The Start of a Drum Smoker

Rajun Gardener · February 16, 2018

Referred to as a UDS(ugly drum smoker).

I finally found a food grade barrel with a removable lid and stopped by HD for a few parts. I started on it today and it's really easy to make a basic smoker, I would be finished already if I found the 22.5 Weber grates for it.

It came from a pepper/sauce processing plant not too far from me, this must be used to make hot wing sauce.

I opened it up today to start and noticed it has a epoxy phenolic coating on the inside. I started researching and most say it has to be removed but one barrel manufacturer says it doesn't.

What are your thoughts on this? I plan on doing a few burns and then cleaning before cooking on it and I can also get it sandblasted but If I have to. I'll find out tomorrow if any of the coating came off in the burn. I filled that barrel twice with hardwood and when I put the lid on to burn it too the barrel had coals up to the bottom ring and is still going.

Here's the email
I bought a drum from you recently with the epoxy phenolic liner that I intend to convert to a smoker. I don’t anticipate ever cooking anything at over 400 degrees, mostly low & slow, 225 degrees. I know it is supposed to be safe for food but Is it safe for cooking bbq? Does this liner need to be removed prior to smoking on it? Thanks!

Howard Skolnik says:

Hello, I must apologize for the delayed response. Thank you for purchasing a drum from Skolnik. Having the interior lined will not effect your smoker environment. The liner is similar to a high temperature paint and all the ingredients in the liner are food safe. After some use, the liner may begin to peel due to heat exposure. Just wire brush the peelings to prevent them from dropping onto your food. Hope you have many great tasting bbq’s!

I also found a chart saying it's good to 400F

I'll never have this thing over probably 325, it's not used like a pit where you light a big fire. You add some already started coals to the filled basket and it slowly burns for about 12 hours at 250-275F.

I got started and Step-Bits made it easy, I probably finished it in an hour. I used self tapping screws for a temporary fix to get it burning, I'll replace those with bolts when I clean and paint the outside.

I lucked out and has a metal basket for the coals and only had to add legs to the back.

I've been burning it for about 4 hours now and the only paint I see starting to burn is the outside paint mostly around the air intakes.

I'll give updates and food porn as I go along, I have some ideas to add a little bling and make it NOT so ugly.

February 16, 2018	#1
Rajun Gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Tomato Cornhole Posts: 2,550	The Start of a Drum Smoker Referred to as a UDS(ugly drum smoker). I finally found a food grade barrel with a removable lid and stopped by HD for a few parts. I started on it today and it's really easy to make a basic smoker, I would be finished already if I found the 22.5 Weber grates for it. It came from a pepper/sauce processing plant not too far from me, this must be used to make hot wing sauce. I opened it up today to start and noticed it has a epoxy phenolic coating on the inside. I started researching and most say it has to be removed but one barrel manufacturer says it doesn't. What are your thoughts on this? I plan on doing a few burns and then cleaning before cooking on it and I can also get it sandblasted but If I have to. I'll find out tomorrow if any of the coating came off in the burn. I filled that barrel twice with hardwood and when I put the lid on to burn it too the barrel had coals up to the bottom ring and is still going. Here's the email I bought a drum from you recently with the epoxy phenolic liner that I intend to convert to a smoker. I don’t anticipate ever cooking anything at over 400 degrees, mostly low & slow, 225 degrees. I know it is supposed to be safe for food but Is it safe for cooking bbq? Does this liner need to be removed prior to smoking on it? Thanks! Howard Skolnik says: Hello, I must apologize for the delayed response. Thank you for purchasing a drum from Skolnik. Having the interior lined will not effect your smoker environment. The liner is similar to a high temperature paint and all the ingredients in the liner are food safe. After some use, the liner may begin to peel due to heat exposure. Just wire brush the peelings to prevent them from dropping onto your food. Hope you have many great tasting bbq’s! I also found a chart saying it's good to 400F I'll never have this thing over probably 325, it's not used like a pit where you light a big fire. You add some already started coals to the filled basket and it slowly burns for about 12 hours at 250-275F. I got started and Step-Bits made it easy, I probably finished it in an hour. I used self tapping screws for a temporary fix to get it burning, I'll replace those with bolts when I clean and paint the outside. I lucked out and has a metal basket for the coals and only had to add legs to the back. I've been burning it for about 4 hours now and the only paint I see starting to burn is the outside paint mostly around the air intakes. I'll give updates and food porn as I go along, I have some ideas to add a little bling and make it NOT so ugly.