use the mesquite lump. i guess that might be the only time the door really comes in handy. I can reach in and shake the charcoal basket so the ash will fall without moving the grates.

I heard of someone that rigged up a metal rod that was attached to the coal basket and ran the rod through a hole in the side of the cooker so all they had to do was give it jiggle once in a while.

Norcoredneck · Jan 24, 2007

We live in earthquake country. No need to manually do it :-D

Piedmont · Jan 24, 2007

Norcoredneck said:
We live in earthquake country. No need to manually do it :-D

Ahh yes, harnessing Mother Nature's power! What a concept! : )

iceboxbbq · Jan 24, 2007

Well found me a 55gal juice drum need to burn off tan coating on the inside so I can build one of these too I think somebody started something here

Ugly Drum Smoker

Piedmont

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Piedmont

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Piedmont

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Babbling Farker

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Babbling Farker

Babbling Farker

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bbqjoe

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Piedmont

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Piedmont

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iceboxbbq

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