My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I know I know
:np

But I am building a smoker, and I am super excited. The Whats in your smoker? thread inspired me...damn that stuff looks good! I did a little searching around and found some plans to make an Upright Drum Smoker. I got my 55 gallon drum this past weekend and I have been spending my free time sanding this thing (I should have gotten one that didn't have paint on the INSIDE too) but I am pretty much done sanding, down to raw steel now. Next will be to paint the outside, season the inside, and add my air regulation and racks...and I should be pretty close to done! I will post some pics of where I am at right now...I didn't think to take any of the drum before I started.

WooHoo we gonna have some BRISKET!

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Awesome much sure to post some pics.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Cool. :tu

The design is a bit different than some of the other UDS (ugly drum smokers) I've seen, curious to hear how it works out.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I too am in the process of building my UDS. I got an unlined one, but I still ain't taking any chances. I am grinding out the inside and outside. Already done a good burn and got a lot of the outside paint off. Hopefully I will be done this weekend.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Sweeeeeet! Can't wait to see your new smoker!

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

lol I thought it was upright...cause you see the barrels laying on the sides for alot of them... ugly drum smoker!

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Are you going to add a door to add coals and wood?

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I dont think so, most of the stuff I have read says that a chimney of charcoal should do you good enough for even 15+ hours. If I were to add a door, how would I seal it?

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

wayner did you use some plans online? care to share?

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

TG I am currently at the point where I could go either way...do you know of some 'proven' plans? please link

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I've always known them as Ugly Drum Smokers, mainly because of their looks. The one you linked to is too purty to be an U(gly)DS.

I've seen a lot of neat designs too, some that use rather interesting smoke stack venting that is very different than the type of venting in the one you linked to. A few other differences too, but not significant IMO.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

This looks like a good info thread...also pointing to a 376 page thread all about UDS (that should keep you busy!)

http://bbq-4-u.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13707&

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Using the minion method, yep. 14 or so hours is what I hear too. There are easy ways to seal a door though, overlapping plates, high temprature gasket and compression latches (dogs).

There was one UDS I saw somewhere that had a modified Weber Smokey Joe as the coal basket and the guy who was operating it was claiming he could get a 20-22 hour cook on k-briqs.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

PM sent.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Here is my current state of affairs, I still have to sand the lid, and do some fine sanding on the drum...it looks okay but I am kinda a perfectionist. :rolleyes:

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/attach...1&d=1268847125 http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/attach...1&d=1268847125

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Wow, that looks pretty. What did it look like before? And what did you use to sand it down with?

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

It was a veggie oil barrel, it was completely black on the outside, and painted tan on the inside (might not have been paint might have been some other kinda liner)

1st I got 4 bundles of firewood from the local grocery store. An burned it really hot and really big...once the fire started burning good I just threw in a whole bundle and then when it would go down I would put in more wood...that thing was shooting flames about as high as my roof. (my wife says I am a pyro :D )

2nd I used 60 grit sand paper on a hand held sander, it was curved on oneside and flat on the other. I used the curved side for the inside and it worked like a champ...the inside was easier to sand than the outside. I would hit each section twice with the 60 grit..the fire had burned off quite a bit of the paint in the bottom two sections.

3rd after I did two go arounds with the 60 grit I did one go round with 220, that really cleaned up anything the 60 left behind.

Last I did the bottom with my orbital sander, it was a breeze...I tried the sander on the rest and it just didn't work too swell. I imagine if you had a belt sander it would rule on the outside!

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I have done the big burn. Not quite that high of flames but still coming out the barrel a foot or so. I only got about 60% (from the bottom up) of the paint off the outside. I was thinking of going at it with a knotted wire cup and my angle grinder. I have used wire wheels before but not the knotted ones or the cup. I hope it doesn't gouge it too bad.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I flexible sanding disk should do great, I tried my wire brush and it scraped it up pretty bad...but nothing a once over with the 220 grit wouldn't fix.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I'd be careful with the knotted/braided wire cups on something as thin as a drum.

Many years ago, out on one of the ships, I built a grill from a 42gal oil barrel, I used a standard straight-wire cup wheel to clean some spots where I needed to weld, and it was fine as long as I didn't bear down hard. I sneezed at one point and jammed the angle grinder into the barrel and it tore up the surface. Had I been using a knotted/braided cup, it probably would have gouged right through the barrel.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Hmmm.... the weed burner and my drill mounted wire wheel is sounding better. I may try the flexible sanding disc as well.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I tried the weed burner....too slow for me, the flexible sanding disk with like 60 grit should clear it off quick...I used it by hand it was pretty quick.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Got a pic or link to the one you used? I thought you meant one of those flexible sanding disc pads that goes on your angle grinder.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

This is what I meant....and in my post when I said I used it by hand...I meant th 60grit sandpaper sorry for the confusion.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Better get some paint on the outside of that bad boy or rust will show up in a matter of days... or at least it would in Florida. Maybe it is different in AZ!! Gorgeous drum though!!

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Made some progress this morning

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/attach...1&d=1268943223

Now I gotta put in the air intake, exhaust, grates, and then season it...:banger

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Looking good so far. Did you already decide what your going to cook in it the first time?

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

How are you going to attach the grates? Will drill brackets to hold each one? Where will the fire source be?

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I have not, any suggestions on something I can't mess up too bad?

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

4 carriage bolts for each grate.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

If you're going to use four bolts, make sure you have them all at exactly the same level. If there is any variances in the height of the bolts, you are going to have a wobbly grate which some people don't care for and if extreme, can make balancing of lopsided items on the grate difficult, causing them to tip over. Going down to three bolts will eliminate the possibility of this, but opens up a slightly increased chance of flipping the grate if you get too much weight too far out to the side.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Thanks

Yes I know, I used to work construction for my dad...and while I was in school I was a math major...so measure twice, then measure again, then maybe cut if your feeling lucky ;)


I got them all installed...steady as a rock :tu

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

All done but the seasoning! :banger

Actually I don't have a thermometer, but I planned on ordering a digital one. I guess I will have to wait to cook?


http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/attach...1&d=1268952245

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/attach...1&d=1268952245

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

wow...that was amazingly fast! Great work...she looks like a beauty!

You could always hop over to Lowes or something and get a $7 cheapo thermometer if you can't wait.

Sooooo....what ya smoking first? :)

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Thanks, I am not sure what I am going to cook yet. Maybe Ribs or Brisket, have to see what the wife and kido's want.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

If you like pork one of the easiest things to smoke is a pork butt...pretty much fail safe because of the fat content. Brisket can be a bit tricky. Here is my first attempt at a butt...

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=19926

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Great stuff Kirk, looks like something I would attempt and enjoy very much.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Looks good.

Like Luke said, you can get a little analog thermometer for cheap. I have these Char-Broil universal temperate gauges installed on both of my Webers, they are $9 at home depot, work well and seem to be fairly impervious to the elements as I don't cover my grills/bbqs/smokers - if it rains, they get rained on.


What did you end up choosing to use as a coal basket?

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

If you want to go brisket - here's some good info:
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=68321

Pork butt is easier though.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I made one using 2ftx2ft expanded metal, 6 inches deep.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

It looks killer brother!!!

A couple of tips...

-Don't use your exhaust to control the temp. Leave them all open and control the temp with your intakes only. You will have much cleaner smoke that way. Most of the time I would have one intake open and the ball valve about half way open to keep it chugging at 225.

-Find a metal coffee can... the large size. Cut out the top and bottom. Put the coffee can in the middle of your charcoal grate. Fill up the ring around the coffee can. Light about a half of a chimney of coals. Once they are ready pour them in the coffee can. Live the coffee can out (be careful... us really long tongs or welders gloves). You will have a perfect Minion method!!!

-If you notice your temps dropping a bit give the drum a shake. This really only comes in the play on long cooks, but sometimes the ash needs a little help to fall through the grate.

-Cook some pork, I would do a pork butt if I had the time or fatties if I needed to do something quicker, to season the drum. Nothing seasons like pork fat!!!

Enjoy your cooker... once you get used to it you will be amazed at what a great cooker they are.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I know everyone is telling me to do pork butt, but I think I want to do ribs. Still haven't decided yet.

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Do it! Ribs are also easy. I rub them the night before with a brown sugar based rub...smoke them for about 2 or 3 hours...wrap them in foil and stick them back in the smoker for another 2 hours or so...take them out of the foil and slap them full of bbq sauce and stick them on a hot grill to slightly char up. Fall off the bone goodness :tu

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Got the rub on the ribs, and the smoker is a seasoning! An I bought a pork butt for Sunday!

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Sounds good!

What did you end up doing for temprature monitoring?

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

I have a thermometer for my fryer that I am using, want to get the dual probe digital kind so I can monitor the meat and the chamber...analog for now

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

My first attempt at smoking meat. It didnt get finished in time for dinner so I put it in the oven for 20 minutes to cook it to a safe temp.

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/attach...1&d=1269055366

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Looks good. :tu

No crime or shame about putting it in an oven to finish. A large number of restaurants do that all the time.

How did it taste?

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

looks good, I usually smoke my ribs for about 3 hours then put them in foil with a little apple juice and finish them in the oven

Re: My new project, I am building a smoker!
 

Tasted good, but they were a bit dry. Not sure if that could be due to the quality of meat...every place in town was out of spare and bb ribs cause there is a bbq competition today. I got them at a place I usually don't shop.