questions before I build my drum

[motley que]

I have no way to make a round charcoal basket, but have the ability to make a square or rectangle basket like I use in my Char Griller. Will it make any difference? Is the round used to mimick the shape of the drum or does it fill any other purpose?

I just painted my drum with a sky blue stove paint to give it a lil different color. I put 2 layers down of black bbq paint, then this sky blue. If i want to add another layer the can runs $14 each. At this point since i have layers of high temp paint on it, would normal spray paint work or would it crack?

 

[Smokin Gator]

I have no way to make a round charcoal basket, but have the ability to make a square or rectangle basket like I use in my Char Griller. Will it make any difference? Is the round used to mimick the shape of the drum or does it fill any other purpose?

I just painted my drum with a sky blue stove paint to give it a lil different color. I put 2 layers down of black bbq paint, then this sky blue. If i want to add another layer the can runs $14 each. At this point since i have layers of high temp paint on it, would normal spray paint work or would it crack?

I don't think the shape of the basket matters. You just want it large enough to hold the amount of fuel you need.

I would not put any more paint on it. I only put one coat of high temp paint on mine and it is still fine. I think if you put regular paint on it will burn off.

 

[Mo-Dave]

Yes And No

I have no way to make a round charcoal basket, but have the ability to make a square or rectangle basket like I use in my Char Griller. Will it make any difference? Is the round used to mimick the shape of the drum or does it fill any other purpose?

I just painted my drum with a sky blue stove paint to give it a lil different color. I put 2 layers down of black bbq paint, then this sky blue. If i want to add another layer the can runs $14 each. At this point since i have layers of high temp paint on it, would normal spray paint work or would it crack?

The square basket would be ok, just make sure it will clear the tabs that hold the cooking grates.

No more paint the barrel does not seem to get as hot as a regular fire box.
Dave

 

[thirdeye]

I have no way to make a round charcoal basket, but have the ability to make a square or rectangle basket like I use in my Char Griller. Will it make any difference? Is the round used to mimick the shape of the drum or does it fill any other purpose?

Not trying to be a smart a$$, but if you can make something square, why can't you make something round?

 

[swamprb]

Low budget/no budget charcoal ring: get some expando @ 29"x 9" and find the nearest telephone pole and bend it around forming a ring and secure the two ends with a couple 1/2" nuts and bolts. If you dont have a welder use wire or hog rings to secure it to an old 22.5" cooking grate. Oh yeah remove from telephone pole before bolting together LMAO!
Did you use Stove Bright paint?

 

[jgh1204]

I just burned off the telephone pole.

I use my spicewine fire basket for my bandera in my UDS. Just barely fits.

 

[Oldbob]

I use my spicewine fire basket for my bandera in my UDS. Just barely fits.

I had the same idea for Mine too...I am going to build a fire basket that slides in on rails with a pan underneath on seperate rails for the ash pan,with a door to accept both the basket and ash pan,I had figured on a 12" wide by 15" by 6"deep basket and pan,pan will be about 1" deep for the ashes.....just my thoughts.
I am planning on 3ea. 3/4" inlet ports on the bottom all controlled with Ball Valves.
I also am considering just One exhaust port 2" or 2 1/2" pipe with a sweeping 90degree elbow so water cant get in. I never close the exhaust on the Smoke King anyway so I see no need to be able to close this one. Any thoughts on this will be well accepted.

 

[Markbb]

Drum

I had the same idea for Mine too...I am going to build a fire basket that slides in on rails with a pan underneath on seperate rails for the ash pan,with a door to accept both the basket and ash pan,I had figured on a 12" wide by 15" by 6"deep basket and pan,pan will be about 1" deep for the ashes.....just my thoughts.
I am planning on 3ea. 3/4" inlet ports on the bottom all controlled with Ball Valves.
I also am considering just One exhaust port 2" or 2 1/2" pipe with a sweeping 90degree elbow so water cant get in. I never close the exhaust on the Smoke King anyway so I see no need to be able to close this one. Any thoughts on this will be well accepted.

Sounds to me like you've got your bases covered

 

[motley que]

Not trying to be a smart a$$, but if you can make something square, why can't you make something round?

Fair enough, but what i did was take a piece of 24x24 expanded and cut some slots in it 6 inches from the end, did some folding and made a square. Not a real handy guy so i take this as an accomplishment.

I did use stove bright paint to get it the sky blue color. my latest idea is to take a fireplace cap that i bought and bolt it onto the drum to hold my thermometers. I am still debating on casters. This will all be done on sat for a sunday cook so pics will be taken.

i have a weber handle for the lid and am putting at least 1 handle on the drum, and maybe a second for carrying purposes, but that will depend on what I do about casters.

 

[thirdeye]

Fair enough, but what i did was take a piece of 24x24 expanded and cut some slots in it 6 inches from the end, did some folding and made a square. Not a real handy guy so i take this as an accomplishment.

I did use stove bright paint to get it the sky blue color. my latest idea is to take a fireplace cap that i bought and bolt it onto the drum to hold my thermometers. I am still debating on casters. This will all be done on sat for a sunday cook so pics will be taken.

i have a weber handle for the lid and am putting at least 1 handle on the drum, and maybe a second for carrying purposes, but that will depend on what I do about casters.

Swamprb has the right ideas for making the basket. (I think he was kidding about the telephone pole). Lighter expando will roll up easily. Also make a mini while you are at it.

I have a small shelf on mine for thermometers but I am thinking about a larger one. My top handle is metal and it does get hot. I need to make a wooden replacement or something with one of these coil handles.

 

[Norcoredneck]

Here is my advice:
Go with 4 inlets, you can plug ones not used and only need 1 valve.
2plugged, 1 out +3/4 valve. More air 1plugged 2 out 1/2 valve. Follow me?
Now for the fire ring. Here is a little hillbilly engineering. Get a log about the diameter you want. Get a strip of expanded metal 6- 9" tall. 48" long gives @ 13" diameter. Take 3ea. 1/4" bolts washers, nuts and stick in holes at end of expanded metal. Screw expanded metal to log using drywall screws mith bolt heads against log, threads out. Follow me? Roll log and when expanded metal overlaps, use screwdriver to align hole over bolts and put washers ad nuts. Hand tighten. Remove drywall screws pound out log. Tighten hardware with wrench. Roll on ground to make sure round.

My advise though if you can get a can that fits inside the drum, go with Mistas set up. Slice off @ 2" leaving bottom and 2"lip. Then slice off @4" ring. Attach expanded metal to ring slice. Use stand offs to raise off pan. All this saves having lifting and dumping ashes, just lift out. Plus when dumping ash sticks to side of drum where grease is. Or use a modified Hoe to scoop it out like Thirdeye did. For now that is what I am going to make, time permitting. Look back a couple of months in search all info there plus pics. Good luck.

 

[motley que]

ok, here is what i did

i bought a sheet of 3/4 24x24 sheet metal and cut 2 strips 8 inches high, i bolted the two together. then i rolled it around a charcoal grate from an 18 inch weber. with a little elbow grease it formed a circle. I bolted it together then used U nuts to attach the ring to the grate.

I am following Gators directions that he sent me. In addition i have a water pan from a broken electric ECB so I will put that under the basket to catch the ashes and make cleanup easier.

 

[thirdeye]

Okay, you guys are killing me with rolling the expando. What size are you using? My baskets are out of SS flat, and the diamonds are 3/4". Really easy to work with. Here is the first burn with my mini (it's inside the regular basket)

 

[swamprb]

ok, here is what i did

i bought a sheet of 3/4 24x24 sheet metal and cut 2 strips 8 inches high, i bolted the two together. then i rolled it around a charcoal grate from an 18 inch weber. with a little elbow grease it formed a circle. I bolted it together then used U nuts to attach the ring to the grate.

I am following Gators directions that he sent me. In addition i have a water pan from a broken electric ECB so I will put that under the basket to catch the ashes and make cleanup easier.

Sounds like you got a plan! I placed my ring over a Weber coal grate then set it on a 22.5" cooking grate. So when I need to shake the coals with the wiggle rod I just hook it over the handles.

Heres what 12# of briqs look like in the ring




Take some shots of your setup!