Ugly drum smoker!

[jb6l6gc]

Hello hearth!

Haven't been up to much since the great roof leak of 2016 lol (another thread). Finally getting around to a project I've been planning for over a year. It's called the ugly drum smoker.

I work at chemical company so a new unlined drum no problem. Upon searching for info. Much like I came across this site I came across the BBQ brethren! Anywho finally getting round to the project. Hope to have it completed by my bday. Cinco de mayo and do my first brisket.

Any info or help/ tips appreciated here is the progress pics ( which is just me burning paint off). And hopeful outcome.

 

[jb6l6gc]

Is this what an over fire on a stove pipe looks like. Definitely hit it on this barrel

 

[jb6l6gc]

Don't know if anyone's even watching this thread but anywho. Here's today's progress. Got all the vents welded in

 

[xman23]

I'm watching.

 

[Dantheman300z]

Me too.

 

[semipro]

Yeah, keep going. I need some inspiration.

 

[jb6l6gc]

Thanks I will. Now I need more parts to continue. All in with the dome lid, grills, and basket I'll be about 200$. The old BBQ frame coming from a friend at work who does scrapping. Plus he's gonna give me his old BBQ for me to repurpose into a charcoal grill. Welding to the drum was quite difficult as its so thin and I haven't welded in about 5yrs.

Once you cook with charcoal and smoke it's hard to even light the gas grill but convenience takes precedence sometimes!

 

[sportbikerider78]

Why make your own for more money when you could buy a smoker that is made for smoking for less?

 

[jb6l6gc]

Umm because I bought one for almost that much already and it's a piece of junk. These ugly drum smokers have a huge following and are very excellent smokers that have won many competitions. Plus I like the pride of having built it myself. You can buy pitbarrel smokers commercially made and they cost more than mine will to build. Plus mine will have
More features and be build better than the more expensive store bought ones.

 

[sportbikerider78]

I bought an Orion smoker for $139 and it is 100% stainless steel. Very high quality. Love it.

Projects are always a great thing. I just was trying to understand what the point is....I've done quite a bit of smoking myself on good and bad quality equipment.

 

[jb6l6gc]

Probably not 130$ Canadian. I am not a big fan of the Bradley's or any of the digital electric or propane units. It's like cheating to me I prefer old school charcoal.
I have a store bought vertical drum smoker that has so many air leaks and cannot be controlled.
These ugly drum smokers are extremely air tight and controllable. The charcoal basket hold enough charcoal to go at 225-250 for 14 hrs without even having to tend to it much. Once the air and temp are stable on these units they pretty much stay there. Like I said these ugly drum smokers or pit barrel smokers have a huge following

 

[jb6l6gc]

Here's the charcoal basket. Made out of my old vertical drum smoker that was destined for scrap pile. Just need grill and lid now and she should be functional by this weekend. Then to mount to frame and paint!!

 

[Jags]

I like it. Stone simple and practical. The way smoking was intended to happen. I built my own smoker (of a different style) and love it. Smoke on, brother.

 

[sportbikerider78]

I'm very interested in seeing how this works. You'll have to walk us through the process of your first smoke.

Will the main heat source be wood or charcoal?

 

[jb6l6gc]

I'm very interested in seeing how this works. You'll have to walk us through the process of your first smoke.

Will the main heat source be wood or charcoal?

It will be charcoal. As its direct heating as the 1st grill will be about 24" above it followed by the (2nd to be added later under the dome lid. I went out today and bought a new kettle grill as they were on sale at the local hd for $74. Nice thing is I can use the grill and when I wanna use the drum just grab the grill and lid of it. I plan to get that grill assembled today and do sausage on it. Then do the spiral ham in the drum on Sunday!! Here's some pics from last nights wings I did on my tiny charcoal grill in the freezing rain!

 

[jb6l6gc]

I like it. Stone simple and practical. The way smoking was intended to happen. I built by own smoker (of a different style) and love it. Smoke on, brother.

Curious to see yours?

 

[Jags]

Curious to see yours?

 

[jb6l6gc]

View attachment 177252

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[Jags]

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You caught me during an edit. I changed the pic. Refresh and all should be well.

 

[jb6l6gc]

You caught me during an edit. I changed the pic. Refresh and all should be well.

Nice is it charcoal or does that hose go to a propane burner?

 

[Jags]

In that pic it was sucking propane. I can also insert a charcoal bin and go that route, but whatever method I use gets hickory smoke applied to it.
The propane makes for a very easily controlled low temp environment (like 150F for 10 hours, for jerky and snack sticks).

 

[jb6l6gc]

Amazing. Well folks got my new grill doing some sausage and drum smoker finished minus the frame and shelves

 

[jb6l6gc]

Well jags if I'm ever in northern Illinois I'll ring you up for some good q. Same goes if your ever in southern Ontario

 

[Dantheman300z]

Enjoying this. Would like to make my own. We sell pellet grills and green eggs at work, don't have the dough for those tho.

 

[jb6l6gc]

Not hard if u have a few tools and a bit of fabrication knowledge. I can break down all parts and work if u need! Lemme know