first post! first smoker build thread!

hey folks!
My name is Nick this is my first post, and its about my first smoker build!

Background: Im 28 years old, im a welder by day. i make labeling systems for many things you probably use every day. i also build trailers for hauling mobility scooters in my spare time.

My build: My build is going to be a 300 (estimated) gallon diesel fuel tank from the farm. my fire box will be a 55 gallon drum. and all will be mounted on an 8ft trailer with a 1500lb rockwell torsion trailer axle.

my tank:

I started with my tank. cut a door and mounted my hinges.
to cut my door i used a thermal dynamics plasma cutter ( tank has been empty and vented for almost 10 years)

Next I burned out my tank. started my fire with some real nice hardwood and burned it over night and a about 6 hours the next day. fueling it it with a leaf blower to get it really hot.



once i got the measurements for my cooking shelf i went to work on that.
i used 1x1 square tubing and built my frame. ( still waiting on my expanded metal to come for the grate) i used some stainless 1/2 inch rod scrap from work to make to handles to pull out my shelf.


next i have crafted some handles for my lid using horse shoes. just a little heat a vice and a hammer to bent them


next i added some flange to my lid to keep it from falling inside and to seal up the lid. on the bottom portion i used an old saw blade from out massive saw at work ( i knocked off the points of the teeth to avoid getting hurt and mounted the teeth up its just for looks) i dont have a picture of this yet sorry!


next i set everything up on one of my little trialers to see how it will all mount up. this trailer is only 4ft long and i just have the ramp extended in the picture to get the 8ft look.




here is a picture of the lid closed with the handles mounted. this is currently how it sits until the weekend!

It is temporary. No extremities entering. It was for photos only. In going to do a car style dual hood prop in the end I think.

Going to address some questions and concerns that I have received.

As far as the welder it is a miller millermatic 180.

The handles will surely get pretty toasty! But as for now I just plan to have my oven mits handy. I'll need them for my pull out shelf anyway. So I have little concern about it for now.

And as for the 55gallon drum, my family has used a double drum smoker in our hunting cabin for over 20 years and we have yet to replace the barrels. But I will keep this in mind. If it fails ill just have to grab another drum and put it on. I will have a grate inside for building my fire . So it will not quite be direct.

Thanks for the input so far! I can't wait to get back to it this weekend!