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.

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

Shot of the finished drum:

First burn ... sweet smell of Hickory:

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]

nice drum

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.