Home2024-11-26T10:33:31+00:00

Best Drum Smoker

Warrior Drum Smokers - These Things Cook!™

Ever heard of a drum smoker? Want to up your game and start making competition level barbecue at home in your backyard like a pro pitmaster? Time to toss that easy bake oven & fire up a real BBQ cooker! Make the most delicious meats ever, either low & slow or hot & fast!

  100% AMERICAN MADE QUALITY

Experience The Unmatched Deliciousness Drum Smokers Can Produce.

55 gallon drum smokers are amazing cooking instruments. They’re also known as barrel smokers, vertical smokers, barrel cookers, UDS (short for upright or ugly drum smoker), bbq grills, and other name variations. The design and ability of these rigs is outstanding. Competition pitmasters have been using them under the radar for years to produce award winning barbecue – the kind that win prestigious contests and BBQ events. However, with their rise in popularity steadily growing seasoned pitmasters can’t keep them a secret anymore. For beginners and the semi-experienced alike the inside track is now wide open for you to start producing high quality barbecue like grand champions right in your own backyards! They’re affordable to run, cook a lot of barbecue for their size, and store easily. Best of all, they are inexpensive to buy considering the long term savings of cooking restaurant quality BBQ at home versus expensive dining out.

So, What’s The Game Changer?

The question you might be asking is why do smoker drums cook so well and produce such great tasting cue? The reason is simple, direct heat! Unlike with the traditional offset smoker types the juices from the meat as it cooks falls directly onto the coals, and then re-infuses added flavor back onto the meat. While offsets, also known as “stick burners” are great they just don’t provide this extra essential key ingredient that can lead to next level barbecue flavor excellence. Setting your preferred smoking temperatures is super easy too! Anywhere from traditional low & slow temps between 220-250 degrees Fahrenheit, to the higher temperatures for hot & fast cooks at up to 325°-350°F.  Need a temperature lower than 220°F? No problem! And, with the heat deflector/baffle plate meat cooks more evenly by eliminating “hot spots” in the charcoal basket, that would otherwise overcook your meat in some areas.

This is exactly why these magnificent machines tend to win barbecue competitions such as the annual KCBS World Invitational BBQ Contest and American Royal. With drum smokers you just get more delicious flavor on the meat you’re cooking, plus unmatched moistness and tenderness.

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More Meat. Better Flavor. Less Time.™

How To Use Your Drum
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The Amazingness Lies Within These Key Features:

  • Ready to start cooking/smoking in just 15-30 minutes…

  • Easily manipulate temps up & down as needed…

  • Go 16+ hours of low & slow smoking with just 1 load of fuel…

  • Holds desired set temps steadily all throughout your cooks very very well…

  • Reinfuses meat with added delicious flavor from the juices falling onto your coals/wood…

  • Easily cuts cooking time in half, 3-2-1 method is dead…

  • Lightweight, sturdy, and mobile…

  • Do more than just 3 or 4 racks of ribs at a time, same with chicken…

  • Versatility. A true all-in-one cooking machine…

  • Easy ash clean out and grease cleaning maintenance…. More feature details

Brisket Done On A Barrel Cooker

Barrel Cookers Create A Serious Advantage.

The days of BBQ being an expensive time consuming hobby are gone!

  • Produce a lot of delicious barbecue in half the time.

  • Great for family gatherings.

  • No electronic based digital parts to breakdown & be disappointed by.

  • Set & forget.

  • Never run out of fuel during a cook again.

  • Customizable for that personalized touch.

  • A one-time purchase that will last you a lifetime.  So worth it.

  • An essential tool in prized competitions.

24 Baby Back Rib Racks Hanging In A Smoker Barrel

Got A Big Family To Feed? Catering Event Maybe?

Hook Em’ Up With 24 Racks Of Baby Backs!

Barrels used as smokers are much more efficient and affordable to run and don’t require much storage space. They will produce a good amount of smoked meat for you depending on how you set them up to cook. No other fuel types are necessary outside of charcoal and wood. No gas, no pellets, no electricity, just smooth efficient quality cooking using a small amount of fuel every time.

The Most Reliable Smokers On The Market

Why Is This Type Of Smoking Equipment So Reliable?

This type of smoking equipment is so reliable, because it’s based on a basic natural process.  It utilizes the natural direction that heat & smoke flows, which is upwards. The fire will only draw in the necessary amount of air needed to keep itself going “steadily” based on how open you set the dampers. That’s it! A steel container powered by charcoal/wood, and an easy to set drafting system completely free of any electronics or computer components. There are no power panels to worry about failing or digital displays going out.

Imagine being halfway into a cook and having to sacrifice losing it, because your equipment stopped working? Not with a vertical barrel smoker! In short, there are no electrical parts to malfunction that will render this smoker grill useless, ever!

How Do Drum Smokers Go The Distance So Easily & Effortlessly?

Controlled upwards heat & smoke governed by how much air intake the operator sets it for is what gives it the ability to go an extra long time with just 1 load of fuel. For example, brisket is one of the types of meat that takes the longest to cook. If the fire is set up properly, which is extra easy to do by the way, there won’t be any worries about fuel running out. The charcoal basket is big, and the amount of fuel it holds is plenty good for a long cook. It holds about 15 pounds of lump charcoal, and about 18 pounds of briquettes. Testing has proven that even with a long cook like brisket it still won’t burn through all of it.

All it takes is setting the air intake dampers a certain amount to where they will keep your fire burning mostly steady at the desired temperature you need, for hours. The pro’s know, and you should know too, that steady even temps are what produces quality championship BBQ. Now, imagine just letting your brisket slow cook for 10-14 hours, and not have to dedicate so much time to presiding over it the entire time!

Wanna up your game substantially? Get the best automatic temperature controller and digital meat thermometer available for a barrel smoker, and take your barbecue to pro competition level status! Produce the best, most tender moist and juicy quality meats ever. Get one now!

How These Cookers Stack Up To The Competition…

  • Drum smokers are customizable. From multi-color paint options, to parts and artistic touches like pinstriping. Oftentimes there aren’t many customizable options, if any, for the more well-known big box brands.

  • Drums are more durable all the way around. If you drop one it won’t break like the kind made of ceramic. They won’t crack over time from the wear and tear of heat and usage either. When built correctly they won’t leak grease that makes for unsightly streaks. Our drums are quality built and made not to leak.

  • They don’t weigh a ton. This backyard BBQ must have is light, portable, and can be set up anywhere. Much easier than a lot of other types of smokers and grills. They have wheels and come with mounted handles that 1 or 2 people can use to pick them up with.

  • Large capacity for its size. They can cook a lot of meat when using the hanging option, especially ribs and chickens. And, they do it well!

  • Used a lot in competitions because of their ease of use and ability to perform, especially infusing meat with extra flavor from the drippings that evaporate after hitting the baffle plate and/or coals.

  • Fire management is easy peezy. Once you dial in your desired temperature it will hold for hours without refueling (16+). So easy to control draft with our design.

  • Ash build up is not a problem at all. The charcoal basket is designed to catch the majority of it with its built-in ash pan. Our drums also have a drain at the bottom that makes them easy to clean out.

  • Versatile! Can be used as a smoker, grill, rotisserie, and griddle. Available grill accessories even allow you to make pizzas with it. However, where it shines is when you use it for its intended purpose, which is smoking.

  • Year round use without fail. Through rain, sleet, & ice….these things cook for you on demand. If you like barbecuing you’re gonna love this!

  • 100% quality built here in the USA. Each barrel is hand-built and made to order. Interior and exterior parts are made of thicker gauge steel up to 10 gauge. Even though the barrel itself is a thinner gauge steel it is still much more durable than your typical mass produced brand name gas grill. Gas grills usually only last for a few years, tend to burn out, and have to be replaced. A UDS can last for decades with proper care. Very limited parts replacements ever, if any.

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Make Great BBQ & Memories!

Gatherings with family and friends should always be memorable experiences. Make those events even more memorable with delicious appetizing BBQ, plus sides to go with it! Whether it be a weekend outing at the park, beach, on the boat, motorhome camping in the mountains, or out in the desert, or just BBQ’ing at home your barbecue barrel has you covered. Lightweight enough to transport wherever you want making this must have grilling accessory a cool addition to your outing.

Delicious Pork Spareribs & Baby Back Ribs

Delicious Pork Spareribs & Baby Back Ribs

Succulent Slow Smoked Brisket

Succulent Slow Smoked Brisket

Juicy Smokey Pulled Pork

Juicy Smokey Pulled Pork

Amazing Smoked Chicken Wings

Amazing Smoked Chicken Wings

Delicious Fall-Off-The-Bone Beef Ribs

Delicious Fall-Off-The-Bone Beef Ribs

Tender Grill Barbecued Chicken

Tender Grill Barbecued Chicken

Flavorful Smoked Ham

Flavorful Smoked Ham

Sweet Barbecue Glazed Smoked Meatloaf

Sweet Barbecue Glazed Smoked Meatloaf

Mouthwatering Smoked Turkey

Mouthwatering Smoked Turkey

Juicy Smoke Flavored Pork Tenderloin

Juicy Smoke Flavored Pork Tenderloin

Tasty Smoked Fish

Tasty Smoked Fish

Heavenly Hot & Fast Tri-Tip

Heavenly Hot & Fast Tri-Tip

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Drum Smokers For Sale

Smokers Built Like Tanks….And Look Awesome Too!

If making show stopping quality barbecue is your main focus, then step your game up and become that real pitmaster you’ve always wanted to be! Use a barrel smoker to hone your craft, perfect your recipes, and wow your neighbors. Who knows you might just get good enough to enter, and “WIN” one of the nationwide contests that KCBS holds every year close to your area!

OUR DRUM MODELS, DIY, & CUSTOM OPTIONS

  • Entertain an avid audience by performing spectacles of epic BBQ excellence! There will be no chance at your crowds attitude becoming hostile with this piece. The Gladiator has what it takes to wipe the floor clean with your competitors putting the judges opinion in your favor. Get the thumbs up from family and friends as they stand in amazement over your spectacular tasting cue!

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  • Whether it be an upcoming BBQ contest or just an occasional family gathering, this thing is full on combat loaded and ready for battle! The Warrior provides all the tools necessary for a winning outcome, and a brutal finish on your opponents. Make sure you have this one in your arsenal of essential BBQ combat maneuvers!

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  • Need a more personalized touch? Want more than just 1 color of paint? How about your name, or the name of your competition team? A quick access door, or customized steel logo emblem perhaps? Specialized artwork? Perhaps you'd like a drum modeled after your favorite sports team? We can work with you to make that happen. Let's make an in person appointment today!

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Frequently Asked Questions

You can also access our FAQ’s page directly here

How durable is a 55 gal barbecue smoker?2023-12-21T07:52:31+00:00

Steel 55 gallon barrels used as smoker drums can really go the distance if cared for properly.  In regard to weathering it doesn’t take much to protect them from the elements.  Keeping them covered when not in use will help prevent them from rusting or corroding.  The paint or coating we give them does a really great job at preventing overall rust.  One of our fully built drums was left uncovered in the rain by accident one time for 2 or 3 days.  When we discovered it we noticed that it was fine and without any rust.  In terms of scrapes and scratches the paint or coating will only stand up to so much abuse.  If you’re hard on it and throw it around a lot, move it around roughly, bump it into things or not secure it during transit allowing it to fall and slide around, then yeah you’ll do damage.  Steel is durable and is relatively difficult to dent with normal usage.  You have to literally crash it into something hard in order to put a dent in it.  Good thing is if that were to happen you could probably hammer the dent out, and touch up the paint if necessary.  The interior bottom of the barrel is largely protected by the ash catcher built into the charcoal basket.  So, hot coals and ash are not just sitting on the metal at the bottom of the barrel.  Very little ash makes contact with any grease drippings or moisture left behind during a cook.  So, this helps prevent any sort of metal corrosion created by combining ash and moisture.  Also, if you drop it, it won’t crack.  It might dent in the place where it lands depending on the height you dropped it from, but it won’t crack or break.  More info about the durability of 55 gal barbecue smokers

How many racks of ribs can be cooked with smoker barrels?2023-12-21T07:50:53+00:00

Plenty can be cooked and there are different ways you can get them to fit inside of smoker barrels.  A good thing is that a lot of  meat fits inside them depending on how you do it.  You can lay them flat on the grate, use a rib rack system to stand them up sideways, or hook hang them using a rib hanger.  Smoke 3 or 4 racks for a competition, 1 or 2 for a family meal, or load it up for a larger crowd using a rib rack or hanger utilizing the full space available.  From 3 or 4 to 16+……it all depends.  More about how many ribs a smoker barrel can cook.

 

Are the 55 gallon barrels you use to build your cookers brand new?2024-07-26T23:29:16+00:00

Yes, both new & used.  The used ones had previously been used in the food production and storage arena.  Low cost brand new steel barrels can be extremely difficult to find nowadays.  The ones we do come across are usually ultra expensive.  So, in order to make it feasible for both our customers and us “cost wise” we seek out, and locate suppliers of used drums safe for production if we can’t get a good deal on new.  Used drums are just as good for our application.  All have a specialized FDA approved polyethylene liner they’ve been coated with on the inside that’s food grade safe.  It’s also known as “phenolic coating” or “phenolic resin”, and not to be feared.  Since drums can’t be used until this lining has been removed we always remove it before we build them.  Our method completely sanitizes them.  Used lined 55 gallon drums are totally safe.  Read more about 55 gallon barrels used for our cookers

Are steel drums safe for use as smokers?2024-08-08T05:44:48+00:00

Yes, apart from being food safe steel drums they have been thoroughly sanitized by us during the building process before becoming smokers.  We never use barrels that have previously been used for holding or storing anything toxic like hazardous chemicals for example.  We never use “reconditioned” drums either.  Always food safe drums regardless of whether acquired brand new or used.  More information about the safety of steel drums used for smokers

Are reconditioned steel drums used for your smokers?2024-08-08T05:43:13+00:00

No, we never use reconditioned steel drums to build our smokers for sale to the public.  “Reconditioned” drums are taken through a sanitizing process at industrial locations.  Although they are safe for use we don’t have any idea what they were previously used for before reconditioning.  They usually come dented and a little warped most of the time from the reconditioning site.  We do have access to them here locally, and they would save you money.  However, we don’t like to use them for these particular reasons, more so because of their cosmetic imperfections.  Why we don’t use reconditioned steel drums for smokers

What is a drafting system or “draft” in a smoker?2024-11-26T10:16:56+00:00

“Experience smoke chamber temperatures settling within 4-6 minutes after making adjustments as opposed to 10-15!  Now that’s efficiency!!  And you know what that means……steady even temps throughout the cook, that will produce moist, delicious, tender, smoked barbecue every single time!”  Continue reading below.

Draft is the way a smoker pulls or draws air into the firebox for the purpose of combustion.  While that’s happening the chimney helps the heat and smoke move through the cook chamber as it exits (air gets sucked in, and heat and smoke gets pushed through the cook chamber and out through the chimney).  The drafting system on our smokers is designed for efficiency, allowing for quick easy control over increasing and decreasing temperatures at will.  Other drum designs on the market outside of ours seem to suffer with this issue.  They leave the operator waiting around for as long as 10-15 minutes each time they make a change….just to see if they set the right temperature.  That’s no good.

For example, we’ve heard of complaints about competitor drum designs where they either haven’t been able to get hot enough to hold a steady temperature of 300°, or end up running way too hot and can’t maintain low and slow temps closer to 225°.  Unlike theirs ours don’t have those issues.  Furthermore, our drums don’t take 10-15 minutes each time you make a change to see where your temp will settle in.  Our design not only delivers just the right amount of air flow directly to where it’s needed, but keeps heat and smoke moving properly through the cook chamber.  This also produces a much cleaner combustion with lighter smoke known as “thin blue smoke”.  And that’s exactly what you want rather than thick acrid smoke that won’t make your barbecue taste good.  Clean tasting food is a definite indicator that you have great airflow.  Learn more about the drafting system in an upright smoker.

Can a BBQ smoker drum catch fire easily?2024-11-17T04:14:13+00:00

Barbecue barrels have evolved considerably since their inception.  However, that’s not to say that a fire still can’t get away from you.  The most common way a drum can catch fire is by leaving the lid open for too long.  Barrel cookers are relatively new to a lot of people, and sometimes don’t understand the nature of air flow and combustion.  Their upright design is created for direct upwards heat and smoke, which is their natural direction.  By leaving the lid open for too long, and not closing off the air intake dampers you could introduce too much unwanted air to your fire.  Large “out of control” fires have greatly been diminished through the introduction of baffle plates or heat/flame diffusers.  It’s harder now for a giant unwanted rocket stove to get roaring.  But, it’s still good practice to keep your lid closed while your fire is going even after taking meat off your pit.

The 2nd way a drum can catch fire is from grease.  Although a grease fire in a drum seems to be a rarity it can still happen.  It all depends on how much grease is built up inside.  Grease has a tendency to pool inside at the bottom.  Now, the fire in the coal box doesn’t generally make contact with this pooling.  However, the introduction of new grease spillage from, let’s say poking through a foil wrapped brisket by mistake can set it off.  All that grease can fuel a fire kind of quick, and without a heat shield you could easily burn off the paint at the bottom of your drum if it gets way too hot!  As far as the fire goes in this case all you have to do is close the lid and dampers to starve the fire of oxygen till it dies a little bit.  Then resume.  Cleaning out your drum as part of a regular maintenance routine is recommended.  A drain system is included standard with all of our premium and customized drums making them really easy to clean, and eliminating the need to turn them over and risk messing up the paint job.

Don’t be alarmed by this bit of information.  You just need to understand some things.  First off, a smoker drum is a serious piece of pro equipment.  These things are designed to cook fantastic BBQ.  All you really have to do is remember not to walk away from it while the lid is open with the air intakes continuing to draw in air feeding the live fire in your coal basket.  It’s common sense really.  Can barbecue smoker drums catch fire easily? Find out more.

Are these direct heat smokers charcoal only?2023-12-21T07:37:08+00:00

Direct heat smokers are designed to be used with both charcoal and wood.  In fact, the wood is were your smoke flavor comes from.  So, no they are not charcoal only.  A high quality lump charcoal is preferred.  A winning pitmaster method is to toss 1 or 2 medium sized wood chunks in with your lump.  The type of wood you use all depends on the type of meat you are cooking and the flavor profile you are going for.  *Pro Tips:  Be careful not to use too much wood as this can “over smoke” the meat you are cooking.  1 or 2 medium sized chunks is good for the size of the charcoal baskets our drums are sold with.  However, if your drum is loaded down with a specific meat item you can cook a lot of, like ribs for example, then 3 or 4 chunks might be okay.  Read more on charcoal powered direct heat smokers

Is the paint used for your drums durable?2023-12-21T07:58:48+00:00

The paint we use is durable and can withstand the recommended max temperatures our drums are designed for.  They can be used as grills for hot and fast grilling as well as for both low and slow, and hot and fast smoking.  It all depends on where you have the charcoal basket placed inside your drum.  As for the paint and coating options we offer see our paint information page for more thorough information.  Access painting information here

Would an upright barrel smoker be okay to use on a condo or apartment balcony?2024-01-11T11:19:45+00:00

Your safest bet is to check with your HOA and/or property manager & clear the use of an upright barrel smoker with them first.  To be honest if you live in a condo or apartment complex where there are units above yours, and to the sides the smoke involved will probably disqualify you from being able to use something like this in that type of setting.  It’s usually too close for comfort in a situation like that.  However, if you have a top floor unit you just might be able to make it happen!  In terms of radiating heat doing any type of damage these types of cookers don’t get any hotter than your standard big brand name gas or charcoal grill when used as intended.  If any danger should present itself it would be through operator error resulting from either a grease fire from irregular maintenance or leaving the lid open for too long with full draft (refer to question above about catching fire).  If your HOA/property management were to clear you, then common sense should be applied in operating your drum safely and responsibly.  If you’ll be operating your drum on a balcony, ensure that the surface is made of a non-flammable material like stone or concrete.  For the condo/apartment setting, since the heat source is at the bottom of the drum it would be best to create a barrier between the drum and the surface as a precautionary measure just in case.  Having it on wheels or sitting on some type of raised platform such as block or brick if it doesn’t have wheels would be a better idea than it just sitting directly on the balcony.  This would be for better ventilating of any radiating heat between the drum and balcony surface.  Or you could invest in a fire pit pad.  Even though heat doesn’t travel downwards it’s just a safer bet this way.  Since drums do come with a way to transport them or the option thereof, wheels for example, you can always just “store” the drum on your balcony, and set it up in a common area when you want to use it if they won’t allow balcony usage.  Functional areas of the property like parking lots, swimming pool areas, and parks.  If you do get the clearance for balcony usage, then a suggestion would be to make sure your neighbors know about it, and are cool with it.  Don’t want to be putting them on high alert with the smell of smoke, let alone smoking them out of their own homes!  To reiterate…. make sure you get the OKAY from your HOA and/or property management first.  Read more about using a barrel cooker on a condo or apartment balcony

How do I buy a drum, there is no add to cart option on your site?2023-09-17T07:29:44+00:00

Currently we are only selling locally to customers in San Diego county and the greater Southern California area.  Our primary location is in San Diego California.  Call us to schedule an appointment to either pick up a drum you see on our site marked “currently available”, or call us to arrange a “hold” for you if you are coming from a location outside of San Diego County.  A deposit is required to hold your desired drum.  We can place a hold on a drum for you for up to 2 weeks.  So, if you plan on passing through from out of state and would like to pick up then just let us know.  Also, we may be able to arrange a delivery halfway close to Los Angeles for a minimal travel fee.  Same thing with Nevada & Arizona.  Or if you know you will be passing through and would like to pick up just let us know beforehand, and we’ll be ready for you.  We will eventually offer a nationwide shipping option.  See our how to buy page.

How do I go about purchasing a custom smoker drum?2023-12-21T07:32:19+00:00

Preferably, custom smoker drum interests should be discussed either by phone, text, email or in person if you’re local to us.  This way we can show you what types of customizable options and modifications we have available for you (paint colors and types, customized emblem and sticker designs, additional parts and placement on your drum, etc.).  More on how to buy a custom BBQ drum

How much meat can be cooked inside of a drum?2024-01-15T10:23:59+00:00

It all depends on the type of meat you want to cook.  It also depends on how you place and arrange the meat inside the smoke chamber.  Take pork spareribs and baby backs for example.  We’ve personally loaded up our drums with as many as 24 racks of baby back ribs before using a rib hanger.  At least 16 racks of trimmed up spareribs can fit in there for a cook.  When it comes to using grill grates you are limited to how you can place your cuts of meat inside the cooking chamber.  The space is a little more limited horizontally than vertically.  However, you can definitely fit a nice sized brisket around 17 to 21 pounds in there.  One brisket that size can feed a lot of people, especially when factoring in some sides.  You can fit as many as 4 pork butts on a grate.  And, if you don’t hang your ribs you can fit about 3 to 4 St. Louis style racks laying down on the grate.  More if you use a rib rack.  You can fit 2 to 3 whole chickens on a grate depending on their size.  More if you split them open (spatchcock), or cut the split open chickens in half, and hang them.  You can load up a couple of grates full of chicken leg quarters, drums, thighs, and or wings and cook the meat on both grates at the same time.  Find out more about how much meat can be cooked inside a drum

Does dramatic temp loss occur when lid opens?2024-01-15T10:18:31+00:00

Heat is lost yes, but cooks using our drums have been clocked in at getting back up to temp within 3 or 4 minutes after closing the lid, sometimes less.  That is the design, and operator experience at work.  Pro Tip:  You have to be careful how long you leave the lid open while checking on and/or handling the meat being smoked in any way.  The internal temperature of the cook chamber can easily get to a hotter temperature past the max you’ve set once the lid is closed again.  Why is that, you ask?  Because, you’re essentially stoking the fire by having the lid open.  So, you have to be a little careful not to leave it open for too long.  Another Pro Tip:  This one’s for when needing to have the lid open for a little longer than normal.  Let’s say you’re moving or removing a brisket for example.  Closing the dampers completely while you have that lid open will help your fire not overshoot the desired set temperature you want the cook chamber to get back up to after closing the lid.  Once lid is closed then open up the dampers again.  Read more about what causes temperature loss inside an upright smoker

Can I use a barrel smoker on a wood deck?2023-12-21T07:28:03+00:00

A barrel smoker can definitely be used on a wood deck.  You would just have to do it with safety and responsibility in mind.  Being fire conscious is always a good thing.  It would be just like operating a firepit, except without the open flames.  They sell fire pit pads you can put underneath to create a barrier between your wood deck and the barrel.  Or, you can opt to have wheels added to your drum purchase if it already doesn’t come with them.  Placing bricks underneath or setting it on top of firestone is also a good method too.  Find out more about using a barrel smoker on a wood deck

How often should a UDS be cleaned out?2023-12-21T07:27:05+00:00

The recommended cleaning maintenance cycle for a smoker drum is once every 4 cooks or so.  It’s really the soot leftover from the smoking you’re after.  It’s the grease too, but your food will begin to take on a bitter flavor from the soot if you don’t maintain cleaning.  Otherwise your cooks to follow can be ruined.  Read more about cleaning out a UDS

Are barbecue drum pits lightweight enough to transport?2023-12-21T07:26:42+00:00

Barbecue drum pits are easily transportable.  Take them with you to any type of function.  Family shindig at the park or in the backyard, barbecue contest, neighborhood cookout, pop-up location, use them on your food truck or trailer for catering events, etc.  Internal parts are all removable, so one person can easily pick it up after removing them.  Easy enough for two people to pick up and move with all its parts intact using its installed handles.  Some of our designs come with wheels installed standard, and others don’t.  The ones that don’t can always be upgraded to have wheels of some type.  More on lightweight & transportable barbecue drums

What is a heat deflector?2023-12-21T07:23:39+00:00

A heat deflector, sometimes referred to as a heat diffuser or baffle is a steel plate with holes or spaces cut into it.  It’s used for the purpose of distributing heat more evenly within the cook chamber/smoke box.  It not only helps to create a more even cooking environment for your food, but also helps prevent flames from coming up from the charcoal basket.  Read more about heat deflectors & baffle plates for UDS

What makes a vertical barrel smoker so awesome?2024-07-27T08:58:18+00:00

Aside from being able to hold & cook a good amount of meat, ribs and chicken for example, the charcoal baskets in our vertical barrel smokers are designed to hold more charcoal and will run longer with no adjustments. The drums seal very tight, and that’s what helps them run as long as they do.  Fuel burning times have been reported at 20+ hours before.  You won’t really ever need to go that long for any type of meat, but it’s possible if necessary.  They hold temps real steady throughout cooks.  This means no wild temperature swings.  Wild temperature swings will ruin the meat being cooked.  When that happens it usually results in meat that is dry and overdone.  Once you get the air intakes dialed in it’s pretty much set and forget.  Meat cooks so good and much faster than with other types of equipment.  The meat is so amazingly juicy and tender.  Another cool feature of drums as smokers is the flavor infusion from the drippings dropping onto the coals.  Their fat and juices drip onto the hot coals and evaporate causing that steam to come back up and infuse added flavor.  Also, if you hang cook, your meat self-bastes first as it’s hanging before those juices hit the coals or baffle, then re-infuses the meat!  You don’t get this type of tastiness with non-direct heat cookers.  They’re lightweight enough to pick up, portable, versatile, and are an eye catcher!  More on the awesome vertical smokers

Can digital temperature control and timing equipment be used with this style of cooker?2024-01-19T10:07:16+00:00

Absolutely yes!  In fact, you would have a serious advantage in having an unbeatable piece of smoking equipment at your disposal.  When paired with pro digital temp devices you now have a better ability to produce unbeatable competition level barbecue – granted your flavor profile is on point!  More about automatic BBQ temperature controllers and digital meat thermometers

I can just make my own barrel smoker from scratch that looks just as good, why spend the money on one of yours?2024-11-17T04:05:27+00:00

This is very true, anyone can make their own BBQ barrel.  But, do you understand the SCIENCE behind what makes these cookers so effective?  Remember, these aren’t basic big box store grills for doing just burgers and dogs even though you still can, as well as searing steaks and other meats.  Many have tried building their own over the years that “looked cool” only to find out they couldn’t perform very well.  Couldn’t get hot enough, got too hot, not enough combustion so ended up “dirty smoking” their meat, turned out to be a grease leaker permanently ruining the paint, leaked a lot of smoke, etc.

Aside from making mistakes by drilling holes in the wrong spots, the real important question is will your build be able to “draft” correctly in order to work right after it’s all finished?  What if you load your newly built DIY drum up with meat, but can’t get the temp you want?  What if it gets too hot, can’t control the temp, and dries it out or ends up burning it all?  You want to sacrifice all that expensive protein?  What if you try mounting a meat hanger accessory and mount it wrong, and now the lid to your drum won’t close?  Or maybe you mounted it too low and your meat is sitting right on the fire?  Worse yet, what if you miscalculate & don’t mount your grate holders right, and now your grates aren’t level?  What about the drill holes you made by mistake?  Know how to patch them?  How many barrels will you sacrifice before finally getting it right or calling it quits?

We can go on and on about other important things to consider before attempting to “do it yourself” completely from scratch so that it works right.  The fact is we’ve already taken care of all that for you.  It’s not just a matter of slapping something together that “looks” like something you saw on tv.  What’s important here is the “SCIENCE” behind what makes these upright smokers work flawlessly.  Supreme draft control makes it easy to control steady temps.  Multiple grate levels spaced perfectly for loading with maximum amount of meat.  Perfect positioning for rib/meat hangers utilizing the full cooking space available.  Ability to use your drum with other top grade accessories on the market outside of ours, etc.  Trust us, we’ve designed our drums for all of that.  So, why put yourself through the headaches of trying to figure all that out just to waste time, money, and have to experience disappointment?  Plus, we can customize them for you with various different paint colors, personalized emblems, stickers, etc.

How durable and long-lasting is the paint you put on your drums?2024-12-02T12:04:04+00:00

The paint is relatively durable.  But, like with anything if you mistreat it you can’t expect it not to take on any sort of nicks, scratches, or scrapes.  If you’re a caterer for example, and plan on moving your drum around a lot from place to place, then a recommendation would be to either have us build you an unpainted one that you could paint/coat however you want, or one that we give a special clear coating to.  Those 2 are great options for situations that will likely be rough & messy.  When you’re hustling and moving to fulfill orders it will be hard to avoid drippage from grease, sauces, marinades, rotating & moving meat in and out, basting, mopping, etc.  Those things on hot painted surfaces will most likely create permanent greasy stains on the paint.  But, if you’re unit will be stationary in a home backyard setting, where you can be neater with your cooks, then it won’t be a problem for a nicely painted rig.

In terms of heat resistance the general paint applications we use can withstand higher temps without flaking and fading.  We’ve tested painted drums before, taking them up to about 650°F for a few hours and the paint was fine.  You’re never going to need those higher temperatures for this application anyway.  You can take the drum to 400°-450° intermittently for cooking & grilling items that cook faster & better at higher temperatures, like steaks and chicken and be fine.  With basic powder coating for example, that coating is not so good in terms of higher heat tolerances.  Going beyond 400°F with powder coat can result in the beginning stages of dulling, fading and possibly flaking/chipping.  However, powder coating is more durable when it comes to bumps & scratches (but, more expensive).

Why do some barrels have a coloring inside?2024-11-26T10:25:15+00:00

Some barrels have what’s known as a phenolic lining inside them.  It’s a type of resin that when combined with an epoxy resin is used for food grade applications.  Epoxy phenolic coatings are FDA compliant for storing food and pharmaceuticals.  Heat cured linings are used for direct food contact.  Their colors are usually gold, light brown, red, and olive green.  If left in not only will there be a chance of fumes of some kind, but the liner will usually begin to peel due to the exposure to heat.

You’re eventually going to have to take it off completely, because you don’t want any of that flaking to get in/on your food.  Regardless of whether they are food grade or not, they should be removed.  We do that with all of the used food grade drums we aquire from our trusted source.  We know exactly what was stored in them before purchase.  And, since steel isn’t permeable there are no residues or smells left behind once we remove the liners.  You should never do any type of cooking in a barrel that still has a liner in it just to be on the safe side.

Is it hard using a barrel smoker?2024-11-28T08:42:07+00:00

Not at all.  There is a tiny learning curve, but once you get past that it’s so simple.  All you have to do is this:

Step 1: Light a fire using a charcoal chimney.  Once the coals have been ashed over a little dump them on the lump charcoal inside the charcoal basket at the bottom of the interior of the drum.  Leaving the lid completely open for at least 5 minutes will help your lump get lit and get a good fire going.  After that just close the lid, open up your intake dampers a certain amount, and let the drum come up and settle in at whatever your designated temp is, which will be much faster at that point.  Refer to the “how to light a fire in your drum smoker” video above.

Step 2: Once your drum has gotten up to the cooking temperature you want make sure you’ve thrown whatever wood chunks you’re planning on using onto the coals before placing your baffle plate on top.  Then just place your meat on the grate(s), or the meat hanger.  If you want to use a water pan make sure you place it inside first before grate(s) & meat.

Step 3: Close the lid and just let it operate.  Your dial thermometer(s) and any other type of digital equipment you’re using will let you monitor how the cook is going.

It’s that easy.  There is nothing to fear or worry about.  Remember, controlling temperature is all just a matter of opening and closing your intake dampers until you get it set just right.  Or if you’re using a temperature controller like the DigiQ all you have to do is set it and forget it while it does its thing for you.

How do you refuel the fire in a barrel smoker?2024-11-28T08:29:30+00:00

“I’m worried I might run out fuel during my cook, and won’t be able to access the coal basket again without having to pull everything out.”

There’s no need for refueling a fire when it comes to drums.  You won’t need to continuously add fuel as you go.  As long as you set your fire up right in the beginning you’ll be able to easily go for 15+ hours on one load.  The charcoal basket can hold quite a bit of fuel for its size.  And, when using a higher quality lump for example, that just extends the amount of time it will be able to go.  We recommend using high quality lump for all your cooks.

Since drums aren’t designed to run exclusively on wood that burns out relatively quickly you for sure won’t need to have access to the fire basket.  Instead what you do is add some wood chunks to your lit coals in the beginning before the grates and meat go on.  Meats take on their smoke flavor in the beginning phase of their cooks.  With brisket for example, this happens in the first 3 or 4 hours.  Since cooking spaces are much smaller and more concentrated with drums it’s not necessary to get anymore smoke on the meat beyond those 4 hours, otherwise you stand the chance at over-smoking.  Once you get to the “wrap” phase adding more wood would then be a waste, as none of its smoke would be penetrating the meat at that point.  There’s nothing “offset” on a drum.  Therefore, you won’t have to sacrifice losing any heat trying to get it to move across a cook chamber like you would with an offset type smoker.  That’s the beauty of a drum.  Heat & smoke rises, and it’s mostly set and forget.

With that being said, the only real reason you would possibly need to refuel would be if you’re doing hotter and faster cooks like for grilling, where you would be running a hotter fire and burning through fuel faster.  That’s about it.  If that’s the case, then what you would do is simply remove the grate(s) and baffle between rounds and add more fuel/wood.  Then replace and continue (Note: high quality lump charcoal gives the best results all around in terms of heat and time duration).

In all our years of using drums for various different cooks we’ve never once had to refuel on any of them.  We’ve done many 2 round pork rib cooks back to back, as well as 2 and 3 round chicken cooks, also back to back on the same fuel we started out with.  The beauty behind drums is that they run so efficiently you won’t ever need to refuel on a long cook like brisket for example.  It would seem scary to a novice when it comes to doing a long cook like brisket using a drum, as some drum designs don’t offer access doors of any kind other than their lids.  All you need to be concerned with is making sure to set the fire up right in the beginning, and your lump fuel will carry you through.

Don’t worry about wasting fuel.  When it comes to lump you can always “carry over” the unused portion that didn’t get lit for your next cook.  You can’t do that with your chimney starter coals like we show you in our “how to light a fire in your drum smoker” video, but that’s okay.  That’s the reason why we only light off a small amount, because we know we won’t be able to use those again.

Quality Efficient Smoker Drums

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