- Apr 30, 2018
- 234
- 209
So I have been wanting a dedicated smoker for a while now. I didn't like how cheesy and flimsy many smokers on the market where, and the the quality Ones cost too much for my blood.
In a past life I was a fabricator/welder so it was naturally a thought to build my own.
I like the style of the 55 gallon drum smokers for the Simplicity and ease of the build.
I also wanted something that wasn't too heavy, that didn't need a dedicated dolly or trailer.
About 20 years I had bought a 55 gallon barrel for a cheap heater for a shop.
I never got around to using it. So I thought it would be a great start for the firebox. So after i rescued it from 20 years of storage in the back of an old cattle shed, i then went and found a couple food grade barrels for the top. I used a cast iron double barrel kit to get them together, and I used some HVAC pipe for the vent stack.
Since I dabble in wood working as well I found some wild cherry wood I had harvested from my family's farm a few years ago. This will serve as a handle for the lid. And I cut and routered some pieces to connect the two cast iron stands for the double barrel kit. And while I was at it I built some staves for the bottom stand, just to add some visual interest and pull the horizontal handle and stand connecters together.
I then found a few hook and loop latches off Amazon to keep the lid down. I used some fireproof felt for a lid seal, and some gate hinges from the hardware store. Also I'll mention that the lid is cut from the third barrel.
Then, I welded some angle to the sides for a shelf and some support for the 50 inch vent stack. I used a tall stack to help with the smoke scavenging.
Finally, I welded some flat bar to the sides for some grill gate. And built a shelf to hold some fire bricks in the top.
I am hoping it will hold some heat in case of low spots in smoke heat or help maintain temp in temp spikes. I also have firebrick in the firebox barrel.
The firebrick shelf will also help in providing a flat spot for dripping trays.
Whew! I think that's it! I still need to pop in a thermometer that I seemingly misplaced and finish my front shelf. But other then that fired it up for the test fire tonight.
Now, on with the pics.
In a past life I was a fabricator/welder so it was naturally a thought to build my own.
I like the style of the 55 gallon drum smokers for the Simplicity and ease of the build.
I also wanted something that wasn't too heavy, that didn't need a dedicated dolly or trailer.
About 20 years I had bought a 55 gallon barrel for a cheap heater for a shop.
I never got around to using it. So I thought it would be a great start for the firebox. So after i rescued it from 20 years of storage in the back of an old cattle shed, i then went and found a couple food grade barrels for the top. I used a cast iron double barrel kit to get them together, and I used some HVAC pipe for the vent stack.
Since I dabble in wood working as well I found some wild cherry wood I had harvested from my family's farm a few years ago. This will serve as a handle for the lid. And I cut and routered some pieces to connect the two cast iron stands for the double barrel kit. And while I was at it I built some staves for the bottom stand, just to add some visual interest and pull the horizontal handle and stand connecters together.
I then found a few hook and loop latches off Amazon to keep the lid down. I used some fireproof felt for a lid seal, and some gate hinges from the hardware store. Also I'll mention that the lid is cut from the third barrel.
Then, I welded some angle to the sides for a shelf and some support for the 50 inch vent stack. I used a tall stack to help with the smoke scavenging.
Finally, I welded some flat bar to the sides for some grill gate. And built a shelf to hold some fire bricks in the top.
I am hoping it will hold some heat in case of low spots in smoke heat or help maintain temp in temp spikes. I also have firebrick in the firebox barrel.
The firebrick shelf will also help in providing a flat spot for dripping trays.
Whew! I think that's it! I still need to pop in a thermometer that I seemingly misplaced and finish my front shelf. But other then that fired it up for the test fire tonight.
Now, on with the pics.
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