Got a 59 gallon, 200 litter oak barrel I want to make into a smoker.

canadianbacon

Fire Starter

Original poster

Dec 5, 2013

44

10

• Mar 20, 2014

• #1

Got a 59 gallon, 200 litter oak barrel I want to make into a smoker. I have got oh so tired of saying.. " I wish i had more jerky" So i think this massive barrel will solve my problem. I have seen several build but had some questions if anyone had ideas... 

Can i stain and varnish the exterior? Will it leach in and contaminate food?

And will I have to worry about adding insulation under the heating element and a sheet of i was thinking copper to look nice and to avoid burning the oak and insulation under that.

Can i drill half inch holes to vent or do i need horizontal slits at the bottom?

 

ribwizzard

Master of the Pit

May 10, 2012

2,184

84

Orlando and Tampa Florida

• Mar 20, 2014

• #2

Copper can tend to have a lot of lead in it, just to be safe, I'd go with stainless steel.

 

JckDanls 07

Legendary Pitmaster

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Sep 10, 2011

8,017

2,651

Tampa area, Florida.

• Mar 20, 2014

• #3

Ribwizzard said:

Copper can tend to have a lot of lead in it, just to be safe, I'd go with stainless steel.

Click to expand...

with an air gap between floor and steel of about 3 inches

 

canadianbacon

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Dec 5, 2013

44

10

• Mar 24, 2014

• #4

I would be using copper used during still builds so it would be lead free. Stainless steel might be cheaper tho. Just hard to solder. Thanks for the advice on the air gap, I never conmsiders that.

 

treym64

Smoke Blower

Aug 22, 2013

126

10

Dickinson,TX

• Mar 24, 2014

• #5

Bump
I wanna see how this goes

 

bearhunting

Newbie

Nov 17, 2013

13

10

Central Alberta

• Mar 24, 2014

• #6

Canadianbacon said:

 
I would be using copper used during still builds so it would be lead free. Stainless steel might be cheaper tho. Just hard to solder. Thanks for the advice on the air gap, I never conmsiders that.

Click to expand...

I LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK   any chance of a pick of that copper build