Son's First Attempt at Building a Smoker

[M.D. Holloway]

So my Son got it into his head that he wanted to start making money building things. I guess the whole buying / selling thing is on hold until he raises more capital. So he goes and buys a welder, a grinder, a few clean 55gl drums (label said they contained pineapple), some metal, screen and rebar. He checked out various smokers for sales, took pics and even went on line.

Here it is - I would say its about 95% done. I think it needs a hatch on the fire box, a few adjustable vents there, some trim on the smoker hatch.

What do you think? Wanna buy it?

[fastfredracing]

That kid is gonna go far in life

[recycled sixtie]

Impressive

[tabs]

Not bad for a first effort. He should take a close look at a David Klose BBQ unit for all the fine tuning details. Little things make a big diff.

55 drums are one thing, but using 1/4 oil pipe X 20 is what separates the backyard from the pros.

[vash]

nice.

have him make the next one reverse flow.

bums me out the kid welds better than i do.

[stomachmonkey]

How much does he have in it?

I'm with tabs, used barrel smokers turn me off.

Don't trust that they did not contain something bad at some point.

It's not a mistrust of the builder so much as it is a mental image thing.

[recycled sixtie]

Give MD's son some credit. It's his first smoker project. Looks great. Smoking food likely gives the food some carcinogens anyway but the 45 gallon drums if well cleaned before should not pose any health risks. Would I buy it if I lived in your area and had an acreage you bet.

Tough crowd here

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Give MD's son some credit. It's his first smoker project. Looks great. Smoking food likely gives the food some carcinogens anyway but the 45 gallon drums if well cleaned before should not pose any health risks. Would I buy it if I lived in your area and had an acreage you bet.

Tough crowd here

Certainly was not being harsh and I think overwhelmingly the thread has been positive.

Some people will be predisposed to a negative impression of a smoker made from a used barrel. Not a knock, just reality.

Max is better off knowing what maximizes the number of units sold and what might command a higher price point / better ROI.

[recycled sixtie]

[QUOTE=stomachmonkey;9052753
Max is better off knowing what maximizes the number of units sold and what might command a higher price point / better ROI.[/QUOTE]

Yes good point

From somebody that has never welded anything in my life it is good to see him get started early.

[Mark Henry]

Just be carefull if you want to make one of these.
A highschool kid here was killed a while back when he put a torch to a closed, used barrel.
The barrel still contained a small amount of peanut oil and went off like a bomb.

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by Mark Henry

Just be carefull if you want to make one of these.
A highschool kid here was killed a while back when he put a torch to a closed, used barrel.
The barrel still contained a small amount of peanut oil and went off like a bomb.

That is what happened to my TR3 gas tank.....

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by tabs

Not bad for a first effort. He should take a close look at a David Klose BBQ unit for all the fine tuning details. Little things make a big diff.

55 drums are one thing, but using 1/4 oil pipe X 20 is what separates the backyard from the pros.

He actually looking into that pipe, expensive - they want $600 and its heavy. His friend has a plasma cutter so I'm sure they could cut it but then they would have to cut out perfect circles for ends? Maybe not, I guess you could put a square piece on each end.

The drums had pineapple in them - most likely the pineapples were contained in a big plastic bag.

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

Yes good point

From somebody that has never welded anything in my life it is good to see him get started early.

He's taken the exhaust system off his Honda Pilot now and welded the pipes each time. Its getting exhausting...(pun not intended).

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by M.D. Holloway

He's taken the exhaust system off his Honda Pilot now and welded the pipes each time. Its getting exhausting...(pun not intended).

Hmm, I may have a couple of small jobs for him.

Modding a set of decklid hinges and fabing an exhaust.

[stomachmonkey]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention.

April 16th at Adkins, the new elementary school behind Sonic.

Lantana is having a car show. $10 entry fee.

I'm bringing the 190 and Bryan is bringing his Targa.

You want in?

I'll send you the registration form.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by tabs

Not bad for a first effort. He should take a close look at a David Klose BBQ unit for all the fine tuning details. Little things make a big diff.

55 drums are one thing, but using 1/4 oil pipe X 20 is what separates the backyard from the pros.

Old propane tank is the ticket, have to mount it on a trailer though. With the heavy gauge stuff, you have to put a counter balance on the handle to make it a little less awkward.

I see stuff like this and it makes me think, man, I miss Texas

[M.D. Holloway]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

Oh yeah, forgot to mention.

April 16th at Adkins, the new elementary school behind Sonic.

Lantana is having a car show. $10 entry fee.

I'm bringing the 190 and Bryan is bringing his Targa.

You want in?

I'll send you the registration form.

Yes! I'm in! Send it on through. Thanks!

[J P Stein]

Controlling heat is probably the main function in barbecue/smoking......I've done a number on some perfectly good hunks of meat by effing that up......and that was with an electric smoker with proper controls and adjustability.

There is no way I'd try a wood fired smoker. I think the learning curve is way long.

Your son's smoker is a decent first attempt, but looks to need more thought reference the above.

[porsche4life]

Looks like a good try. Will be hard to sell though with so many used commercially made smokers out there.


Tell him to build a good hot fire in it and let that burn for a few hours before he tries to cook in it.

Might as well cook a meal in it. The satisfaction of there I'll be almost as great as the satisfaction of making some $$$

[ted]

Run the flu down closer to the grill to get the smoke lower and closer to the meat.
Try two thermometers low and to the right to get the heat exiting the firebox.
One low and to the left to check the heat opposite end of the barrel.
Might add a short tunnel to have the heat enter the barrel a little more in the center and not all at one end.
Smokers are a commitment, I'm not that patient.

Do you have a grill on the firebox so it can be used as a small bbq too?