How to build homemade drum smoker

[ishee]

I know I seen it on here somewhere and I cant find it. I am looking for some plans to build a homemade smoker out of a food drum. The kind with a hot plate. If anyone has some or can guide me to where some plans are I would appreciate it. I am a visual person so pictures would be great but if none available Ill take what I can get. Thanks in advance

 

[forluvofsmoke]

I don't recall seeing anyone posting or asking about one with an electric hot plate. Would you be using it for cold/warm smokes?

The charcoal smoker section has alot of threads on drums. This is the link to the sticky thread by Vlap on drums (74 posts to date). It might give you something to get started.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/for...ad.php?t=67767

Good luck.

Eric

 

[trashcan]

Hot plate? Or heat coil? Unless you have one BURLY hot plate or an itty bitty drum I don't think it would work.

I personally made one from a (new...) 20 gal. steel garbage can (which everyone here talked me out of using... probably for my own good...

), and it barely held 220 with a pork shoulder in it. The hotplate lasted one nine hour smoke and then gave up the ghost.

 

[gooose53]

You might be better off with a standard drum or think about using one of the Afterburners in a drum.

 

[ishee]

Thanks for the input. I kinda got a little better understanding with what I want from looking at another post about this. I will prolly not go with the hot plate idea and stick with charcoal. Its just frustrating cause I can never ever keep my cheap brinkman hot. Its hot at first and then the coals start ashing up and starts snuffing out the fire. I know I can drill holes in the pan and that will help but need more surface area so thats why I thought the drum would work good. I think I am going to look into it when I get home. Just got to find a drum that I can use. Do the drums hold there heat well or are they a pain cause they are thin. They are thicker than the brinkmans so I am sure it will be better. Just trying to figure out whats the best route to go.

 

[rickw]

A UDS (drum smoker) is just about as close to set and forget as a charcoal smoker can be. You will be a champ at it after your first time or two. They are that easy to cook on. They are also very good no matter the weather, wind, cold, heat, it doesn't matter to the drum. They are a dream to smoke on and cheap to build.

 

[teacup13]

your brinkman probs are common when you dont modify them..

now you can turn a UDS into a smoker using electric.. some people are in a no fire zone and have to go that route.

pm sent

 

[ishee]

What are the modifications I can make to the brinkman other than drilling the holes or is there any other mods I can make. I think I am going to try and make the drum when I get home. Where can I buy the racks that go in the drums from. Also what type of hardware should I use. I guess stainless but is there anything that is cheaper that wont kill me.

 

[wanbli]

Howdy ishee, I'm a newbie here too. There are lots of posts in the forums on drum smokers and also the mods for the Brinkmann offset charcoal grills. I think I read that the cooking grates from the Weber grills fit the UDS pretty well. You can find them at the big box hardware places or yardsales ( cheaper ). I passed on a big Weber Kettle grill for $5 at a yardsale a couple of weeks ago, still kicking myself in the butt over that one. Anyway, you can find the plans for the Ugly Drum Smoker ( UDS ) in the forums or type it in your search engine. Also, stainless is the way to go with bolts, nuts or washers inside the drum or grill. Any coatings on cheaper hardware could either ruin the taste of the food or poison you or both. Do not use Galvanized at all. Good luck. Peace, Wanbli