Steel Drum Question

Langsterjohn · 11-18-2009, 07:05 PM

HI all,

About a year ago I planned on building a UDS and bought a food grade drum. Being a newbie, I didn't realize until I was going to start building it that it had a crimped on (or welded, I am not sure) lid. For this reason, the build has been delayed until now.

I have thought about various ways to remove the lid, many of which involved a cutting torch (don't have), big grinders (I have, but have only one eye, so try to limit their use). Any ideas on how to remove the lid, or should I just plan on getting different drum with a removable lid. I sure hate to lose the $20 investment, if all it is going to take is some elbow grease.

Thanks,

John

BobF · 11-18-2009, 07:16 PM

cut it out with a jigsaw.
Know anyone that deals with drums regularly. They have a tool to remove the lid that works like a giant can opener.

Artfuldodger · 11-18-2009, 07:22 PM

What will you use for a lid if you destroy the original?

Drifter · 11-18-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artfuldodger

What will you use for a lid if you destroy the original?

A lid off of a kettle style grill (like a Weber 22.5 kettle)can be easily modified to fit the drum and this also allows enough room for using 2 cooking grates.
EDIT: Flip through this thread and you will see what I mean.
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forums/s...ad.php?t=23436

jetfxr27 · 11-18-2009, 09:19 PM

Drum deheader

Or fill with water and use a sawsall, or a hammer and chisel.

Langsterjohn · 11-19-2009, 09:50 AM

Thanks for the ideas. Just curious though, why fill with water?

John

SirPorkaLot · 11-19-2009, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Langsterjohn

Thanks for the ideas. Just curious though, why fill with water?

John

It will help to keep your drum from deforming if you use a hammer & chisel.
It will help to keep vibrations down if you are using a sawzall.

jetfxr27 · 11-19-2009, 11:16 AM

^^^ What he said.

Plus if the drum is not food grade, as your is, it keeps the

to a minimum.

MushCreek · 11-19-2009, 11:20 AM

It does a better job of p-ing off the neighbors if you do it empty, though!

Langsterjohn · 11-19-2009, 11:33 AM

I know I'm getting old, it's been too long since I was an engineer. I should've realized the water trick. I like my neighbors too, so I guess that's another great reason. Thanks for all the suggestions--sawzall it is this weekend!

John

Paul B · 11-19-2009, 11:45 AM

Skip the water, the noise is over before anybody has a chance to complain!! If you like your neighbors they must like you and shouldn't mind especially when you throw them some smoked stuff thire way. Also, takes too much time to fill and empty. In the time it takes you to fill I could have that lid off and onto the next step.

I got mine off with a jigsaw in about 3 minutes and I'm slow!!

Paul B

MushCreek · 11-19-2009, 03:03 PM

True that- it doesn't take long, although Paul and I were working with stainless steel, which is rough on saw blades!

jerrykr · 11-19-2009, 03:40 PM

Hammer and chisel. The steel is soft, takes about 2-3 minutes.

forget the water.

After you cut the end out, lay the barrell down on the concrete and bend the rough edges down.
You can hit them with a grinder later, but hammering them down is all you need to do.
.

landarc · 11-19-2009, 04:30 PM

That drum deheader is great if you can rent one. Makes it a lot easier.

jgbmgb · 11-19-2009, 04:57 PM

I just did two drums yesterday. Used my jigsaw with metal cutting blade. Took all of 5 minutes and only left about 1/16 lip inside. Used 2 hammers backed up and flattened the 1/16 to the wall. Took all of 10 min. total.

11-18-2009, 07:05 PM	#1
Langsterjohn Found some matches. Join Date: 06-24-09 Location: Santa Ana, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Steel Drum Question HI all, About a year ago I planned on building a UDS and bought a food grade drum. Being a newbie, I didn't realize until I was going to start building it that it had a crimped on (or welded, I am not sure) lid. For this reason, the build has been delayed until now. I have thought about various ways to remove the lid, many of which involved a cutting torch (don't have), big grinders (I have, but have only one eye, so try to limit their use). Any ideas on how to remove the lid, or should I just plan on getting different drum with a removable lid. I sure hate to lose the $20 investment, if all it is going to take is some elbow grease. Thanks, John

11-18-2009, 07:16 PM	#2
BobF Take a breath! Join Date: 07-13-08 Location: Savannah, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	cut it out with a jigsaw. Know anyone that deals with drums regularly. They have a tool to remove the lid that works like a giant can opener. __________________ OTS Kettle, UDS, Sam's Gasser

11-18-2009, 09:19 PM	#5
jetfxr27 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-30-09 Location: Memphis Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Drum deheader Or fill with water and use a sawsall, or a hammer and chisel. __________________ UDS', mUDS, COS. Weber gasser & kettle. Thermapen,Digiq2, Golden-Tiger

11-19-2009, 11:16 AM	#8
jetfxr27 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-30-09 Location: Memphis Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	^^^ What he said. Plus if the drum is not food grade, as your is, it keeps the to a minimum. __________________ UDS', mUDS, COS. Weber gasser & kettle. Thermapen,Digiq2, Golden-Tiger

11-19-2009, 11:20 AM	#9
MushCreek Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-01-09 Location: Seminole Florida Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It does a better job of p-ing off the neighbors if you do it empty, though! __________________ I'm very intelligent, but I mask it by doing stupid stuff.

11-18-2009, 07:22 PM	#3
Artfuldodger Found some matches. Join Date: 01-07-08 Location: Augusta, Georgia Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	What will you use for a lid if you destroy the original?

11-19-2009, 09:50 AM	#6
Langsterjohn Found some matches. Join Date: 06-24-09 Location: Santa Ana, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thanks for the ideas. Just curious though, why fill with water? John

11-19-2009, 11:33 AM	#10
Langsterjohn Found some matches. Join Date: 06-24-09 Location: Santa Ana, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I know I'm getting old, it's been too long since I was an engineer. I should've realized the water trick. I like my neighbors too, so I guess that's another great reason. Thanks for all the suggestions--sawzall it is this weekend! John __________________ 2 burner and 3 burner gassers; WSM, Lang 48 Patio; UDS (in process)

11-19-2009, 11:45 AM	#11
Paul B is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-08-09 Location: Datyona Beach, Fl Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Skip the water, the noise is over before anybody has a chance to complain!! If you like your neighbors they must like you and shouldn't mind especially when you throw them some smoked stuff thire way. Also, takes too much time to fill and empty. In the time it takes you to fill I could have that lid off and onto the next step. I got mine off with a jigsaw in about 3 minutes and I'm slow!! Paul B

11-19-2009, 03:03 PM	#12
MushCreek Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-01-09 Location: Seminole Florida Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	True that- it doesn't take long, although Paul and I were working with stainless steel, which is rough on saw blades! __________________ I'm very intelligent, but I mask it by doing stupid stuff.

11-19-2009, 03:40 PM	#13
jerrykr Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 06-11-08 Location: DFW land - TX. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hammer and chisel. The steel is soft, takes about 2-3 minutes. forget the water. After you cut the end out, lay the barrell down on the concrete and bend the rough edges down. You can hit them with a grinder later, but hammering them down is all you need to do. .

11-19-2009, 04:30 PM	#14
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: San Leandro, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That drum deheader is great if you can rent one. Makes it a lot easier. __________________ "perhaps...but then again...maybe not..." careful there son, those ribs are boiling hot... \_\|_/ (='.'=) Here there be bunnies... (")_(")ooo Pacific Rim BBQ Bob's Brew and Que

11-19-2009, 04:57 PM	#15
jgbmgb Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-06-09 Location: Wilson, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I just did two drums yesterday. Used my jigsaw with metal cutting blade. Took all of 5 minutes and only left about 1/16 lip inside. Used 2 hammers backed up and flattened the 1/16 to the wall. Took all of 10 min. total. __________________ Jeff - KCBS #67908 Custom BQ Grills Vertical Smoker CG Akorn UDS x 2 Weber Genesis BQ Grill

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