New UDS build

So I'm new to this whole smoking thing & figured I'd go the cheap route to see if I'd use a smoker enough to warrant anything "better" ( IE: More expensive ).

I've got a 55 gallon drum. It's food grade, without a liner, but it has a crimped lid that isn't removable (well, it isn't supposed to be, but with enough elbow grease & power tools, anything is ). I have everything I think I need except a lid and the expanded steel for the coal bin. I'm hoping I can remove the crimped lid from the outside. It looks like I could put a bit of a bend in it and pop it off with a hammer & crowbar. If I can remove the lid that way, I think I can use it as-is. If not, I'll be out looking for a donor Weber and chopping it off from the inside using an angle grinder.

Tonight or tomorrow I'm going to start with the attempted lid removal. It will most likely be tomorrow since there are severe thunderstorm warnings all over the place up here. If I remember, I'll take before & after pics.

dadsr4 said:

Try this with a grinder.

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I've seen similar diagrams. I was just hoping I could save the lid at least until I could get a replacement.

I was going to try to come from underneath and bend the lip outward. It definitely looks like there's at least a bit of a gap between where the lid is crimped and the side of the barrel.

Yellowhair42 said:

Grind at the 3 o'clock position, not 12.

Click to expand...

I'll try that. Since it has decided to not stop raining, it's being put off yet another day. I'm hoping to be ready for a weekend burnout & build... The weather is not cooperating.