Here is where it began. Closed Zep drum. Torched out the top, and welded the lip of a disc blade to the outside....I thought it was going to work
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=86902
Fast forward to this past friday. We worked on this lid more, filling in the gaps, adding smoke stack, and a strap across the top which was also the handle. This thing was U.G.L.Y. and it DID NOT SEAL. Too much heat, thin metal on thick metal just warped it.
So after plenty of cold beverages and feeling defeated, I loaded up my Zep drum and lid, and took the drum home.
Prior to all this work, I had only tested my Weber kettle lid on an OPEN drum. It didn't fit, which lead me to making that homemade lid.
I then thought to just try the kettle lid on the Zep drum I had just brought home......it fit. (trying to show you my level of intelligence here) God forbid I tested the Kettle lid on the actual drum I had started working on
.
I quickly hid all evidence of the previous monstrosity of a lid, and picked up a $40 Uniflame kettle from Walmart. Tried the lid, and it was close, but not as close as the Weber. I flattened the lip around the lid, and as you'll see below, I tapped it back down to fit the drum. Anyhow, it's finished with a sealing lid, and running fine. I posted my first smoke on it in the beef section. Here's the build pics:
My dad found a metal frame which was once used as a GOTT water jugg holder on an irrigators truck. He also got me some expanded metal, and we wrapped it around the frame and welded (overkill, I know)
Welded four pieces of strap to the bottom as legs, and used a row marker (looks like a smaller disc blade) to the bottom of that as the ash pan
Finished pic of basket, holds A LOT of charcoal/lump
Instead of 3 or 4 3/4" inputs at the bottom of the barrel, I went with two 1" inputs. One to be ball valved, and one to be capped off
Hardware (stainless steel 1/4x2 bolts) and handles installed
While seasoning, here's the Kettle Lid Modification
Needs a paint job, and some wheels, but here it is chuggin along
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=86902
Fast forward to this past friday. We worked on this lid more, filling in the gaps, adding smoke stack, and a strap across the top which was also the handle. This thing was U.G.L.Y. and it DID NOT SEAL. Too much heat, thin metal on thick metal just warped it.
So after plenty of cold beverages and feeling defeated, I loaded up my Zep drum and lid, and took the drum home.
Prior to all this work, I had only tested my Weber kettle lid on an OPEN drum. It didn't fit, which lead me to making that homemade lid.
I then thought to just try the kettle lid on the Zep drum I had just brought home......it fit. (trying to show you my level of intelligence here) God forbid I tested the Kettle lid on the actual drum I had started working on
I quickly hid all evidence of the previous monstrosity of a lid, and picked up a $40 Uniflame kettle from Walmart. Tried the lid, and it was close, but not as close as the Weber. I flattened the lip around the lid, and as you'll see below, I tapped it back down to fit the drum. Anyhow, it's finished with a sealing lid, and running fine. I posted my first smoke on it in the beef section. Here's the build pics:
My dad found a metal frame which was once used as a GOTT water jugg holder on an irrigators truck. He also got me some expanded metal, and we wrapped it around the frame and welded (overkill, I know)
Welded four pieces of strap to the bottom as legs, and used a row marker (looks like a smaller disc blade) to the bottom of that as the ash pan
Finished pic of basket, holds A LOT of charcoal/lump
Instead of 3 or 4 3/4" inputs at the bottom of the barrel, I went with two 1" inputs. One to be ball valved, and one to be capped off
Hardware (stainless steel 1/4x2 bolts) and handles installed
While seasoning, here's the Kettle Lid Modification
Needs a paint job, and some wheels, but here it is chuggin along
