Ugly Drum Smoker

jgh1204 · Jan 13, 2007

ADMIN NOTE:

This is the mother of all UDS threads. All information you will need to build a UDS is in this thread. use this, and a search of the forum for UDS and you will find a wealth of information.

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I recently scored a free food grade 55 gallon drum. I bought a weber replacement grill and some misc. hardware. I need to go buy a handle and some hardware to make an access door.

Any advice on air flow hole placement. Size of hole? I was thinkin about getting some roofing caps to use as closures for the holes in the lid.

With my minimal metal working skills, this is not going to be pretty, but hopefully it will be effective.

ThomEmery · Jan 13, 2007

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

jgh1204 · Jan 13, 2007

Thanks , the simpler the better for me.

Blutch · Jan 13, 2007

I'd really love to see you post pics through the process of building this bad boy. I'd love to do one someday and a photo primer would be a great help.

Where did you get the barrel? What makes it "food grade?"
Thanks
B

jgh1204 · Jan 13, 2007

There is a local food processor down the way from our office and we bought them to get rid of some contaminated dirt. Turns out the oil that was contaminating the dirt was biodegradeable and did not have to be removed.

The barrel has apple juice labels on it.

I dont think the barrel has to be food grade, you just got to make sure there was nothing hazardous to your health put in it. Therefore, it is safer to go with barrels that stored food products.

Bigmista · Jan 13, 2007

The door really isn't necessary. I found that out later. I only open it when I really need to crank up the heat quickly and most of the time Ihave to prop somethign against it to make sure it stays closed tight. I've learned a lot and my next one will be better.

I currently have six holes around the bottom and 4 holes around the top. I leave the holes at the top open during a cook and usually two holes at the bottom are open to give me steady 225-230 temps. I plug them with aluminum foil since the guy that made it just burned the holes in instead of drilling them and making them circular.

jgh1204 · Jan 13, 2007

Mista, how large are the holes?

Bigmista · Jan 13, 2007

I could poke my index finge in to about the second knuckle. I'm guessing somewher between 1/2" to 3/4" in diameter.

jgh1204 · Jan 13, 2007

1 more question, how high up from the bottom of the barrel?

Bigmista · Jan 13, 2007

About an inch or so. You can see the pics here:

Mod Note: Link removed to prevent a redirect. PM sent to BigMista so that he can look into what happened.

Sawdustguy · Jan 13, 2007

jgh1204 said:
I recently scored a free food grade 55 gallon drum. I bought a weber replacement grill and some misc. hardware. I need to go buy a handle and some hardware to make an access door.

Any advice on air flow hole placement. Size of hole? I was thinkin about getting some roofing caps to use as closures for the holes in the lid.

With my minimal metal working skills, this is not going to be pretty, but hopefully it will be effective.

Exactly! It can be the fugliest grill on earth but if you can cook good Que with it, she is pretty in my eyes.

tommykendall · Jan 13, 2007

Bigmista said:
I could poke my index finger in to about the second knuckle.

Now there's a morning visual we could do without. :shock:

jgh1204 · Jan 13, 2007

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.

vr6Cop · Jan 13, 2007

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.

Maybe a couple of good burn-ins will take care of that smell. It just needs to burn off. :?:

motley que · Jan 13, 2007

a buddy of mine owns a scrap metal business, he is keeping his eyes out for a 55 gallon drum that has lids and is in decent shape, when i go pick it up, i will dig through his yard and see if there is a charcoal ring just laying around ready to be made

motley que · Jan 13, 2007

Bigmista said:
I could poke my index finge in to about the second knuckle.

thats what she said

ThomEmery · Jan 13, 2007

We made a charcoal basket out of a metal washing machine drum
Sure would work as a Big Mista Smoker charcoal basket.
Easy to clean up after
The center stud gives you good air flow.

ThomEmery · Jan 13, 2007

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.

You have to burn that off Ol Rocky at BDS earns his money doing just that
nasty job

Thats why he buys new ones now no coating to deal with

jgh1204 · Jan 13, 2007

Thom, you think it will be ok after a few more burns?

My wife thinks I am crazy for putting $50 into this. She would not understand ordering a $300 BDS, especially when I am considering buying either a Klose BYC or a Spicewine type smoker next year.

ThomEmery · Jan 13, 2007

Rocky was using apple juice bbls and quit because they are such a pain in the a$$
It takes a long burn to get the coating out of there
He earns the $300 making those BDS Smokers

Ugly Drum Smoker

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