First cook on an ugly drum smoker plus build pics

Marky C · BBQ Pro Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 501 Location: Delaware

Just finished assembling a drum smoker last night. We got ahold of some juice barrels and welded some pipe nipples on 4 sides, put a ball valve on one and caps on the other three. Using a makeshift charcoal basket for now. A Webber cooking grate and a digital probe thermometer.
For first cook today. 41 deg and windy right now. I am cooking chicken thighs for first cook. Man do they start smelling good right after placing on grate.
Had It welded last week and burned it out.
Last night we drilled the holes in lid, rigged a charcoal basket and did a little test run. Has everything but a paint job!!! It's ugly but functional.
Here are some pics.

Webber lid fits near perfect.

Ball Valve

Nipple with cap

Lid

I told you it was ugly, but in a beautiful way.

_________________
Kill a cow, Start a fire ...
The magic begins.

2 Drum Smokers
Traeger Texas
CharGriller
22" Weber Kettle
Portable Sportsman Gasser
Sizzle Q Griddle
1 Hot Rock

Markbb · Posted: Apr 08 2007 Post subject: Drum

That looks nice beauty is on the inside and that my man is a work of art

Harry Nutczak · Posted: Apr 08 2007 Post subject:

as long as the finished product is o your liking, who cares what method you used to get there!!

Good job,
BTW, how was the yardbird when it was done?

Good stuff is good stuff!!
_________________
Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down!

Marky C · BBQ Pro Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 501 Location: Delaware

Getting ready to check for done. I'll get back to you on that.
_________________
Kill a cow, Start a fire ...
The magic begins.

2 Drum Smokers
Traeger Texas
CharGriller
22" Weber Kettle
Portable Sportsman Gasser
Sizzle Q Griddle
1 Hot Rock

jessiewoodard57 · Posted: Apr 08 2007 Post subject:

Is there such a thing as an ugly smoker?

All that really matters is what you put on the table.

So if it works don't knock it. besides I'll wager you could build a bunch of those smokers and still come out a lot less cash layout then buying a factory built smoker.

Good job, I'd further wager the bird came out great.

Jessie

BBQMAN · Posted: Apr 08 2007 Post subject:

Nice job! I'm a big fan of do-it-yourself! Very Happy

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BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

Marky C · BBQ Pro Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 501 Location: Delaware

Well the chicken came out great. Those juices dripping on the coals seem to make a big difference. The Mrs. thought I was crazy as this makes smoker #3. But not anymore.
Here are some finished pics.
Ready

On the Platter

On my plate. mmmm

I'll post some more pics later of the makeshift charcoal basket. We suspended it with wire from the bolts that hold the cookng grate. Worked like a charm. Do these pictures make my thighs look fat??
_________________
Kill a cow, Start a fire ...
The magic begins.

2 Drum Smokers
Traeger Texas
CharGriller
22" Weber Kettle
Portable Sportsman Gasser
Sizzle Q Griddle
1 Hot Rock

alemaster · Posted: Apr 08 2007 Post subject:

Allrighty Markyc it's 11:40 Just got the butt's on the ugly drum smoker , the wicked good lump is harder to lite had to open her all the way up to get her goin about 250 now. Later . Alemaster
_________________
Give a man a beer waste an hour , teach a man to brew waste a lifetime .

MoeBiscuits · Posted: Apr 08 2007 Post subject:

That is just badass.

Tony · Posted: Apr 08 2007 Post subject: ugly cooker...

marky c:

Yo...Way Cool Dude Exclamation

Like BARBECUE MAN,I'm a huge fan of Do-It-Yourself...Or Don't Do it At All!
What were You usin' for fuel, etc.

Man,I'm gettin' the itch to start messin' with makin another cooker!(Oh,man...The Old Lady is gonna' KILL Me if she sees another smoker around here!)

Marky...Tryin' to get a few of the folk from the area to get together at my beach place(Rehoboth-Dewey Beach) durin' the summer.

It's tiny but it's Home! Are 'Ya up for that?

Nice Job, once again! Wink

Best Regards, Tony Very Happy

Marky C · BBQ Pro Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 501 Location: Delaware

I used Cowboy Lump in the basket and put a lit chimney full of Kingsford briquets to light.
Regarding the post from Alemaster, he was cooking 2 butts on his drum last night. He got ahold of some Wicked Good lump.
Our local "BBQ Store" is now stocking it. Alemaster built a SS Drum Smoker. It's a straight sided barrel, Real nice.Looks like "Frankensmoker" and works great. His was the first prototype.
Tony, Sounds like a plan. Just IM me with details when your ready. My drum smoker is pretty mobile if you need more cooking space.
Here are some pics of Alemasters "Frankensmoker". I know he wants you folks to see it. It is one of 4 barrels he picked up. 3 are made into a brew system. This thing is made of some heavy SS. The lid does not fit real tight hence the paper stuffed around the lid. But it works great and holds heat well for some long burns.

_________________
Kill a cow, Start a fire ...
The magic begins.

2 Drum Smokers
Traeger Texas
CharGriller
22" Weber Kettle
Portable Sportsman Gasser
Sizzle Q Griddle
1 Hot Rock

marvsbbq · BBQ All Star Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 6186

Can't beat an ugly smoker for some great tasting Q...

A good Q man can cook on a rock and make it come out good...I have not reached such status.. Crying or Very sad

_________________
Often imitated but never duplicated

Marky C · BBQ Pro Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 501 Location: Delaware

And here are the pics of the charcoal basket and a hook we mounted to hangthe lid. Shocked

It worked well.
By the way that is Alemaster drilling out the barrel.
Another fiend of mine got ahold of some much nicer barrels, straight sided, heavy steel, nice lids w/clamps. This was a joint effort. One person supplied the barrels, we did the drilling and prep for welding,and bought some parts. Then one did the welding. So we have some more to build.
I know, I know, What did I do?? Well someone has to take the pictures right. Cool

_________________
Kill a cow, Start a fire ...
The magic begins.

2 Drum Smokers
Traeger Texas
CharGriller
22" Weber Kettle
Portable Sportsman Gasser
Sizzle Q Griddle
1 Hot Rock

yukondude1 · Posted: Apr 09 2007 Post subject:

That chicken looks so good--- your "ugly" smoker did a good job.

I've got a couple of old weber kettles around that I've been thinking of making into another smoker---same issue here, though about the wife. She thought building one smoker was too many. (she does admit she likes the food though). It's not that I need another smoker, it just that it's fun to build a smoker and try it out!

Yukondude

mutha chicken bbq · Posted: Apr 09 2007 Post subject:

Marky C and Tony,

Keep me in mind if you go to Rehobeth. I have a trailer next to the go-carts in colonial east. Don't get down there much but am ready to roll.

I just finnished my upgrades and am doing my first cook on it now.

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The only thing consistant in BBQ is, it is always the Judges fault!

KCBS CBJ
www.galvinell.com
www.realdealbbq.com

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Tony · Posted: Apr 10 2007 Post subject: smoker conversion

mutha chicken:

Yo...AWESOME conversion to Your smoker,Dude Exclamation

Be SURE to get back to Us as soon as Ya' pull the food off the grates! Laughing

Hey,About Rehoboth...Tryin' to get about a half-dozen Forum members down to my place in the Summer.

SURE... Ya'll Invited!

The way it looks now, it shouldn't be too hard at All!
(Who is Alemaster?)

Dinger (mding) from the Forum is going to be in town with his family from Virginia and will be vacationing in Bethany Beach for a week,so I'm tryin' to schedule things around the time of his visit,about the first or second week of August.

Do any of You Boys know the date of the Barbecue Cookoff Comp
at Dover Downs?

Be sure to give a Holler if 'Ya hear anything! Wink

Best Regards, Tony Very Happy

Marky C · BBQ Pro Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 501 Location: Delaware

Dover is Oct 19 & 20th.
Alemaster is a friend of mine from Dover.
_________________
Kill a cow, Start a fire ...
The magic begins.

2 Drum Smokers
Traeger Texas
CharGriller
22" Weber Kettle
Portable Sportsman Gasser
Sizzle Q Griddle
1 Hot Rock

alemaster · Posted: Apr 10 2007 Post subject:

I am the Alemaster !
_________________
Give a man a beer waste an hour , teach a man to brew waste a lifetime .

Tony · Posted: Apr 10 2007 Post subject:

okay alemaster:

You're In! Cool

I'll keep Ya'll posted...I'll be down in Rehoboth this weekend for a "breather"...

Best Regards, Tony Very Happy

alemaster · Posted: Apr 10 2007 Post subject:

Mark and I will be at Dogfish brew pub on Thurs nite for our brew club meating @ 7 if your down stop for some brews , Later Alemaster
_________________
Give a man a beer waste an hour , teach a man to brew waste a lifetime .