Been wanting to build a vertical drum smoker, a BDS clone if you will. So, I picked up two drums and bought some parts. Burned one out and got it done, starting on the other. About $70 total for one smoker. All hardware is stainless except the grill and expanded metal.
I fired it up yesterday to season it and see what it will do. Sprayed the interior with Grilling Pam. I loaded the basket with 10 lbs. of Best Choice lump, included three hickory chunks mixed in with the lump. I dumped a lit chimney of lump on top. Need to buy a weed burner.
There are 6 plugs (holes) in the lid and 4 in the bottom around the base of the drum
I started with all the plugs out on the lid and one plug out on the bottom. All lid plugs out was WAY too much, temp shot to 390! I put 4 plugs back in the lid and the temp dropped to 280. Put another plug in and temp. dropped to 260. So, it was running at 260 with one plug removed in the lid and one plug removed in the bottom. The holes are 1". That is one inch of air flow through the drum bottom to top past the charcoal.
I let it sit and burn while I mowed the yard (2.5 hours). Checked and it was still right at 260° and light blue smoke out the hole in the lid.
I figured it was as seasoned as it would get. I put on 4 fatties, 2 chubs of balogna, and a pkg. of Johnsonville Polish. I put the fatties in the center so the grease would drip into the fire. That is supposed to add flavor, and it does. Similar to grilling. Everything came out great.
I decided to try reducing the air flow to see what sort of temperature regulation I could achieve. I blocked 3/4 of the lower hole with aluminum foil. The temp. dropped and the fire died. This was 9 hours after I lit it. There was a good amount of charcoal left and it would have burned a lot longer at smoking temp. Some folks report getting 16 hour burns at smoking temp. with this type smoker.
Going to smoke two butts for pulled pork for next weekend when we make apple butter. I will post results and pics. Also plan a SmokyOkie brisket in the very near future.
Here are some smoker pics - note the smoker is SILVER. The drums originally were pale green and held pineapple, so these are "Pineapple Smokers".
More about the SILVER paint later
I fired it up yesterday to season it and see what it will do. Sprayed the interior with Grilling Pam. I loaded the basket with 10 lbs. of Best Choice lump, included three hickory chunks mixed in with the lump. I dumped a lit chimney of lump on top. Need to buy a weed burner.
There are 6 plugs (holes) in the lid and 4 in the bottom around the base of the drum
I started with all the plugs out on the lid and one plug out on the bottom. All lid plugs out was WAY too much, temp shot to 390! I put 4 plugs back in the lid and the temp dropped to 280. Put another plug in and temp. dropped to 260. So, it was running at 260 with one plug removed in the lid and one plug removed in the bottom. The holes are 1". That is one inch of air flow through the drum bottom to top past the charcoal.
I let it sit and burn while I mowed the yard (2.5 hours). Checked and it was still right at 260° and light blue smoke out the hole in the lid.
I figured it was as seasoned as it would get. I put on 4 fatties, 2 chubs of balogna, and a pkg. of Johnsonville Polish. I put the fatties in the center so the grease would drip into the fire. That is supposed to add flavor, and it does. Similar to grilling. Everything came out great.
I decided to try reducing the air flow to see what sort of temperature regulation I could achieve. I blocked 3/4 of the lower hole with aluminum foil. The temp. dropped and the fire died. This was 9 hours after I lit it. There was a good amount of charcoal left and it would have burned a lot longer at smoking temp. Some folks report getting 16 hour burns at smoking temp. with this type smoker.
Going to smoke two butts for pulled pork for next weekend when we make apple butter. I will post results and pics. Also plan a SmokyOkie brisket in the very near future.
Here are some smoker pics - note the smoker is SILVER. The drums originally were pale green and held pineapple, so these are "Pineapple Smokers".
More about the SILVER paint later
