Ugly Drum Smoker

OK, I'm about ready to throw in the towel. I've built a brush fire in the drums, that worked fine for the outside paint. Attacked the inside with a barage or wire wheels, brushes and pads, that didn't do it. Torching them from the outside with a weed burner then wire wheels again still not getting all the inside paint. What the hell am I doing wrong?
 
I wish I could help... but I have never seen one with paint on the inside. The last one I did had some kind of coating as it was a food grade drum but it burned off albiet with some pretty big fires.

I would try burning again with wood. Get it really cranked up so flames are coming out of the top of the drum. If that doesn't get it then I would just look for a different drum.

Best of luck...
 
I'm with Gator on the burn. One or two flaming fires with thin and dry wood pieces. Long, short, twigs, small logs, some large enough to stick out the top a foot or so. This has always worked for mine. Good luck.:shock:
 
I've definately been there. I thought these were food grade drums and this was the coating you're talking about, but it is stubborn chit.
Here it is after the burn and I started with the wire wheel
burn1.jpg


Here it is after wheel
burn2.jpg


I am not getting much more off with the weed burner. (but I am having fun burning the weeds in my driveway)
 
:twisted: One thing I found a little helpful is to go ahead and drill the bottom holes before the burn. Seems to give a little more draft and hotter fire. IMHO!
 
:cool: The idea is doing it as cheep as possible...burning is kind of traditional for a UDS. Depending on sand blasting cost, you might look into a new barrel. Around here they are $65.00 new. I have found garage sale Webers for about $5.00 and you get the lid, both grates, and maybe a few extras, depending on which one you find. Again, cheap is kinda cool. And, they work fantastic!!!:eusa_clap
 
I thought of drilling the bottom holes to get a hotter fire. I was looking at the pics I posted and notices they looked a lot better then the drums looked today. It was real hot here, then I went on vacation so its been a couple weeks since I worked on these. I am not used to working with metal and didn't realize how quickly they would show surface rust (even though they are in the garage). I was dealing with more rust then paint which is why it wasn't burning off. I worked them over again and this time sprayed them with PAM since it will probably be a week till I touch them again. I'm excited about this project again.
burn3.jpg


I did have some good help today
girls1.jpg
 
ipls3355 said:
I thought of drilling the bottom holes to get a hotter fire. I was looking at the pics I posted and notices they looked a lot better then the drums looked today. It was real hot here, then I went on vacation since I worked on these. I am not used to working with metal and didn't realize how quickly they would show surface rust (even though they are in the garage). I worked them over again and this time sprayed them with PAM since it will probably be a week till I touch them again.
burn3.jpg
Click to expand...

That bad boy is ready for a fire with meat loaded on the grates. Good job...now get to Q'in.8) 8)
 
Brian, 2" - 3" from the bottom is what I do. IMO, it allows some air under the firebasket for better circulation. I also use long (4" pipe nipples so the grate and/or firebasket will rest on them...up off the bottom of the barrel. Hope that helps, but check other posts for ideas as well.
 
Brian, I put about 810 lbs of charcoal/lump and a few splits of whatever wood I have, then start about half chimney of charcoal and put it on top in the middle of the unlit. I get 8-10 hours this way. Bigmista is the master of the UDS. Check out some of his threads. I can get long, and I mean long burns, with more charcoal and shake or stir the basket from time to time. You will be really happy with the quality of Q this thing produces. The juices fall into the coal and burst smoke flavor all around...YUM YUM YUM!!!!!
 
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