How to Build Your Own BBQ Barrel

Step 5 Finishing Touches

Last steps in the construction were to add a handle (plain wooden dowel from the hardware store), air vents, and a temperature gauge. I also decided to spray the barrel with a high heat resistant pant. Besides customizing the color a little, the paint helps prevent rust on the barrel. The only thing left was to test it in a real-life BBQ situation.

Comments

[choward9]

How did you fit the hinges for the lid with the grooves in the barrel? did you flatten them out or take cuts out of them?

[johnnyblegs]

The hinges fit pretty flat to the barrel. I just picked a place away from the grooves to minimize any potential cuts. Less cutting the better - prevents any potential smoke loss.

[Ruettiger]

Nice instructable. I built a very similar project but did a smoker.

[GrapeApe226]

I saw a foot square smoker box for sale at a local box store (Lowe's if you have to kno lol, but, I shop at the orange store too). I like it's compact size and will be using one on my truck propane tank that I turn into a smoker/grill. the tank is off of a 24 ft. delivery truck. I think it's 50 gallon. Thank goodness it's not galvanized, I don't think I could handle another thread about heavy metals. I hope propane fumes are not toxic on food :O I will be doing an instructable on it in a couple months. Right now, I'm building my shop out of the garage and a side patio roof that will be enclosed; ½ woodshop, ½ car shop. How I'm going to keep sawdust out of the crank cases is anyone's guess :p

[abaneyone]

I like your smoker! can you show us how you built it? I grew up with my dad smoking meat and fish on grill types like the one featured in this instructable. Dad smoked his meats by putting all the coals on one side of the grill with opened vents on the side of the charcoal and open vents on the other side at the top, creating a smoky draft towards the meat. It's a slow simple method of smoking but boy is it worth it!

[Ruettiger]

click my name and there should be an instructable shown.

[tinker234]

HOW

[dongpengqq]

wowyour project is so cute~ i love it

[greggspen]

That is a sweet smoker. Is that the fire box down low on the left?.Would like to see more pics or an instructable.

[Ruettiger]

Click on my name for a instructable on it.

[maurice1993]

I liked you smoker. I usualy don't smoke things, but I guess I can ahve a use for it the same way...(with some mod's - a wood(or coat?) oven :D) I wanna try and make one, but is kind hard find barrels(at leaste the place I live =D... I'll se if my dad can take one from they job. very nicely done! much beautyfull!

[adamvillan79]

WOW! THat is sweeet! You have to do an instructable on that. PLEASE.

[Ruettiger]

I did an instructable. I hope it don't suck. http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-build-a-barrel-smoker/

[Ruettiger]

I have wanted to but something about seeing all the work people put into their makes me think mine would suck, that and I am lazy not too lazy to build some crazy project but too lazy to explain it I guess.

[johnnyblegs]

That's pretty sweet! Where did you get the smaller barrel?

[Ruettiger]

I took an twin of the bigger barrel and cut out a section and welded it back together.

[rosewood513]

Great job, I bet it works better than the fancy ones. the food must taste better on a homemade grill. this woujld make a great smoker also.

[Junkyard Dawg]

I really like this grill. I'm going to have to build one one of these days.

[johnnyblegs]

Do it. I always wanted to do this. Never thought I would and I was so happy when I came across this barrel.

[Junkyard Dawg]

Yep, I'm still lookin out for a food-grade 55-gal barrel to use. (They're kind of scarce where I'm at)

I'll probably check with several of the grocery stores and restraunts to see what I find.

[ludionis]

I had a 55 gallon burn barrel, and when my normal grill junked out on me, I took my dremel tool and made 4 cuts around the perimeter shaped like the number 7. I then took a hammer and screwdriver, drove the point into the barrel to form 4 shelves. I found my 22" grill grates fit perfectly, and the original grill lid too, so I made another level to place my charcoal on. Even cut out a trap door at the bottom for ash removal. Until the wife complained about the eyesore and made me get another real grill, I was pretty proud!

[siggibahama]

hey hey,,,  just finished putting the hinges on,,  LOVING your instructable by the by,,   but would love to see the picture, its been a while    real soon passed a few days ago :)

[johnnyblegs]

I finally posted the pictures! Sorry for the long delay.

[bigsmoke]

non galvanized right ?? enjoy

[adamvillan79]

I love it! How did you mount the dowl to the barrel for the handel?

[johnnyblegs]

From the back of the lid. Drilled holes through the back of the lid then screwed them into the dowel on the other side.

[adamvillan79]

Oh ok. So those are just smaller peices of dowel mounted to the barrel. Then you mount the large dowel to that. Got it, thanks!

[Aethilas]

WARNING: MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT USE A 55GAL DRUM THAT MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO STORE AGRO CHEMICALS OR POISONOUS SUSTANCES.

[jsummerlin]

Where is the air intake and vent pipe?

[johnnyblegs]

Good question. The honey barrel that I scored - the pour spout was a threaded 2 inch hole (it's located by the upper left hinge in the finished picture). I utilized that as my vent pipe. After my first grill test I bought an iron elbow from the hardware store along with a 12 inch pipe to extend the chimney. If you look closely in the bottom left interior, just below the grill grate, is another pre-drilled hole that helps with the air intake. After the grill test I added another air intake to the other side of the barrel utilizing the pieces from the extra webber grill I had on hand. I will post new pictures of that real soon.