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Hairball BBQ
01-14-2016, 01:10 PM
I recently completed my wine barrel smoker and wanted to show everyone. My wife and I were on an anniversary trip in the Yadkin Valley, NC (Wine Country) and I was able to purchase a red wine barrel in fantastic shape. I had been looking for a while so I was thrilled to find it. I thought about it for a very long time and decided I was going to make it a propane smoker. I typically cook with lump coal but for this project it made sense to have full control over the heat source. Besides, with all the work I put into this thing, I couldn't stand to see it go up in smoke in one cook. So with that decision, I started collecting materials and hardware. I ended up using the Afterburner V-burner mini. Cutting a 12" hole in the bottom of the barrel for the burner pan to sit in. I also placed a 20" pizza pan on the bottom for added spark protection. All stave screws and thru-bolts (for grates) are stainless and hardware is wrought iron. The little key hole slot was an idea I had for running my digital thermo through instead of letting the lid sit on the wires. I just recently added "fire rock" gasket tape on the lid and base for a good seal. Also, the outside is 3 coat stained with weatherscapes exterior stain. Feel free to use any ideas from mine to make your own. It works very well. Smoke on brethren.

tom b
01-14-2016, 01:44 PM
That looks cool, what have you cooked in there?

Hairball BBQ
01-14-2016, 01:49 PM
That looks cool, what have you cooked in there?

Thanks. I've cooked 2 large boston butts, an 8 lb pork loin and some whole chickens (they stand up with plenty of room). I had to learn the propane part of it because I'm a charcoal cook but once i figured out the adjusted flame height, it works great. The wood is very thick and the barrel tight so it holds temps easily from 225-275 as I wish.

cowgirl
01-14-2016, 01:53 PM
Good lookin' cooker, Nice job!!

speed2486
01-14-2016, 02:03 PM
That looks VERY COOL! It looks like it would be a fun project.

Branded BBQ
01-14-2016, 02:16 PM
Awesome Job!!!

KevinJ
01-14-2016, 02:21 PM
Beautiful :clap:

Blythewood BBQ'er
01-14-2016, 02:22 PM
Very nice man! She's a beauty! Does the wine soaked wood add an aroma while it's cooking?

smokinit
01-14-2016, 02:30 PM
Outstanding I have always wanted to make one

cheez59
01-14-2016, 03:08 PM
That is a slick looking cooker.

Enrico Brandizzi
01-14-2016, 03:12 PM
O u t s t a n d i n g

bvbull200
01-14-2016, 03:33 PM
I'm very envious. I'd love to do one of those sometime.

Good work.

jvargas
01-14-2016, 05:04 PM
that looks awesome! Great job

Jason TQ
01-14-2016, 05:46 PM
That is seriously something unique!!

Stingerhook
01-14-2016, 05:56 PM
That barrel is almost to pretty to cook with. Nice job and lets see some food pron.

Seefyre
01-14-2016, 06:46 PM
Classy smoker my man

JackW
01-14-2016, 08:28 PM
Excellent cooker man, good job!

Jack

ichbin73
01-14-2016, 08:44 PM
Awesome! That's a project for sometime for me...

Mr.OiSat
01-14-2016, 11:55 PM
Great project. Looks very classy.

Hairball BBQ
01-18-2016, 10:00 AM
Very nice man! She's a beauty! Does the wine soaked wood add an aroma while it's cooking?

It really does. Actually just cutting the barrel while making it was an amazing smell. My wife came out into the garage and commented saying "If it smells that good under construction, I can't wait for it to be actually cooking."

SmokerKing
01-18-2016, 10:02 AM
nice work!

Hairball BBQ
01-18-2016, 10:03 AM
My next planned cook on her is SuperBowl Sunday. I'll be sure and share some cooking pictures. Building this thing was almost as therapeutic as cooking on it. Almost.

Foxdog01
01-18-2016, 10:12 AM
I love that thing!

Hairball BBQ
08-06-2018, 09:33 AM
It's been quite a while since I posted and I realized I never followed up. I have cooked several butts as well as a turkey, chickens and some fattys on the barrel. The 1 inch thick oak hold temps extremely well. The burner makes the heat adjustment easy and reliable. This pic was from a couple weeks ago. As you can see, it's holding up very well. I should have followed up sooner. Site is randomly rotating my picture, can't stop it. Sorry.

Hope everyone is well and eating good.

Smokin'Butts
08-06-2018, 12:16 PM
Good looking smoker! I would almost be scared to cook on it for fear of dripping something on it lol

sthamm
08-06-2018, 01:44 PM
Thing of beauty! You have any issues with keeping it clean?

Blythewood BBQ'er
08-06-2018, 06:13 PM
Thanks for the follow up!

DRMSMKER
08-07-2018, 08:24 AM
Looks great and 2.5 years running strong. Nice. I was at a distillery on a tour once and they said they have to keep water or some liquid in their empty barrels bc if they didn't the wood would shrink create gaps and leak. Also the metal bands would fall off and the barrel would fall apart. Guess that's not the case with yours or is there something you've done to keep the same?

Whitewookie
08-07-2018, 08:52 AM
I guess that would be a “DPDS” or “Damn Pretty Drum Smoker”. Very cool.

VR,
Harold


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Fishhook
08-30-2018, 04:00 PM
Looks great and 2.5 years running strong. Nice. I was at a distillery on a tour once and they said they have to keep water or some liquid in their empty barrels bc if they didn't the wood would shrink create gaps and leak. Also the metal bands would fall off and the barrel would fall apart. Guess that's not the case with yours or is there something you've done to keep the same?


I'd really like to know how you prevent this from happening! I use wooden whiskey/wine barrels all the time (I run maintenance for a miniature golf course) and we use these barrels a bunch! I have never had one that we didn't have to "keep wet" to keep it tight.

Smoke on
08-30-2018, 05:17 PM
That is one fine smoker,great job man!

Blythewood BBQ'er
08-30-2018, 05:57 PM
Dude just noticed your a home town boy!

Westx
08-30-2018, 06:20 PM
I'd really like to know how you prevent this from happening! I use wooden whiskey/wine barrels all the time (I run maintenance for a miniature golf course) and we use these barrels a bunch! I have never had one that we didn't have to "keep wet" to keep it tight.

If you notice every board is screwed to every ring. My guess is that the wood had shrunk as much as it was going to shrink when he put the rings on.