The Texas BBQ Forum

This is a 50 year old whiskey barrel that I have converted to a smoker. It uses (2) 22" cooking grates, enought to hold 8 racks of ribs or 12 pork butts. It is not finished. I still need to install the smoke stack, air intakes, and propane burner. It is made of 1" oak (burns at 550 degrees). I will smoke at 250 or less. The way I am installing the propane, there will be no flame near any part of the wood. Here are some pics...and I welcome comments, ideas, questions etc.
alan

http://s951.photobucket.com/albums/ad35 ... 20project/
http://s951.photobucket.com/albums/ad358/midwestcreditcare/barrel%20smoker%20project/

that thing is cool... cant wait to see some Q comin off of it

Very unique, Be interesting to see how it cooks. CF

Alan,
neat idea. You may give some thought to using some thin aluminum sheet metal roof flashing, available at Home Depot in a roll, to line the inside. Not so much to prevent burning the barrel as to make grease run down and keep from having any rotting or mold growth. I'd start with a roll about 6 or 8" wide and start at the bottom like you'd put shingling on a house, overlap the next higher course and so on, I'd use screws to attach since wood shrinkage and expansion would probably loosen nails. You could do it in squares like shingles to accomodate the barrel shape.

Good idea. I will look at that. The inside is charred. They always burn the inside of barrels before using for whiskey. Which should seal it well. I turned the barrel upside down, so I had a flat top with no holes. The bottom one has a hole in it. I thought this would be better for cleaning and drainage.

At the bottom will be aluminum. The propane burner will be inside a stainless steel steam table pan. Another pan will be on top of that in order to hold the wood. I plan on placing a round 2" wide stepping stone at the bottom, to protect the bottom from any heat the SS pan may give off.

This is all trial and error. If I make another---it may go much easier!

Now that's different!

here is the burner I plan on using.
http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad35 ... oto187.jpg" target="_blank

Burner matched with a 10psi regulator (adjustable). from Bayou

Now that is sweet, looks like ya have a great design, Good luck finishing it out.

now thats cool will be the only one of its kind Im sure

That is what I am hoping for! I will have time to do quite a bit to it this weekend. Should have better pics up later.

Great idea....can't wait to hear and see how the first cook goes....

Here's some other pictures of wooden UDS's.

Cool!

I will be making another with a Jack Daniels barrel. I also have a couple large used wine barrels coming. I might do one natural and get artsy with the other;)