My Drum Making Adventures

Start with 3  1" holes spaced evenly

3" up from the bottom.

The 3 holes will aid in getting air inside
the drum for the burn.  The burn is used
to remove the liner on the inside and the
paint outside.



This what you're looking for, peeling

and flaking of the liner.  Best be on

good terms with the neighbors and

fire department. ;)





It's a good ideal to place
and rotate the lid while
burning the drum.  Carefully
rotate to keep heat even,
lids will warp.



The better the burn,
the easier the sanding!

Lesson learned here?  Ashes from fires are not always as
cool as they appear.  This once was our garbage can
and once was part of our fence.  :(

You will get dirty!

Kind of a dry fit before
painting.

24" up from the bottom of the fire basket (3" from the bottom
of the drum) is where the cooking grate is mounted.  I use 3
evenly spaced 1 1/2 x 7/16" bolts to hold it up.  A person
could go with 4 but it's hard to get 4 even.  The rack will
shake and tilt.

Other than the fire
basket itself, the air
valve is the key to
maintain temp.

3/4" threaded ball valve.
Works great!

Air valve is mounted using 3/4" close nipple.  Avoid using
galvanized steel when possible.  It puts off a poisonous gas
when heated.  Used 3/4" conduit nuts to secure it in, but because I used the "close" pipe, and it's design, I had to
use 2 big washers to take up space a seal hole.

A charcoal grate from a Weber 22.5"
BBQ serves as my base for the
fire basket.

I used 3/4" expanded
steel to form the outer
ring.

I was told to use a
heavier gauge but the
13 gauge was easy to
form and has held up
just fine!



Used a cheap Wal Mart pie pan
serves as my "ash tray".  Keeps the
the bottom of the drum clean.

Used 3  3 1/2 x 7/16" bolts to mount
the tray to the bottom of the basket
and keep the basket 3" up from the
bottom for air flow and a place spent
briquettes to fall.

Was originally going
to use stainless steel
hog rings to put it
together.  Doable but tough,
I asked a favor of a welder
I know.  Thanks Cody!

My first basket loaded
for bear, or at least
a good smoke.

As a general rule, double your exhaust
to air in feed.  I use kitchen fridge magnets
to cover the holes to smother the
fire after a smoke and keep the weather out.

Drum upside down ready
for some more paint.  I
use more fridge magnets
to cover the two remaining
holes on the bottom.



Some people will use
the pipe nipples like
the one used for the
valve.  I just paint
my magnets to match
the rest of the drum



For some reason, I couldn't get the blue one to smoke, but
the red one took to it like a pro.  Such a bad influence.

I use the cheap turkey frier thermometers
mounted just below the cooking grate.
They are used the monitor drum temp
during the cook.

Another cheap Wal Mart item.
A remote digital thermometer
to monitor meat temps.

Gary and his piece of art!

My brother Gary's drum