Webber vs ProQ vs UDS ????

[jnstrom]

Questions questions questions!!! Im beating around the idea of getting another smoker, charcoal this time!! I have a GOSM and love it but it is missing that charcoal taste. My question to the collective here is: Should I wait and spend my cash on a Webber, ProQ or should I just go ahead and build a Drum Smoker when I find the Drum.

My head is spinning and spring is around the corner any comments would be appreciated!!!

 

[txbbqman]

me personally I would go with the UDS.
Satisfaction of the build plus quality meat.

just my .02 cents

 

[rickw]

The Weber is nice, I just looked at one, but the uds is low cost and puts out some fantastic Q.

I'm not sure the Weber is $400 nice.

 

[grothe]

$400 will get ya a crap load of beef ribs

I'd go w/ the drum....MHO

 

[ddave]

What he ^^^ said.

YIKES!!

Dave

 

[donnylove]

Not to pirate your thread, but I've been having the same thoughts and have begun looking forward a cheap (or free) drum and I haven't had much luck. I've tried a couple of the big food services companies, a local brewery, and a steel company. I'm sure I could get one from an oil distributor, but I thought I'd try to find a food grade barrel first. Any suggestions from anyone on where else to look? I'd prefer not to have to spend $50-80 to buy one online and then also have to pay for shipping. Thanks!

 

[petesque]

Check with all your friends. I looked for barrels for my big baby double for a long time and couldn't find one. Looked on the net and saw the same stuff you did. I started asking my friends and Jeff who does surveying and travels around here allot knew right were a pile of barrels were. This guy charges people to accept them and then sells them. I got 5 stainless steel drums for 15 bucks each.

Pete

 

[jnstrom]

Found a food grade barrel on craigslist $5 Im picking it up on Saturday.

It is at a large bakery. It contained Olive oil. It was listed under "55 gallon barrel". (different keywords I guess, nothing showed for steel drum) Ill set up pics when I start. Im also thinking of putting it on a hand truck for easy movement.

 

[vegansbeware]

All this talk about UD's and my want for another smoker, got me to looking on Craigslist. I found THIS!!! To all from the KC, MO area. I think they have enough 55 gal drums to go around! Not sure what they were used for prior, but that isn't much of a big deal, is it?


http://kansascity.craigslist.org/mat/1036689783.html

 

[hog warden]

I picked up two barrels a couple days ago. Started at a food company and they directed me to the local civic recycling center. They had a stack of about 20 barrels. The two I picked up had been filled with soy lecithin (food additive). They were $7.50 each plus tax. There were other barrels at the same spot that looked lighter to me. Thinner metal.

I was told a while back by an engineer buddy that barrels are rated (built) different depending on what they hold. The more hazardous the material, the heavier they are built to withstand damage, abuse, etc. I have no idea where these rate. They seem heavy enough to me, but the rib patterns are different from most I see you folks using. Don't know if my scale is accurate, but with the lid it weighs about 35 pounds.

What is a good heavy barrel supposed to weigh?

 

[darrin]

I looked for a barrel for about a month before giving up and buying a 22" WSM. Plus I did not have any of the tools I would need for cutting vents etc.