Best options for my new drum and 1st build

[scheitma]

Hello all! I've been reading everything I can for weeks now and I'm close to proceeding. Here is my story...I found a drum at a scrap yard and I thought it looked in good condition. Later I found out it most likely has the tough to remove liner and I had no idea what was in it. I also received a free weber lid and it wouldn't fit the top. So I went on a mission for a food grade drum. I checked CL and where I am there isn't much around. Call me crazy, well my wife did, but I am sure many of you understand...I drove 2½ hours and got a drum that had soybean oil. The guy I got it from said the locking lid had never even been opened and no liner inside! Perfect...almost. After getting home, my weber lid doesn't fit the top of course. I tried flipping it and it close to fitting the bottom, but not quite. I took a few pics, so hopefully I can get them on here. I just wanted some expert opinions on the best route to take. I don't have a kettle for the flange mod, so I am just looking for some recommendations. Thanks!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63874930@N08/5808859156/in/photostreamhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/63874930@N08/5808858726/in/photostream/http://www.flickr.com/photos/63874930@N08/5808294245/in/photostream/

[Phubar]

My Midi UDS has a welded rim on the lip of the drum cause the lid wouldn't fit.
I've seen Brethren just cut off the lip of the rim or bend the lip of the Weber lid.
This last option will crack the enamel though.
Good luck with your build!

[colonel00]

You have two "simple" options. I would definitely try to fit it on the bottom of the drum. First option is to get an angle grinder out and work that lip down all the way around until you get a good fit. Option two would be to use a jig saw or the like and slightly cut into that lip. Then follow the edge of the barrel all the way around. That bottom should just pop off at that point and the lid should fit.

As Phubar mentioned, you can bend the edge of the weber lid as well. However, this will cause you to lose the porcelain finish.

[scheitma]

Thanks for the quick replies. I would rather leave the weber lid alone even though it was a freebie. If I try to make it fit on the bottom of the drum, will I have to worry about the plugs that are in the locking lid, when they are on the bottom under the charcoal basket? The little white cap is just plastic. Thanks for the info

[1FUNVET]

I had the guys in our fab shop cut the drum top out to fit the diameter of the Weber top and weld the Weber to the drum top. You will lose some finish on the Weber top.

[Bigg Higg's BBQ]

Or dont use the weber lid at all, use lid that came with the drum w/ one cooking rack. Just my .02 Good Luck !!

[Wyley]

Or get a piece of flat steel bar at your local home improvement place and and make your own flange mod with it. You could also add a piece of rope gasket on the outside of the flange you make to make a better seal.

Paul

[MushCreek]

This comes up a lot. I like keeping the nice big rolled edge on the top of the drum, so I add a strip of flat bar around the inside. I use 1/8" X 1-1/4" flat bar, and leave about 5/16" sticking up above the lip of the drum. I drill it and bolt it about every 5" or so. I've also welded them in. I bend it by hand around my 55 gallon belly, and work it into place with a bunch of clamps.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k18/flgargoyle/IMGP5024.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k18/flgargoyle/IMGP5025.jpg

[Downtown Smokeout]

The plugs on the bottom can be replaced. There is a barrel distributor here so I'm kind of spoiled, but you can put foil in them, should work fine. The bottom doesn't get very hot on mine. But I always overload the basket, so I never burn all the way through.

[scheitma]

This comes up a lot. I like keeping the nice big rolled edge on the top of the drum, so I add a strip of flat bar around the inside. I use 1/8" X 1-1/4" flat bar, and leave about 5/16" sticking up above the lip of the drum. I drill it and bolt it about every 5" or so. I've also welded them in. I bend it by hand around my 55 gallon belly, and work it into place with a bunch of clamps.
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k18/flgargoyle/IMGP5024.jpg
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k18/flgargoyle/IMGP5025.jpg

Thank you for all of the help so far! This looks like a good solution. With this mod, does the lid seal pretty good without any other mods? Another question...looked at many thermometers and the 3" dials look nice but with the shorter stems on them should you rely on that temp or go with a longer probe? From what I've read it should mean the 2-4" stems won't have a reading as what something in the center of the drum would. Thanks

[Johnny_Crunch]

Many use a turkey frying long stem thermo. I simply used the short stem ones that are made to thread into a smoker. It works just fine. If my short one on the side says 225 its probably warmer in the middle and that's ok with me.