Smoker Virgin here, in much need of advice.

KC5TPY said:

 
Hello.  I know your question is where can I buy some smoking wood for my Dad for Christmas without spending a million pounds ( I sent you a PM ).  I know it is frustrating when we start going on about this and that.  JUST ANSWER THE ******* QUESTION!!!!!!!  I hear ya !  We are only trying to make sure that you ( or Dad's )  earliest experiences with smoking meat is successful.  The last thing we want is for you to become disheartened and give up.  If you need any further help feel free to PM me any time.  Would be glad to help if I can.  If I don;t know I'll PM someone who does know and we can learn together.  Keep Smokin!

Danny

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I really am thankful for all the advice given here including the advice about the trashcan, I'm sorry if my posts suggest otherwise. In my mind, I was just thinking that if I established the cost of wood required, then I could possibly also buy a non galvanised food can for him in addition. For that I needed to have an estimate of costs, hence my eagerness to know the cost of the wood. 

From your guys advice, it seems that I won't need as much wood as I was expecting ( I thought you needed something like 40kg of wood to smoke a 5kg joint), Now, I'm re- thinking my wood option.

I hate to bother you guys with another question but I know i said mesquite but i was thinking maybe something less intense would be better for his 1st try. Maybe Hickory? Would that be ok on pork? I was also thinking about maybe getting another wood to mix it up but i have no idea which other wood would compliment hickory or whether it would be best to just stick to one solid wood. 

Also, in regards to the can. I am right in thinking that any cans made from zinc or Aluminum are out of the question for smoking? If so, what cans would be safe? As in material content???

Sorry, I didn't know if you preferred a straight pm or don't mind me posting this here. And Thank you all so much for the valuable information.

Smokin Monkey said:

The only way that Trashcan can be used is, build a fire in it and burn the coating off, but you have got to be sure its ALL off. lot of work for a cheap Trashcan/incinerator.
This is what he should be looking to do,

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• smokin monkey
• Dec 5, 2015

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• smokin monkey
• Dec 5, 2015

I do not know if your Dad is any good with DIY?

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Thanks for the pictures, that smoker you posted looks good. I am right thinking that below half is a steel drum/barrel? I tried to find out, but i am unsure if i'm looking for the right thing. I'm assuming that my dad would need a food grade barrel such as

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/205-LITRE...5484854?hash=item3cd53b82b6:g:IsEAAMXQVD1SIM6

My dad is a handy man so he's comfortable with DIY.

Smokin Monkey said:

Hi what's your first name?

Any Steel barrel will do as long as it has no coating like Galv or Zinc. It will have to be burned in to get the paint off the outside.

Just an idea, if you are looking at buying a Barrel. Remove that Trashcan from the original set up, plate up the hole in the bottom and use it as a regular BBQ.

Buy yourself a Barrel, and build on of these, http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/191531/my-first-uds-build-in-england#post_1372456

It's a UDS, Ugly Drum Smoker, once built it will have all the air control you will need to regulate the pit temperature accurately. Other wise you are going to have to in stall air takes, with dampers, into your existing set up. It's a lot of work, trial and error if you do not know what you are doing. With a UDS it a tried and tested Smoker, and you will get lots of input from fellow builders on here.

Steve

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Hi, My name is Andrea. That UDS looks pretty impressive and not that complicated. I was thinking of printing off that entire thread and giving it to my dad along with his gift. Hopefully ,i  can buy him the barrel and he can build it  himself. Thanks for the great idea.