Chet's Whiskey Barrel Smoker

[ChetPunisher]

Just the beginning, but I have to start somewhere. Letting the barrel soak to expand the stakes as much as possible before screwing the stakes. I'm still trying to figure out what screws I should use and not go broke.


http://imageshack.us/a/img801/8003/img1631t.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img203/6946/img1632ej.jpg

[yakdung]

Too cool what else can I say. Can't wait for more pictures.

[Smoothsmoke]

<----Staying tuned!

[Toney Marconi]

Do you need to screw every single board on every ring? If so, that's a lotta screwing (and screws).

[ChetPunisher]

All the pictures I have seen have the bands screwed in at every stake. I just need to know which screws to use. If they are the 75&#162; ones I found I am gonna just ditch this to my wife for planting in and move on to a UDS...

[Toney Marconi]

I don't blame you. That's an expensive screw. There has to be a cheaper screw you can use.

[ChetPunisher]

The one I found was a self tapping stainless steel screw for steel... Not sure if I can get away with a self tapping wood screw. I guess I should just go grab a bunch of different self tappers and give it a shot..

[Oldbob]

Here is a Link to Self Tapping screws at Lowes


http://www.lowes.com/pd_59183-37672-604135_4294710842__?productId=4639881&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=


Hope this helps You !!


Bob

[realspaazz]

The self tappers work ok in thin soft metal, but i think that they hold poorly in wood (I feel that the drilling function drills too large of a pilot hole in the wood for the screw to hold well) I would get regular pan head screws long enough to go through the band and half to three quarters of the way through the slats (you don't want to penetrate the inside of the barrel) Get two sizes of drill bit, one the same diameter as the screw threads and the other just a bit smaller than the diameter of the shaft through the center of the screw.

Use the larger bit to drill through the metal band. On this project you will probably dull several bits so buy a few, drilling at a slow speed will help to keep the bit sharp longer. A center punched dimple on the band will help to keep the bit from "wandering". A stop collar on the bit will keep you from drilling too deep.

Use the smaller bit to drill a pilot hole into the wood. Again, a stop collar will keep the bit from drilling too deep. You want your pilot to be almost as deep as the screw will penetrate.

Oak is tough wood. A little paraffin wax on the screw threads will help them cut in easily. If you are using a power driver, set the clutch so that the screw just comes tight to the band. You can always cinch it up by hand. That will minimize snapping the screws off as you drive them. If you can find USA made screws, you will likely have less breakage. (Try Van Wieren's Hardware. (I grew up in Holland))
Hope that this helps. Good Luck! It looks like a cool project.

[gbaker770]

Try Fastenal, they are going to be much cheaper than Lowes and you can get exactly what you're looking for.
Subscribing to your build.

[Johnny_Crunch]

Cool build. Can't wait for the rest.

[J-Rod]

What realspazz said. It's a lot of drilling, but it'll pay off in the end when yer eating tasty Q. Don't shelf the build yet!

Edit- and whatever you do be sure to use an electric drill to drill all those holes! Cordless ones are fine for installing screws but they aren't adequate for repeated heavy drilling.

[chicagokp]

Very cool.

[ChetPunisher]

I'm thinking of doing an electric unit on this one.The chance of flare upas and burning the barrel down worries me. What do you all think?

[Freddy j]

Subscribed! Very interested in this one. That is a very handsome barrel.

[oifmarine2003]

Subscribed. I am always up for a different kind of build!

[ChetPunisher]

Sorry for the lack of updates. With birthdays, Mother's Day and family coming into town I have been busy... I got all the slates drilled and screwed. Whew! I also was able to cut the top half off. Beware, if you are using a used barrel, the smell might overwhelm you. Mine had been used for sour mash and WOW what a smell. Ordered my grill grates and electric unit, and thermometer. I only need to get the chains to hold the lid from falling backwards.

Now hold on before you pile on me. I have a three year old son and a new baby about to appear in about 4 weeks. I wanted something I could set and forget about. I can always switch it over to charcoal at a later time.

I'll add pics when I get the parts installed.

[Banjoe]

I gotta see how this works out. Please keep us in the loop.

[frognot]

Looking forward to updates.

[J-Rod]

I like the electric heating idea. I'd be very leery adding fire to that thing!

[ChetPunisher]

I got the brinkman electric converstion unit. I set it on a grate on the bottom of the barrel and set up the cooking grates. I have not decided on a chimney yet (suggestions are welcome). Using some dryer exhaust tubing, I made a cheap chimney. Shut the lid, locked it down and plugged it in. Let it run for 2 hours and checked it. 217&#176;, not so great, but at least above 200&#176;.

I unplugged it and set it on an old charcoal bowl I had laying around. Lifted it about 6 inches. I filled it with lava rocks. Set everything back in place. And plugged it back in....
30 minutes later, 244&#176;. I'm gonna leave it on for a few more hours and see where I end up. Very happy so far. Smoke was nice and constant.

I do have a question. I ordered some Weber replacement cooking grates and they came already started to rust. Is this normal? I cleaned them off and sprayed them down with olive oil for the testing.

Next question, and this is the important one... What should I do for the first cook?

[Budman1]

Next question, and this is the important one... What should I do for the first cook?

a fatty, what else is there?

[che22879]

Very nice build!

[ChetPunisher]

Just shut her down. Was running steady at 260&#176;.. That will do.

[ChetPunisher]

Updated Pic. Smoke stack is temp.

http://imageshack.us/a/img197/5759/img1967km.jpg

[ChetPunisher]

So, in less you missed my cook thread. The electric unit didn't do a good job. No smoke flavor... So I am going to be building a UDS Charcoal basket. I think if I set the basket in a high walled large bowl, it will shield the barrel from the heat.

[Sheepdog]

Try Fastenal, they are going to be much cheaper than Lowes and you can get exactly what you're looking for.
Subscribing to your build.


X2

And if you describe you're situation they'll be able to recommend the right screw for the job.

Good luck on the build. I can't wait to see the end result.

[runnoft]

Nice!!!