WBS build issue - loose stave pieces in the lid

skorpyon

Newbie

Original poster

Jul 2, 2014

19

10

• Aug 25, 2014

• #1

Hi all,

I recently made a smoker out of a retired wine barrel, and it works great.  I've had a couple of successful smokes (pork butt and beef brisket), and I'm very happy with it.

However, I noticed that the staves in the lid section are starting to loosen.  It's pretty dry in there at the moment - I've left it open to air out over the last few days.  So right now I'm boiling some water in there to moisten the wood.

If anyone else has encountered this, I would love to know your thoughts on causes and cures.

Thanks!

Brian

 

oldschoolbbq

Legendary Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Jul 16, 2008

9,359

205

NW Ohio - outside Toledo

• Aug 25, 2014

• #2

Seems like I read someone's post about Wine barrels , but that was a while ago.

Maybe someone nwith one (or had one ) will chime in.

I've always thought it give a good flavor , but never go my hands on one.

Later . . .

 

dandl93

Smoking Fanatic

Mar 5, 2014

434

21

Pacho Colombia

• Aug 25, 2014

• #3

Skorpyon said:

 
Hi all,

I recently made a smoker out of a retired wine barrel, and it works great.  I've had a couple of successful smokes (pork butt and beef brisket), and I'm very happy with it.

However, I noticed that the staves in the lid section are starting to loosen.  It's pretty dry in there at the moment - I've left it open to air out over the last few days.  So right now I'm boiling some water in there to moisten the wood.

If anyone else has encountered this, I would love to know your thoughts on causes and cures.

Thanks!

Brian

Click to expand...

It does not say where you live or if the barrel is Oak? I would say it probally is Oak and it can not take low humidity.You will need to use a water pan on your cooks and keep some water on the outside off and on when not smoking and being stored.

Dan

 

skorpyon

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 2, 2014

19

10

• Aug 25, 2014

• #4

Mea culpa.  It's oak (French, I think), and I'm in Dallas, TX.

Thanks for confirming my "dry wood" theory.  I'll let the humidity soak in and see what that does.

 

rob sicc

Smoking Fanatic

May 5, 2008

725

26

new jersey

• Aug 27, 2014

• #5

Can you explain how you made the smoekr?  If you have any links to instructions as to how to make a wine barrle smoker, I would appreciate them.  I would love to make a smoker and I bet the wine barrle smokers look awesome.  Please post a picture of your smoker if you can.

Hope you get your answer.

 

gary s

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

Jan 6, 2011

26,255

4,705

• Sep 4, 2014

• #6

Pictures    

 

skorpyon

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 2, 2014

19

10

• Sep 9, 2014

• #7

It was fairly straight-forward. I decapitated the barrel with a hand-held jigsaw pictured in the link, I used a hinge and a couple of chains to attach the lid, I used two sets of 3" angle brackets around the inside of the barrel to hold the racks, and for a heat source I ended up using a Brinkmann electric converter with another set of 3" angle brackets serving as legs.  I put some lava rocks around the element as a heat sink, and I use a Harbor Freight router motor speed control to control the temperature.

 

Last edited: Sep 10, 2014

gary s

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

Jan 6, 2011

26,255

4,705

• Sep 9, 2014

• #8

No Pictures

 

skorpyon

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 2, 2014

19

10

• Sep 10, 2014

• #9

Here's the starting barrel:

Starting barrel.jpg

• skorpyon
• Sep 10, 2014

Using this jig-saw:

Jigsaw.jpg

• skorpyon
• Sep 10, 2014

I removed the top:

Decapitated.jpg

• skorpyon
• Sep 10, 2014

Hinged the top and added chains to limit the movement (you can see the top rack on the angle brackets - there's another rack 14" farther down)

Hinged.jpg

• skorpyon
• Sep 10, 2014

chain stays attached.jpg

• skorpyon
• Sep 10, 2014

Finally, I added a copper tube chimney to bring air into the bottom of the smoker.  Here's a completed picture.

Complete.jpg

• skorpyon
• Sep 10, 2014

Unfortunately, I left the heater on for a few days with the pan dry, so I fear that I've ruined the barrel.  The staves are all charred and loose now.  I may be able to save it by tapping the hoops and fastening the staves to each other, but I may just get another barrel and do it over - it doesn't feel stable any more.