Looking for a steel drum for a DIY smoker

witnessmenow

I'm looking to build a UDS (Ugly Drum Smoker) and step one is to find a drum/Barrel! All the things online you'll see calls for a 55 gallon, but thats an american 55, so its our 45 or 210L barrel

Ideally it would be an open top with lid, and it would not be lacquered on the inside.

In a perfect world it would have contained some food stuff in its previous life, but not a requirement, I will wash and burn it out before cooking with it.

Any suggestions?

Sir Arthur Daley

Would an old creamery tow behind milk container suit?

david65

witnessmenow wrote: »

I'm looking to build a UDS (Ugly Drum Smoker) and step one is to find a drum/Barrel! All the things online you'll see calls for a 55 gallon, but thats an american 55, so its our 45 or 210L barrel

Ideally it would be an open top with lid, and it would not be lacquered on the inside.

In a perfect world it would have contained some food stuff in its previous life, but not a requirement, I will wash and burn it out before cooking with it.

Any suggestions?

I got my drums from a jam making factory, they had contained fruit pulp. painted on the inside, but that would burn off. Try food manufacturers near you. Soft drink manufacturers also use bulk pulp.

witnessmenow

@ Wiki: I dont think so, the drums are a good size because standard size kettle BBQ grates fit. Thanks though. (I alos cant find what they look like, searching leads me back here!)

I unfortunately don't know of any food manufactures near me. David was it a personal contact that you went to in the Jam place or did you cold call them? My GF is working in the Cork this weather so might be able to sort something.

I emailed rilta.ie for prices, they have a reconditioned one for €35 + vat or a new one for €49 + vat

For piece of mind of what was in it the ones from rilta might not be a bad bet, but they are much more expensive than buying a used one (which seem to be about €10 on done deal). But it might save some time in terms of cleaning it out and people might be more willing to eat out of it! Dublin isnt really that close to me either so there is the expense of going up there, and presumably they are only open during business hours, which would not suit me.

There is a place in Kilkenny on Donedeal that seems to have loads aswell, must seemed to be lined but some are painted in the picture. Will give them a shout later.

deandean

I researched and priced this in detail a couple of years ago, I concluded that you are better off to just buy the kit you want from 'Merica and pay the duty.

Also: make sure you like the taste of slow-smoked food before you spend a lot of money on this, the concept is brilliant but the actual taste is not to everybody's liking.

I concluded that slow-cooking (i.e. cooking at 80 or 100DegC for many hours) gives good results but I was left looking at lots of uneaten smoked food because people didn't like it.

witnessmenow

deandean wrote: »

I researched and priced this in detail a couple of years ago, I concluded that you are better off to just buy the kit you want from 'Merica and pay the duty.

Also: make sure you like the taste of slow-smoked food before you spend a lot of money on this, the concept is brilliant but the actual taste is not to everybody's liking.

I concluded that slow-cooking (i.e. cooking at 80 or 100DegC for many hours) gives good results but I was left looking at lots of uneaten smoked food because people didn't like it.

Yeah I have smoked some stuff on my Weber kettle and im definitely up for going a little deeper into it!

To be honest though I'm building it as much for the project as anything else. Kinda same thing with the kits finding stuff that will work is also part of the fun. If I build it and never use it I wont be too upset

david65

It was a personal contact and I put my request in and waited a month or so , the steel drums are not used all that often now .Apparently most of the pulp comes in plastic returnable drums.I didn't have to pay ,but they are sold on for €10.

Bugnut

I am building a smoker with an old Keg but have a supply of old oil drums.

I have used oil drums before and they are of once degreased etc.

See the build thread here

http://madaboutmetalcraft.boards.net/thread/22/keg?page=1&scrollTo=52