I built this outa three 55 gallon drums that were previously used for vegetable oil, no paint on the inside. For the top drums I welded the two open ends together to make one big cooking chamber. I was kinda worried that I wouldn't be able to get this thing up to temp but turns out that's not a problem at all! I had the temp up to 400 degrees with 4 logs. I put propane log starter in the bottom because it's just a pain to get the fire started evenly across the barrel. The shelf is hinged so if you unhook the chains it swings down outa the way. I could get a whole pig in this thing with no problem at all!
You can even charcoal grill in the top if you wish, there are expanded metal steel grates inside just under the regular grilling grates so when you are done all you have to do is sweep the ashes down the flues and they will fall into the bottom burn barrel. I am thinking about putting a steel charcoal pan in the left side under the grill grate so I can just lift it out and dump the ash. I also think I might T off the propane pipe running into the burn barrel for the log starter and run another pipe straight up with a shut off valve up to the left side of the cooking chamber through the bottom so I can either put a lump charcoal starter in the charcoal pan or just a straight propane burner in there. Won't cost much more just a shut off valve and about 2 or 3 feet more of the black pipe... What'cha think?
You can even charcoal grill in the top if you wish, there are expanded metal steel grates inside just under the regular grilling grates so when you are done all you have to do is sweep the ashes down the flues and they will fall into the bottom burn barrel. I am thinking about putting a steel charcoal pan in the left side under the grill grate so I can just lift it out and dump the ash. I also think I might T off the propane pipe running into the burn barrel for the log starter and run another pipe straight up with a shut off valve up to the left side of the cooking chamber through the bottom so I can either put a lump charcoal starter in the charcoal pan or just a straight propane burner in there. Won't cost much more just a shut off valve and about 2 or 3 feet more of the black pipe... What'cha think?