Building a drum smoker...have some questions

[MystralHawk]

Hi guys,

First off, I just wanted to say I really enjoy the forum. I've been a long time lurker, just now decided to get an account.

I also wanted to apologize if this is in the wrong forum section, but it seemed that none of the other sections applied.

I'm currently building an upright drum smoker (also called an ugly drum smoker) out of a 55 gallon drum. I've successfully burned out the drum to remove the epoxy resin. The problem I'm running into is removing resin from the lid without warping it. I have removed a majority of the resin off using a grinding wheel. However there is left resin on the edge where the lid meets the drum.

Unfortunately I don't have access to a media blaster. I am contemplating using the torch very sparingly to try to burn the remaining off, but I figure I would ask the experts here for any advice!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Capt Chrysler]

Hello,

Ck out the smoke ring.
http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/


Capt. Chrysler

 

[MystralHawk]

Thanks Capt.

I looked around on there and people said they had it blasted or torched it. But they also said they had to bend it back into shape. I will keep looking. I just wanted to see if anyone had any other recommendations.

Thanks again!

 

[Grabber70Mach]

Try looking here:

http://smokerbuilder.com/forums/index.php

 

[niget2002]

there's a build section on the forum here: http://www.texasbbqforum.com/ that will have more information about these than you can digest in a weekend.

 

[MystralHawk]

Thanks guys! I'll take another look at the BBQ forums. Very much appreciated.

 

[Grabber70Mach]

Might try here:

http://smokerbuilder.com/forums/index.php

 

[jlckmj]

This is the time of the year to start looking at the roadside trash for a discarded weber type grill. The lids of the most common sizes will fit the 55 gal. drum smoker and it will give you more room under it to cook large items.
Jim

 

[metalmagpie]

Go to a place that reconditions drums and buy another used lid.

 

[DIC]

I knew a guy that died after cutting a 55 gallon barrel to build a BBQ pit. It put off some toxic poisonous fumes. Be careful of what has been in those drums..

 

[MystralHawk]

Thanks for all the help guys.

The barrel previously held apple juice concentrate . I also stripped all the resin and did a good burn out. I'm pretty confident that I'm not going to die from using the barrel. But thank you for your concern.

 

[78Bird]

heh, apple juice should be ok

If you burned it good, do a search for building Ugly Drum Smokers, UDS, and that should lead you in the right direction.

its a project I'd like to do sometime soon as well.

 

[MystralHawk]

Thanks everyone! I wire wheeled most of the resin off the lid. The only thing that is left is a small amount of resin around the lip of the lid where it meets the barrel.

I'm thinking of buying a bench grinder with a wire wheel and see if it'll get in those nooks and crannies!

I'll definitely post some pictures when I finish building it!

 

[fotoflojoe]

Ya know MystralHawk, this thread would be a LOT better with a few pictures.
Hint, hint, hint...

Just sayin'

(Sorry, I have nothing of actual value to offer)

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Well take this for what it's worth and I know others will disagree, but having built a drum smoker, and several other types including a large tow behind, the temps at the lid with the amount of resin left probably aren't going to be a problem Max at the lid cooking you're going to see 350 and after seasoning it properly you're not going to get any off-gassing from it I and a few others I know have used gas, oil, and coolant barrels to build them.

Everyone always says to get a food grade barrel, but with the liner in them, it's much easier to get one that doesn't have it. Burn it out and be done with it, been done for lots of years with old fuel oil drums, and no problems.

 

[ZRX61]

New barrels only run about $35-$40....

 

[MystralHawk]

From what I gather, food grade barrels have the liner which you end up having to remove anyways. I think I'm going to leave the rest since it's on the outside of the lip of the drum and do a good high temp burn out.

Unfortunately, new barrels in my neck of the woods tun around $85. I'm not so worried about the drum as opposed to the lid. But I think I should be okay.

Thanks again for everyone's help.