Ugly Drum Smoker

[Thawley]

Originally Posted by rlic80

Thawley...what exactly did you do with the propane torch? Just burn off the interior lining? I might be able to get access to one and if that is simpler and quicker than a barrel burn, I'd gladly welcome it.

I flamed it from the outside and got it hot enough to burn the coating of the inside. There's not enough oxygen to keep the flame going if you work from the inside...

[Bottles 'n Bones BBQ]

Originally Posted by AlabamaGrillBillies

When postioning the first Food Grate. Does it need to be 24" from the bottom of the charcoal basket, ie 24" from the bottom grate, or 24" from the top of the charcoal basket, ie where the top of the pile of coal would be.

AGB...It's pretty much builder's choice, IMHO. I'm of the idea of putting your top and bottom grates in where you want 'em to fit your cooking style or if the drum has a desinated purpose (ie...large cuts of meat ~vs~ small ones ~vs~ all around utility), and second build your basket the way you want it. I think the distance is fairly forgiving and the first place to find any wiggle room if you need it...

My new basket cooks better than my old one even though it's 2-3" taller than the old one (about 18" from top of basket to top grate). That's my take on the sitcheeashun anyway...

[Bigmista]

Originally Posted by AlabamaGrillBillies

When postioning the first Food Grate. Does it need to be 24" from the bottom of the charcoal basket, ie 24" from the bottom grate, or 24" from the top of the charcoal basket, ie where the top of the pile of coal would be.

With mine, the first grate is 6 inches from the top. Second grate is 6 inches below that.

[AlabamaGrillBillies]

Well, what i'm thinking of is having a 'hotter' bottom rack where the temps might be say 250 to 275 even, and a 'cooler' top rack where temps could be between 250 and 200. Cooking things like chicken and ribs on the bottom rack and butts and brisket on the top.

[thirdeye]

Let me toss this out for idears.....My top grate is 7" from the lid. The over/under cooks are a slight hassle cause you have to remove the entire upper grate to tend the stuff on the lower one. I have made a grate extender for my Eggs that looks like this. What do you think of a 1/2 ring with a 1/2 grate to sit on the regular grate? Maybe used for potatoes, corn, smaller stuff like a short rack of ribs, a few wings etc. If it was 3" high you could still reach under it with tongs, or just spin the whole device 180°. (those bottom crossbars would not be needed.

[Bottles 'n Bones BBQ]

Originally Posted by thirdeye

What do you think of a 1/2 ring with a 1/2 grate to sit on the regular grate? Maybe used for potatoes, corn, smaller stuff like a short rack of ribs, a few wings etc. If it was 3" high you could still reach under it with tongs, or just spin the whole device 180°. (those bottom crossbars would not be needed.

I'm in...put me down for at least one!!!

Hey Thirdeye, speaking of...What MIG welder would you suggest for the small home shop? Just for tinkering around the shop. Surely nothing ever over 1/4", I don't imagine...

[thirdeye]

Originally Posted by Bottles 'n Bones BBQ

I'm in...put me down for at least one!!!

Hey Thirdeye, speaking of...What MIG welder would you suggest for the small home shop? Just for tinkering around the shop. Surely nothing ever over 1/4", I don't imagine...

I've been a welding inspector for 31 years and MIG (hard wire and flux-core) is definitely where it's at for the workshop as far as ease of use, skill level, thin materials etc. I'm sort of old school because 4 or 5 years ago when I got a new machine for my workbench I went with a 150 amp stick/TIG unit. Stick for the variety of filler options and being able to use it just about anywhere, sometimes without the perfect weld prep. TIG, because I have always admired the men that have mastered it. I will have a MIG welder someday....

Anyway back to your question. I don't know what your budget is but I like Miller. I used to not like their beer or their welders, now I drink Lite and own a Maxstar. For you, the Millermatic line may be something to look at to compare features. The 140 even has Auto-Set. Remember you will need a bottle of gas, a hood and some accessories. I've played with them at a couple of welding demo's, they are nice.

You really need to try some on for size. There are some Lincoln machines at home centers that have similar features to the Miller. Some welding dealers have demo machines so you can get some trigger time before buying.

http://www.millerwelds.com/products/mig/

[Bottles 'n Bones BBQ]

Thanks man...BTW, bought a 12 pack of 16 OZ Miller Lites the other day. First time I've ever seen such a thing...'bout time!!! LoL

[Norcoredneck]

Speaking of welding, I have a lazy eye (crooked eye farker) and have bad depth perception. I was on disability with a broken leg (in a hip cast) and had to pay a muffler shop $20 to weld 2 scissor jacks together to raise my bed. He did such a $hitty job when my first Income insurance check came in I bought a 250 amp Miller mig. I am not a great welder but I can stick things together. I needed a 115V welder to do fencing and I bought a Hobart 135, neighbor was hooked after playing with mine. He bought a Miller 135. They are almost identical (Miller owns Hobart) except his had a reostat for voltage where mine has a position click.. Wish mine had the adjustment when doing small stuff. If you go on Ebay welding outfits have lots of deals most with free shipping because they are drop shipped. Around the holidays most give freebies, carts, covers, consumables. Important thing to remember is don't buy cheap. Get a major brand so you can get replacement parts. It is as addicting as BBq. Since then I got a Miller SD180 tig/stick that I can not seem to get the hang of, and my favorite a plasma cutter my wife and daughter bought me. Join the Miller club online they have a E-newsletter that is cool, lots of ideas. Go to http://www.cyberweld.com/ good place. Buy a good helmet, autodarkening, best you can afford. Take it from One eye, it's too late when you can't see what your missing.

[jtfisher63]

Man alive! That was long read, it took me all afternoon(while working). Now I am convinced that I need a drum smoker. I read in one of the posts that it cooks from the bottom only. So if I wanted to use rib racks would I need to flip the ribs over in the racks? One of my probs right now is that I can't cook many racks on what I have now and I think a drum would do the trick. Thanks.

Jason

[thirdeye]

Norco,

...don't buy cheap...get a good helmet...

That is very sound advice on both counts. You only have two eyes .... I got an Optrel hood with the two-stage variable settings and love it. I can dial it down for low amp TIG or up for 6010.

You have a plas at home? Cool. I'm still a real novice with the TIG but I like the mechanics of the whole process.

[Norcoredneck]

Yeah I have a plasma cutter, my wife loves me and listens to what I tell my friends. I have a lot of coaches when it comes to welding. The problem I have is keeping the tungsten away from puddle/filler. Probably didn't help that I started to learn on aluminum. Started getting the hang of it and then electricity rates went up and you can see the meter try to spin the house! Need to get back to it. Wish I had time to take a class. My eyesight is changing with age, need reading glasses. Got a hood with magnifier lens. Real cool if you need it.

[thirdeye]

My machine is DC TIG only, so no aluminum. But it does have an adjustable arc pulse that helps me. It came with the finger control and a lot of welders like the foot pedal better. It's the out of position stuff that gives me fits.

My hood has a cheater lense too.

[FatDad]

You farkers should start a new thread about welding
This is not Q-Talk info...
JMO...

[ipls3355]

How long are the thermometers you use in these?