55 gallon drom bbq, any wisdom?

[Overkiller]

I snagged a drum from work and I was planning on building a grill out of it with the boys for a little spring break project. It's a pretty straight forward deal and I want to keep it simple but I know a lot of you have forgotten more about grilling then I know so I figured I'd ask so I don't kick myself when it's done.

Thanks

Travis

[Shortystillsurfs]

its easy. Ours was in a vertical position. Thread a pipe into the large hole on the top for a stack. Use a jig saw to cut the top out. Be sure to cut the top out all the way to the outside of the lid but stay within the lip. This will be your door for getting in the food in and out.

To take the lid off you just grab the stack and lift the cut out lid off.

You drill 4 holes equally spaced holes for 1 1/2" - 2"long bolts to be secured thru. This will support the lid.

Drill 4 more equally spaced holes somewhere around halfway down the drum to support the expanded metal that will hold the food.

At the bottom you can use the jig saw again to cut out a door then bolt up hinges. This allows access to the fire which we had in an old hub cap.

I am sure there are are much better ways of doing this but this way worked for us since we were on the road and had very few tools work with.

[TexasSmoke]

Overkiller...All you need to know is in this link. Good luck and post some pics of the build.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43943

[TexasSmoke]

These pics might also help

[Gilbert]

Overkiller...All you need to know is in this link. Good luck and post some pics of the build.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=43943

great link

[Jerkyourcroaker]

I followed guidance in the bbq-brethren link to build mine. I made handles out of round stock. I slipped a zinc coated door spring over the round stock to make 'cool touch' handles. The exhaust is a chrome tail pipe extension. The vent on the bottom is a stainless vent replacement part for an XL Big Green Egg. I have one grate inside, you can see the screws that hold it about a third of the way down. I should have put in a second cooking grate. I don't necessarily need the cooking area but it is nice sometimes to have drip pan under the food.

Finished product - TTU Drum Corps




Here is the charcoal basket inside. Made with expanded metal, some square stock and the charcoal ring out of a Weber Smoky Mountain.




Here is my number one welder/fitter keeping the chalk sharp.




Yes, I'm a bit of BBQ geek too.

[Swells]

Whelp, I like to have my 55-gallon drum horizontal so I can load it up with lots of meat, kinda old fashioned style. Simply make a metal rack to hold the barrel at whatever height you want and threaded pipe will work. Do your cutting for a lid, add two hinges, and slap on your bling. Add some support bars on the inside for diamond mesh metal for the grill. I like a small table for my stuff, and small hatch to scoop out the ash. Very simple.

Y'all remember to burn out them barrels real good because some probably held methyl-ethyl death!

I do a pretty good burn and put onions and squash on the grill to absorb the nasties and season it - throw the veggies in the garbage, wire brush the grill, and you're good to go.

If you know a welder the pros are using a separate firebox, a little tricky to explain but very cool because you can use chunk wood and it won't be too hot of a fire where you're cookin'. I like a mix of oak, mesquite, and pecan. You'd probably build a better stack and an air slots for the firebox so you can throttle the fire. Many a brisket tourney was won this way, a whole different class than just using charcoal.

[Overkiller]

Some really good ideas in that link. I was thinking horizontal to make it easier to use as a boring charcoal grille for burgers on a tuesday evening. But the vertical thing has it's appeal. I'm still on the lookout for something to use for a smoke box, no luck let. I was digging the style of this one I found but it looks like I'd be in real danger of going overboard on and not having a spring break cookout.

[Overkiller]

I followed guidance in the bbq-brethren link to build mine...

Yes, I'm a bit of BBQ geek too.

I dig your grill, if I go the vertical route I'll be R&Ding it heavily. Bottle opener seems critical.

[KennyWayne]

The others gave some great links and advice. All I can add is make sure your barrel didn't previously contain Styrene, Butadiene or any of the other 'ENEs"... ☺