55 gallon drums

[KnightofNi]

I have found a few places online to get them, but I need some that are OK for food.

I'm building a smoker and need 4 of them.

any ideas?

[Speeddog]

mcmaster.com

[NAKID]

How big is the smoker that you need 4 55 GALLON DRUMS?!

[TiAvenger]

How big is the smoker that you need 4 55 GALLON DRUMS?!

The correct answer here is: not big enough.

[somegirl]

And what is he planning on smoking?

[the_Journeyman]

He's a roll your own smoker!

JM

[Triple J]

So how are you planning on building this thing, as in what's the architecture of it? I have a Charbroil smoker from Walmart ( ). It works OK, but has some shortcomings (like the meat closest to the firebox cooks faster so I have to rotate it which is a PIA), so i was thinking of building my own out of drums. There's a jam/jelly place nearby that has food grade smaller drums (maybe 35 gallon) that they'll give you as many as you can haul away for free. 

[Scooter Montgomery]

How big is the smoker that you need 4 55 GALLON DRUMS?!

The question is when should he be epecting us?

[lauramonster]

my cousin made a pig roaster from a used home fuel oil tank.  he burnt the oil off & cleaned it.

his coup de restistance was to hook it to two truck batteries and it turned the spit on it's own.

[Fresh Pants]

And what is he planning on smoking?

A whale?

[Speeddog]

And what is he planning on smoking?

I vote for 4 whole pigs.   

[KnightofNi]

how big is it? well, 2 drums will be the firebox, and 2 drums will be the cooking area.
2 drums on bottom connected by stovepipe to the 2 up top.

i'lm also looking for a cheap trailer to build it onto so we can take it to tailgates.

this is what i'm building, but with 4 drums instead of 2. i'm also planning on cutting the lid diff and putting a hanging rack that hinges up when the lid is lifted so we can have a bit more rack space in there.

I vote for 4 whole pigs.   

actually 1 pig and full side of beef 

[Triple J]

this is what i'm building, but with 4 drums instead of 2. i'm also planning on cutting the lid diff and putting a hanging rack that hinges up when the lid is lifted so we can have a bit more rack space in there.

That looks like a pretty good design!  I'd modify it by adding a strip of sheet metal across the bottom of the cooking chamber over the flues. Offset it a few inches from the bottom, make it wider than the flues, and make it full length. This would force any heat and smoke coming up to go around the sides of it on it's way into the cooking chamber, preventing hot spots on your grills right above the flu locations.

I'd also think you only need 3 drums...just 1 for the fire box. You can make a LOT of heat in a single 55 gallon drum full of charcoal and/or wood...plenty to heat 2 drums worth of space. 

[Rameses]

I'd also think you only need 3 drums...just 1 for the fire box. You can make a LOT of heat in a single 55 gallon drum full of charcoal and/or wood...plenty to heat 2 drums worth of space. 

I'll second that.

Either one 55 gallon for both smoker drums or a smaller barrel or box per upper barrel.

[Rameses]

How big is the smoker that you need 4 55 GALLON DRUMS?!

Here's one that belongs to a buddy of mine...