uds

bteem · Jul 29, 2011

Just built my own, wanting to know how to "season" it before cooking for the first time.

Good news is, barrel was from a food grade product. But I want to season it first.
I was going to find an older style pallet ( non blue) and chop it up and burn it for the first burn. Then I was told to buy the cheapest hot dogs I could find and cook those on a second burn and the drippings etc from the hot dogs would give me uds a great flavor for seasoning compared to just wiping it down with a vegetable oil.

I am open to any suggestions since I am a newbie.

Thank you in advance.

rowdyrawhide · Jul 29, 2011

I would go ahead and spray er down and get some lump or briquettes and some hickory or fruit wood of your liking and fire her up for a few hours and then if you want to throw something else on. Just my opinion.

bteem · Jul 29, 2011

so just good ol vegetable oil then?

michael ark · Jul 29, 2011

Just some cheap can spray for cooking.

meateater · Jul 29, 2011

bteem said:
Just built my own, wanting to know how to "season" it before cooking for the first time.

Good news is, barrel was from a food grade product. But I want to season it first.
I was going to find an older style pallet ( non blue) and chop it up and burn it for the first burn. Then I was told to buy the cheapest hot dogs I could find and cook those on a second burn and the drippings etc from the hot dogs would give me uds a great flavor for seasoning compared to just wiping it down with a vegetable oil.

I am open to any suggestions since I am a newbie.

Thank you in advance.

Alright, when you say food grade barrel I am thinking it has a liner. So is it a new steel barrel or a used food grade barrel? If it's a used food grade you have some work cut out for you. Best thing is some pics of the project and we can determine the best course of action.

rowdyrawhide · Jul 29, 2011

yeah just get a cheap can of veg oil, olive oil, canola oil whatever is on sale or the cheapest.

rowdyrawhide · Jul 29, 2011

meateater said:
Alright, when you say food grade barrel I am thinking it has a liner. So is it a new steel barrel or a used food grade barrel? If it's a used food grade you have some work cut out for you. Best thing is some pics of the project and we can determine the best course of action.

good point here didn't think about that.

michael ark · Jul 30, 2011

Dun t dun the dreaded villen .The red liner.Meanwhile back at the halls of justice

.

RowdyRawhide said:
good point here didn't think about that.

SmokinAl · Jul 30, 2011

masterofmymeat · Jul 30, 2011

I just put together my new offset Char-Broil, haven't used it yet. Is this necessary

as well for new out of the box? I was just going to give it a good four hour burn and

call it good....No?

Ok, you can have your thread back, I obviously still have much to learn. I read in

another thread that they wiped the whole thing down with Crisco or lard or something.

good luck...please show pics...James

bteem · Jul 30, 2011

Here are 3 pictures of the project. One is of the inside showing the eye hooks where the grates will go, it should tell what if any liner there is. The other two are of the outside. If more pics are needed, please ask and I will send.

Also does anyone know of anyone making a charcoal basket for these? guy is on ebay for $35 but shipping is $18. Horizon is $48 plus shipping. Just trying to go save some money.

bteem · Jul 30, 2011

pictures are coming...

bteem · Jul 30, 2011

btw, grates will be here Monday, still need a charcoal box.

Also need to do my burn so I can sand and paint .. going to paint it green and call it b.u.g.s ( bill's ugly green smoker).

So I still need some work to do on this smoker. I also did a water test to see if bottom drill outs were air tight, they were not. I am either going to use a high temp silicone caulk or a product called plumbers putty clay, it hardens like steel.

Once I finally have everything finally right, will do my first q and post pics.. thinking brisket or pork shoulder. Open to suggestions on what to try first

Btw, thanks to everyone for their inputs.

ecto1 · Jul 30, 2011

Dude that is a liner inside that drum. I hate to break the bad news but you are going to have to grind that paint off. I have read on other forums where people leave it on but for my family I would get rid of it.

bteem · Jul 30, 2011

If I didnt have bad luck I wouldnt have any at all.... I will do some grinding/sanding then

michael ark · Jul 30, 2011

Dude you might wan't to save your ears and back and just get it sandblasted or just buy a new barrel.With out the dreaded red liner.I don't know if it will burn off but you think it would if you got it really HOT cherry red .The worst you could do is warp the barrel.Good luck

bteem · Aug 6, 2011

I have the barrel all burned out and outside burned off as well. Painted the outside and just ran a small charcoal batch through it. I still have not got a charcoal smoker box/container yet. In talking to several locals one tells me go with expanded metal a 12x12x12 another says it wont last go with a 11 gauge steel container. any suggestions here guys? I want a box or container to hold enough charcoal to do a 12-13 hr smoke if need be. any materials or sizes would be welcomed.

I am close to doing my first.. not quite there ...YET!!

meateater · Aug 6, 2011

ECTO1 said:
Dude that is a liner inside that drum. I hate to break the bad news but you are going to have to grind that paint off. I have read on other forums where people leave it on but for my family I would get rid of it.

X2 I wouldn't smoke with it that way.

bteem · Aug 6, 2011

I did not one but two major burns using an old pallet to burn the dreaded red liner out of it. So hot the outside paint came off as well.

Now do you still think there is a liner in there? I power washed the barrel out after the second burn, plus scraped only to find metal, no red liner.

ecto1 · Aug 7, 2011

You are good to go now.

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