Wine Barrel Smoker

[BMORSE1981]

My bad I got freaked out, I was reading the first page and saw everyone saying "use it for wood" and didn't see there was more than one page....ha, ha. Anyway hope you turn it into a smoker. Skidder has it all covered on page two, LOL. good luck!

[bbqfans]

Originally Posted by mmmmeat

turn it into a cold smoker build a half uds.... pipe da smoke via ...4" pipe, and viola

Exactly what I thought when I saw it posted.....
Nice brainstorming MMMMMMMMMeat
I gotta get farking quicker on the draw, gollyyy! I'm always last man

[Skidder]

If you do make it into a smoker make sure you fill it with water then drain it so it doesn't dry out. Everytime you smoke with it.

[CROSSCZEK]

Originally Posted by Cast Iron Cheif

Make wine in Oak Barrel.
Make BBQ in UDS.
Drink Wine.
Eat BBQ.
Simple

...rinse, repeat.

[JiveTurkey]

Originally Posted by Smokin Turkey

what did it cost you? what winery did it come from? I think its a piece of art just as it is and I'd be working on making a rack to display it.

At risk of making everyone mad at me I'll just say it was "cheap". :)

From Sebastiani Winery out of Sonoma, Ca.

I know people who know people who intoxicate people.

[Barbarian]

Wine barrels are easy to get in wine country. I have about 6 sitting around for decoration. A couple I have filled with water and a couple I cut in half for planters. The others are falling apart due to the wood shrinking. I don't see a way to keep the wood from shrinking without it being wet. I would just build a UDS and cut that baby up for smokin'. You can always come back up and get another, winerys are always replacing barrels. I have wood from two barrels just waiting for me to put them in the fire.

Whoever has the one that they put over there UDS must be a strong SOB because it would take at least two guys to pick on up and slide it over a drum.

Oh save the top and bottom for side tables on the UDS.

[Knothead]

I saw one of these on another forum built from a whiskey barrel, the guy put a screw through each one of the staves on every band (thats also how I've seen furniture done). looked pretty sweet. that is on big arse barrel I've rolled alot of whiskey barrels in my day would hate to run into a load of those.

[JiveTurkey]

I did a little digging and found that it's not 84 gallons, it's 135 gallons and weighs 209 pounds.

[KnucklHed BBQ]

Originally Posted by JiveTurkey

Good idea I just wonder how I would cut through the metal bands and keep the staves tight. Thanks for the sketch though. Tony Romas should sell their wax for smoking at Home Depot! Ha.

My idea did not involve cutting any bands... cut an acces hole shaped like a "D" in the opposite end (the round end) from the firebox. Use the flat side of the "D" shape to mount hinges and use as a door
With the tray system of the ribolator you would load up your food and hang it from the rotisserie rod inside.

[Coby65]

I think you should cut that puppy in half, put a redwood top on it, and put some shelves in the backside and make the ultimate back yard bar. Put some nice stools in front of it and call it good.

Wine barrels are easy to get around here and I have several around the house for decoration and they do shrink if they do not stay moist.

[JiveTurkey]

This weekend I took advantage of having some family visit for thanksgiving so my nephew and I worked on the barrel. We cut the top off:




Then took a 29x29 inch piece of expanded and cut the corners off. Not easy but it made a pretty nice grate with lots of room.



We also made a fire ring for the coals. I just need to figure out a way to keep hot embers off of the wood bottom and cut my air vent holes. Almost there!

Sorry for the bump, I'm just keeping everything in the same thread.

[swamprb]

Here is what I would suggest. I used an 18.5" kettle for a firebowl in one of my first drum smokers. Drilled a chitload of vent holes all over it and filled it with briqs and it burnt forever!

In your case, using it in the wine barrel, I'd just drill holes around the kettle above the charcoal grate, and use a ring of expando on the grate and the ashes will settle in the bowl.

[JiveTurkey]

Good idea. I have an extra full size weber that will fit inside. The top and bottom of the barrel is 29" so it will fit with room to spare. I just might have to give that a try! Thanks for the ideas everybody.

[Paul B]

Anybody notice that it is already notched for a rib-o-lator??

Paul B

[smooookin]

I would suggest a couple inches of sand in the bottom. Maybe wet it down from time to time to keep it tight.