I'm In
Hello All:
Ok, so I may not have read the entire thread, but I have enough info to get started.
My first barrel was picked up just a few miles away for $5, but it had spray foam insulation base in it, so I didn't ever really trust it, even after two good burns (which were quite a bit of fun anyway)
So this week I contacted someone on C/L here in Dallas that had "Food Grade" barrels, I asked him specifically and he thought they were unlined. They were reasonable for $10 each and have the cool spring/hinge lid ring instead of the big bolt kind. When I went to look at them (27 mi. to Ft. Worth, Haltom City actually), they had contained petrolatum (aka Vaseline, aka Petroleum Jelly) which apparently is used to grease something at bakeries.
They looked good and there was even a couple of rust spots already forming despite the liberal coating of petrolatum still inside.
Anyway, after a thorough power wash and then degreaser and a rag, I thought I was really good to go. I took the wire brush to it and dangit, there's still a think coating/lining of some kind, but it does just come right off with the wire brush without even having burned it at all yet. I think I'm ok but I'm just a little disappointed, I made the 2nd trip to try to get one that would require less elbow greast and electricity.
The Lining is so thin and non-durable that I think one medium sized burn with the pallets I still have will do it though, and that's probably not a bad idea anyway to get whatever nasties still might be lurking from the mnfg. process and all.
I've got all the parts ready to go, and I've already practiced drilling holes on the original drum, although I was making 4 half inch holes because I already had some 1/2" close nipples and ball valves left over from an aborted beer making experiment.
I'm going with the original tried and true 3 3/4" holes with close nipples, conduit nuts, pipe caps, and 3/4" ball valve, but I still have to go to HF to get a cheaper ball valve than the $9 ones at HD. I own a 1/2" drill, step bits, hole saws, and an HF angle grinder but don't have a knotted wire wheel for it (another thing to get at HD monday, along with the requisite weed burner and the ball valve)
My lid for the new drums are lined with the dreaded tan liner, but I do have the other lid just in case. That much wire wheeling won't be that bad. They have the 2" bung holes and another one ~ 1", but for some reason I am attracted to the 8 evenly spaced holes for some reason, so I will probably leave them plugged and do that, and of course keep an eye out for a free or cheap Weber or Clone.
Got my expanded metal from Fulton's in Denton, had to buy a full sheet but it was "used" or as I like to call it "pre-conditioned" (it's been sitting outside for a few years and is pre-rusted)
.Got that for $36 including 3 cuts with their torch so it would fit in the trunk. I just got caught up not wanting to pay $18 for a 2' x 2' piece at HD that I ended up spending twice that much but can make at least 6 more fahr rings with what I've got.
I got the cheapo "Outdoor Gourmet" grates and thermo at Academy, I know they're a little cheap and small, but they were about $15 for all 3, they'll get me started at least until I score the magical mythical free Weber.
I'm trying to keep this as cheap as possible, that's as much part of this as anything IMO
Anyway, Here's some pics. If anybody in North Dallas or the metroplex for that matter is thinking of building one of these, I have an extra barrel (the 2nd food grade type) and one or two pieces of expanded metal 2' x 44" you could have for what I've got in it. Hope that's not against the rules.
I always seem to pick up two or three of anything just in case, especially when I've driven 27 miles then 21 more miles to get there.
PICS
The barrel as received
The Label
After a wash and the first run with the wire wheel showing the liner
Stuff
I'm really looking forward to this, got some fatty supplies in the freezer and butts are on sale right now
Thanks to everybody for making this information available, I'm really enjoying it!!
da_burl out