Question about oil drum smoker

[newbiesmoker]

I acquired an oil drum smoker yrs ago that was cut in half already. So my plan was, to have basically 2 openings one, where is was originally cut, then another smaller door cut in the top.
My question is, I bought 6" channel iron and was going to use 2 runs the 59" length to get my heat. I could pull it out to get air as it will be sitting on channel iron rails. View attachment 452674 View attachment 452674I've seen it before but wondered if that would be less efficient than a side fire box. A side box would have to be like 30x30 or something close to that if I remember right.

 

[mike243]

I cut mine the other way and only 1/2 so the front and 1/2 the top pivots , wanted more room on a single grate to do large critters lol, I made it where I can mount a small drum on the end for a fire box, have a 55 gal setting on it now til I can get a 30 gal, got the mesh for the grate, got to get off thru the week to get some angle iron to make the frame, mounted on a trailer , last thing I will do is replace bearings and tire/rims

 

[newbiesmoker]

Actually the 6" channel will be on angle iron rails.

 

[newbiesmoker]

This was already cut in half but being free I wasn't going to turn it down.

 

[mike243]

Lord no turn nothing down but a demotion lol , I contemplated doing mine that way and putting a pellet burner in it, then I decided I could still do that even cut the other way