First Smoke in the Drum

[biffleg]

Last week I finished the charcoal baskets and got her painted ... so this morning I fired up the small basket to season the drum.

Here are the baskets made from a 3/4 x 24 x 24 piece of expanded metal. Worked out perfect for a 14" basket and about a 7 1/2" basket.

http://www.bigfishboard.com/charcoalbaskets1.jpg

http://www.bigfishboard.com/charcoalbasket2.jpg

Picture of the top of the drum - seven 1/2" holes:

http://www.bigfishboard.com/drumlid1.jpg

Shot of the finished drum:

http://www.bigfishboard.com/finisheddrum1.jpg

First burn ... sweet smell of Hickory:

http://www.bigfishboard.com/firstburn1.jpg

http://www.bigfishboard.com/firstburn2.jpg

If this thing is as easy to maintain as what I saw this morning ... I'm really gonna like this drum! I loaded up the small basket - and just shut down the airflow (5) hours later! Next ... brisket or butt :eusa_clap

Let me know what you think!

[thillin]

Looks good.

[nonthink]

Very nice.
They sure are perdy when there new

[jacob]

Very nice Brother. Waiting for the food pron.

[bman]

Where did u locate your barrel? I am in SC and looking for cheap or free barrels. I am not far from Charlotte. Really wanting to build one.....Thanks

bman

[fivelombardis]

how long did it maintain temps?

[outside ed]

Looks like winner!!!! Ed.

[circle m]

When I made my drum I used a charcoal grate from a 22" weber and welded the expanded metal around it. 2" clearance for ash, and 10" above the grate for charcoal. You're going to love cooking on it, I smoked 40 pounds of pork butt on mine last weekend, held a temp of 225 at the meat for 9 1/2 hours with 10 pounds of charcoal and some oak chunks. If you have trouble getting to temp with a big load of meat, drill out 2-4 of the holes in the lid to 7/8", it solved my problem immediately. Good cooking, and happy trails.

[keale]

Great job Bif! Looks sooo clean!:-D I envy you guys who know how to use tools!

[biffleg]

how long did it maintain temps?

A little over 5 hours before I shut the airflow off to it ... looking at what was left in the basket - I'm guessing I might have gotten about another hour out it. Looking forward to testing the big basket :-D

[biffleg]

If you have trouble getting to temp with a big load of meat, drill out 2-4 of the holes in the lid to 7/8", it solved my problem immediately. Good cooking, and happy trails.

Thanks for the tip! I guess I could always take out either the 3/4" or 2" bung in the lid instead of drilling larger holes.

[Smokin Gator]

Looks great bro.. now fire that mother up with some meat!!!

[biffleg]

Looks great bro.. now fire that mother up with some meat!!!

Threw a fatty on while I was seasoning it today - made a pizza tonight with fatty chunks - hmm, hmm - good stuff! You're right though - it needs a big hunk of brisket or butt!

[Grillman40]

Man that is nice! Good job!! I just got two brand new 86 gallon monster drums from work and Im gonna sand blast em and convert them both. One for a big grill to mount on my Lang 84 and I want to make a drum smoker out of the other one. What is the valve on the bottom that I can see on yours?? What did you use for air plugs?

[biffleg]

Thanks Grillman. It's a 1/2" Ball Valve - to be used for minor air flow tweaks. Used 1/2" pipe nipples with 1/2" caps for the air plugs. You can sort of make them out in a couple of the pics.

86 gallon monster drum ... now I'd like to see one of those :biggrin: Man the possibilities! What are the measurements on those?

[thirdeye]

Man that is nice! Good job!! I just got two brand new 86 gallon monster drums from work and Im gonna sand blast em and convert them both. One for a big grill to mount on my Lang 84 and I want to make a drum smoker out of the other one. What is the valve on the bottom that I can see on yours?? What did you use for air plugs?

Are those really tall or just bigger around?

[Dovid]

Great job on the drum! Are those bung caps the original threaded plastic ones or did you find metal ones?

[swamprb]

You've done a nice job on the drum biffleg! Can't wait for some food pics! Keep the gloves nearby, that handles gonna be HOT! (don't ask how I know)

Brian

[Pork Chop]

Nice work......
Just one more reason I have got to build one.

[Grillman40]

They are 40 tall and 27 across. May have to manufacture the grates. Not sure if I can find regular grates to fit close enough.

[Oldbob]

Looks Great Brother !! Good Job!

[bman]

Hey, bif, where did u get your drum from....I am south of ya in SC and lookin for a good cheap source for a few drums. I would rather have food grade....Already had cancer. Don't want to take chances.

[biffleg]

Great job on the drum! Are those bung caps the original threaded plastic ones or did you find metal ones?

When the drum was built for us ... they knew what we were going to be doing with it ... so put the metal bungs in.

[biffleg]

Hey, bif, where did u get your drum from

My dad has a old business acquittance in the drum industry. This drum was built on a Tuesday and delivered to us on Thursday - the first thing ever put in it was my three year old :lol: If we ever get serious about a comp or two - we could probably get a couple more. I may have dad inquire about purchasing XX number of drums from them though - got a couple of buddies that said they might want to build one after seeing mine :biggrin:

[Bottles 'n Bones BBQ]

Very nice biffleg...!!! Very nice indeed...That paintin' only part I hated was the painting. Don't know why really. Just didn't like it...too much stooping on a fused back probably.

Next time...I'm gonna put some swim goggles and a couple dust masks on the 3 y.o. and turn him loose with a few different colors of hi~temp spray paint. I'm guessing a day when the Misses gets called in to the hospital would be a good idea...

Let us know how that basket testin' goes...nice job all around.

[ModelMaker]

Welcome to the land of the drum.
Your gonna love the simplicity and rewards of the drum.
ModelMaker
(jeez, that sounded cheezy)

[fivelombardis]

I could always take out either the 3/4" or 2" bung...

biffleg has two bungs...pass it on!! :lol:

[tntitan]

nice looking drum good job

[biffleg]

biffleg has two bungs...pass it on!! :lol:

Saturday while I'm smoking the brisket ... I might just have to yell from the backyard ... "honey, come quick ... I've got smoke coming out of my bung" :lol:

[biffleg]

nice looking drum good job

Thanks titan! Looking forward to this weekend's cook in it.

[tntitan]

brisket for me on fathers day treat myself

[Meat Burner]

brisket for me on fathers day treat myself

Me To!!!!