Building a barrel smoker is a very popular topic today. It’s not just because smoking food is becoming more mainstream. It’s also because there is something special about cooking pork butt at low temperatures over several hours. It seems to make the meat taste that much better, and it can be a ton of fun to make your own smoker (especially if you have the right tools).
A barrel smoker, also called a drum smoker is a great choice for those who want to smoke meat on the cheap. I recently built my own and spent less than $200 in parts, so it’s quite affordable. In this article, I cover some pros and cons of building your own vs purchasing one. I also cover the different ways to build your own using PVC, metal or barrels.
How to build a barrel smoker
The barrel smoker is a type of barbecue cooker that has been used for decades. It’s perfect for smoking small amounts of meat, but can also be used as an outdoor oven. The barrels are typically made from steel drums and range in size from 55 gallons to 200 gallons. If you’re looking to build your own barrel smoker, here are some tips and ideas to get you started.
Building Your Own Barrel Smoker
If you want to build your own barrel smoker, there are a few different types of kits available. Some kits include everything you need to get started while others require additional components that must be purchased separately.
Here are some tips if you’re interested in building your own barrel smoker kit:
Oil drum smokers are the most common type of kit available online or at local retailers. They typically consist of a charcoal basket or grate alongside a thermometer and vent flap. The lid will have holes drilled into it so smoke can escape during cooking. You’ll also need to purchase charcoal or wood chips for fuel before using this type of kit because it does not come with any supplies included with it when purchased new.
If you’ve been looking for a DIY project that will let you have some fun in the garage and come out with a functional smoker, you’re in luck. This project is easy enough for beginners but still has enough of a challenge to keep more experienced builders interested.
The biggest advantage of building your own barrel smoker is that it can be tailored to fit any size family or gathering. The Gateway Drum Smoker, featured here, can handle four whole chickens or two racks of ribs at once. It’s also easy to modify to make something smaller if you don’t need all that capacity (or if you just want to try building one). And since these smokers are made from metal drums instead of wood, they’re easier to keep clean and maintain than conventional smokers.
Building your own barrel smoker is a great way to get the best out of your barbecue. As with most things in life, it doesn’t come cheap. But you can save money by building your own barrel smoker kit. This guide will take you through every step of building your own barrel smoker kit, from getting the right equipment to choosing the right wood chips.
The first thing you need to do is find yourself an oil drum or similar container. The most common are 55-gallon drums, which are made from steel and have a removable lid on top for easy access. They’re available from hardware stores and online retailers like Amazon.com at very reasonable prices – around $25 for a new one, or $10 for a second hand one if you don’t mind doing some cleaning up before use! If you don’t want to buy anything new, check Craigslist or Freecycle for people giving away used barrels as well as local metal recycling centers (always ask permission first).
Once you’ve got your drum, check it over thoroughly for any rust or cracks in the metal before putting anything inside – if it’s been outdoors for long enough then even brand new barrels can have some problems that need fixing first
If you’re looking for a cheap and easy way to make smoked meats, consider building your own barrel smoker. These smokers are made from used oil drums and can be purchased online or constructed on your own. The cost of materials is minimal, and the results are amazing.
A 55-gallon drum is the perfect size for a small backyard smoker. It’s large enough to handle cuts of meat up to 10 pounds, but small enough to fit in most backyards.
Step 1: Buy an Oil Drum
You can find used oil drums at a local recycling center or salvage yard. Select one that doesn’t have any rust or holes and is free of any paint or labels (if you do find one with paint still on it). Make sure there are no sharp edges inside the drum that could cut through the metal during cooking time — this could cause dangerous flare-ups when smoking foods.
Step 2: Prep Your Barrel
Remove any sharp edges from inside your barrel by sanding them down with coarse sandpaper. You may also want to remove any labels from your drum if they’re still stuck on — these can burn off while smoking foods and create smoke that can ruin your meat’s flavor by adding an oily taste or making it bitter
If you’re looking for a great way to make smoked food at home, barrels are an ideal choice. They’re inexpensive, easy to work with, and a great way to add a rustic touch to your backyard.
The first step is finding the right barrel for you. You’ll want to select one that’s made from food-grade plastic or steel — anything else could be unsafe for food use. If you want to reuse an old barrel, be sure it hasn’t been used as a fuel or chemical storage vessel first.
The next step is deciding on how big of a smoker you want. A 55-gallon drum would work well for most people. You can also find larger sizes if needed — some even come with wheels at both ends so they can be moved easily by hand!
Gateway Drum Smoker.
Build your own barrel smoker kit, oil drum smoker, horizontal 55 gallon drum smoker plans. Gateway Drum Smoker.
Oil Drum Smokers are a popular choice for backyard smokers because they’re easy to build and can be made from recycled materials. In this video, we’ll show you how to make an oil drum smoker that can be used as either a grill or smoker.
Building an oil drum smoker is a great way to get started in the world of barbecue! These smokers are easy to build and require minimal tools (mostly just a hammer). The first step in building your own oil drum smoker is to gather up all of the supplies you will need for the project.
The main thing you will need for this project is two 55 gallon drums (one for the firebox and one for the cooking chamber) and some metal straps. You will also want some smoke chips and wood chips to add flavor to your food as it cooks.
Once you have gathered all of these supplies, it’s time to start building your smoker! The first step is drilling two holes in each side of each drum (four total) so that air can flow through them while cooking meat inside
Build your own barrel smoker kit, oil drum smoker, horizontal 55 gallon drum smoker plans, gateway drum smoker.
Gateway Drum Smoker – The Home Depot
The Gateway Drum Smoker is a great value that offers excellent performance. The heavy duty construction and fully welded seams make this unit durable enough to last you for years to come.
Features:
– Welded seams ensure durability and longevity
– Heavy duty steel construction allows for long-term use with minimal maintenance
– Patented smoke stack design provides better airflow while preventing creosote build up in the chimney area
– Dishwasher safe cooking grids allow easy clean up after each use (rinsing required)
A Gateway Drum Smoker is an easy-to-build, inexpensive and efficient smoker. The drum is mounted horizontally over a fire pit or burn barrel. Smoke stacks are added to the top of the drum and a water pan is placed below the grate. The fire burns down into the water pan and generates more than enough heat to cook your food.
To build your own Gateway Drum Smoker, you’ll need:
1 55-gallon steel drum with lid
2 pieces of 3/4″ plywood (approx. 24″ x 24″)
1 sheet of 4′ X 8′ sheet metal (galvanized)
2 – 18″ long pieces of stove pipe (preferably galvanized)
1 – 2×4 board (cut to length)
1 – 2×4 board cut in half lengthwise (for handles)
The Gateway Drum Smoker is a smoker and grill that uses an old oil drum as the main source of heat. It is built in such a way that you can control the temperature by adjusting the air flow and fuel feed rate.
You can use this smoker to cook food on its own or use it as a grill. You can also use it to smoke meat or fish, making it a great tool for outdoor cooking at any level. The Gateway Drum Smoker is made from steel which gives it durability and strength, allowing it to withstand any weather conditions.
Features:
– Made from high quality steel
– Can be used as a smoker or grill
– Adjustable air flow control
– Adjustable fuel feed control
The gateway drum smoker is one of the most efficient and cost effective smokers you can build. It uses less fuel than other smokers, has a very easy to use firebox, and produces great results.
The barrel smoker was originally designed by the Gateway Meat Co for their meat processing facility. They wanted a smoker that could handle large volume cooking but didn’t have the space or budget for a commercial smoker.
The barrel smoker uses 2 burners from a gas grill to heat up the barrel and create smoke. The barrel is heated to an internal temperature of around 180-200 degrees F which allows it to pass enough heat through the meat to cook it without drying it out like most smokers do. The burner plates are enclosed in metal boxes that allow you to control how hot they get without letting too much heat escape into your kitchen or garage. The smaller diameter burners produce more heat than larger diameter burners at lower temperatures which means you don’t need as much fuel or time to cook your food.