The Texas BBQ Forum

I've spent a lot of time searching for unlined, food-grade drums in Austin, as I prepare to build a UDS. I'm not having any luck. Anyone have any recommendations? I'm willing to drive to San Antonio if need be. Thank you, any input is welcome.

try asking at your local Feed Stores and Tractor Supply - - - they should be able to put you onto some

Good Morning Sir, Try Dave the Barrel man here in San Antonio.

http://www.Davethebarrelman.net

They have a huge inventory.

Ric G.

Rockin Ric has Rallied to the Rescue

There's a supplier in Cedar Park, one in Wimberley and one in Giddings. The first 2 post ads on Craigslist pretty often (or did the last time I looked a couple months ago). The one in Giddings is a water tank supply company but they have tons of barrels.

I got mine from Dave the barrel man here in San Antonio. He's got a ton.

Thank you for the recommendations. I'm gonna go with Dave the Barrel Man.

This is probably a dumb question, but even with an unlined, food-grade barrel, do I still need to do a burn out?

Preciate it.

It depends on what was inside the barrel. If the barrel had cooking oil or something non-toxic in it you won't need to burn it out. If it had some type of hazardous chemical in it (or if you don't know what was in the barrel) you might want to burn it out just to be safe. I recommend if you use any zinc coated or galvanized material on the inside of the drum to burn these coatings off before you cook with it. My drum was used for hazardous chemical storage. I used a pear burner and burned out the inside of the barrel then coated with canola oil (you can use vegetable oil, canola oil, PAM, etc.). Then I filled the charcoal basket half full and did several different burns (each burn was at least 2 hours long) at temps up to 500 degrees. I did these burns after I applied the coat of primer and both coats of paint and used the heat to bake on the paint. If you add some chunks of wood to your basket during the burns this will also cure the inside of the drum too.

To season the grates I like to buy a box of bacon ends (about $6) and cook direct over coals. The fat content and flavor seasons the grates well.