"Fafnir" The Smoker build

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Fafnir was a Dragon in Norse Mythology and it is the name I'm giving my smoker. the smoker is built from two 55 gal drums, a barrel stove kit, a double barrel stove kit, and some extra miscellaneous parts. I will give a parts list for what I've used. though this build can be done many other ways.I'm not going to go into detail on the proper ways to open barrels that may may not have contained flammable liquids. If you don't know you should have someone who does know do this for you just to err on the side of caution.Also Most of the metal used in this build was what I had around the shop and thus helped dictate how I built this. "there are many different ways to do this, but this one is mine."Parts list55 Gallon drum x 2Volkzang Barrel stove kit- comes with lower legs, fire box door, Damper collar, and misc. nuts and bolts.Volkzang Double barrel kit.- comes with support legs, open collar flanges M & F, and misc. nuts and bolts.Volkzang Damper collar.6" stove pipe connector piece x 290* 3" stove pipe bend x 23" stove pipe 24" long x 23" stove pipe cap x 22.5" screen door hinge x 2Fire bricks approx. 258" wheels x 21.5" .12" (1/8") angle iron  approximately 20'Grill surfaces (starting with three grills scavenged from an old worn out charcoal smoker and eventually moving toe an expanded metal grill 3/4" #9  flat expanded metal.)Defuser plate (sheet metal with slits and holes to allow the heat to spread out throughout the cook chamber and not be isolated to directly above the dampers)Handle of your choice (still up in the air on what I'm going to use)Two stove thermometers one for each side of the smoker.Now the inspiration for this build is the "big baby smoker" which has had many other write ups on how to build one. http://smokedbbq4u.hubpages.com/hub/...ig-Baby-SmokerAnother name for this type of smoker is a DBS or double barrel smoker. The can also be made in to TBS (triple barrel). Please note that the finished product as made by me is quite tall using the stock parts included. I will also be build a frame to act as a base to allow me to roll the smoke around. Please note this smoker will be rather heavy once it is completely done.As I do not need to feed huge numbers of people I decide that I only need one grill level, and because of this I decided to split the top barrel (or cook chamber) in half instead of cutting out a door from the side of the barrel.I started with the bottom barrel. Marked and cut out the opening for the door. Drilled holes for the bolts, and  then added the feet. (Pic #1) Take your time to get the feet squire and centered otherwise you'll be starting out with a wobbly base from the get go.After attaching the feet. I centered and cut the openings for the two damper collars one on each of the two outside rings of the barrel. Note, Make sure you leave enough room to place your support legs for the upper barrel when placing your collars.After the collars were located I removed them and the door and did a burn in the fire barrel to remove any contaminants. (Pic #2) This showed that the fire will tend to burn better at the door end and not so much at the back of the barrel. When starting your smoker fire it's a good idea to start in the back of the barrel and work your way forward as getting the coals to move to the back will be difficult under cooking conditions. Some people have used Propane assist burners to help get an even burn in the fire barrel. I used compressed air to increase the airflow and make an extremely hot burn to remove contaminants.After the first burn I placed the upper barrel on the support legs to insure that I would have the connecting collars the right length, for the support legs. (Pic #3)Then I marked the center of the barrel top and bottom and connected the two points with a straight edge/level to insure that I was cutting the entire barrel in half. (Pic #4)After cutting the barrel in half I cut some angle iron to act as a frame for both sides of the cook barrel as well as mounting points for the shelves to come later, the chimneys, and the handle. As well as allowing me to keep smoke/heat loss to a minimum by getting a good seal between the two halves.(Pic #5) More in the next post.... Attached ImagesThere are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:The angle iron frames were welded to the barrels all the way around to minimize heat/smoke loss.Pictures #1 shows the two short sides of the lower barrel attached. This was done in order to get a good surface to draw level off of in order to locate and cut the holes for the flues coming from the fire barrel.Picture #2 and #3 show the two halves set on top of eachother in order to check the fit and gap. The fit up isn't perfect, but it's less than 1/16" over the whole frame which I can live with.Next I marked the center of the lower half of the cook barrel and then marked 3" below the angle iron. There I drilled two holes using a 3" hole saw for the chimneys. Note, these are below the cook surface to allow the maximum amount of smoke in the cook chamber. as well as retain as much heat as possible. Pictures #4 and #5 show the chimneys just placed in the holes. More pictures and descriptions to come as the build progresses, but that's where I'm at at this point. I should have everything assembled and ready to cook on before Father's day. Though it wont be painted at that point. Attached ImagesThere are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Looks like you're getting there. Looking good. Remember those bungs may have rubber washers on there. Keep us up to date on the progress."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:rubber has been removed from all of them. They will all remain removable to help with temp regulation. I will be adding handles to them to help with the removal.I also plan on skirting the front side with cement board on the hot side and cedar boards on the cool side. in order to do this I will have to extend the handles for the dampers but that will be easy enough.There will be a shelf that goes the length of the front and another on the right hand side of the grill. Door for the fire box is on the left. the shelves will be Cedar as well.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Booo! I was hoping for picts of you having flames and smoke coming out of a dragons head as the vent for the smoker, maybe with welded on scales, wings and a tail. Attached Images.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Man I hope when you get thru with it we can get a pic by pic process of the build,cause I want one also. Did you get the multi barrel attachments thru Northen tools.I've seen them sell ones like that.Also For the handles I've usually used the spiraled(sp) handles on metal chipping hammers,you can buy just the handles from your LWS.Great job
Reply:Sorry DSW, I'm more about function than form. and as cool as those cookers are, My wife would never go for that in her back yard. As it stands I've got to put the skirting on it to make her happy but yeah. Besides I'm not looking for a year and a half long project cuting and attaching those scales.74hotrod,I ordered the parts that I couldn't get at the bigbox stores off Amazon. Being in washington some places wouldn't ship the parts to me. As for the step by step photos, I don't have someone taking pictures for me, and have a tendency to get one step done and then move right onto the next step without taking the time for a photo op. http://www.thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32327 This is another good rundown/write up on the same style smoker. Thesmokering.com is a great place for info on cookers and stuff like that, but I'm sure several members here will agree, their welding is some times frightening.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Got the hinges mounted and  the final welds on the lower half of the cook barrel last night. picking up parts this weekend. Next week I'll attack the defuser plate, shelves, skirting framework and lower frame with wheels. More pictures to come tonight. might have it done in the next week or two. CAN'T WAIT to get cooking on it.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:yup. life happens and Daddy's projects get put on the back burner. So tonight I got the grills placed, the defuser plate installed. the framing for the shelves, the handle brackets, the hinge stops, and placed the bricks in the bottom barrel. Still need to make the rolling base, ad the thermometers, all wood parts, and then do a seasoning burn. I should have all this done by the end of next week. (fingers crossed) I want to try smoking something on fathers day.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:all she's waiting on to make her functional is the handle and that will go on tomorrow. Paint will wait for more $ but as long as it working I'm happy. Curing burn/learning to maintain temp burn on Sunday. First cook on Fathers day. Attached ImagesThere are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:a few of the inside. and a couple more of the wheels. She actually moves quite well even with the 17.5 fire bricks in the fire barrel. Attached ImagesThere are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Nice work there!  I'm still debating how I want to setup my smoker.
Reply:Nice job!  I would recommend, however, adding some fenders for the wheels.  I am concerned the radiant heat from the burner drum might have some negative effects on those (what appear to be harbor freight) big black rubber tires.
Reply:They will all remain removable to help with temp regulation.
Reply:I did the curing burn tonight and kept a close eye on the tires. The barrel is lined with fire bricks on the bottom so only a little radiant heat transfers down the metal and the tires never even got warm and I had the upper barrel at over 400 for almost an hour. The tires are removable as well, just a cotter pin and they come right off. so if they need to be replaced eventually that's easy enough. First smoke is Sunday. and I went from smoking 1 chicken to 3 in less than an hour. so hopefully I don't F that up to badly. should be fine though. wish me luck, I'll post pictures Sunday night of the finished smoker and my first ever attempt at smoking.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Looks just right. Good build. So the rotisserie is next? "The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:I have toyed with the idea of calling my six door truck sleipnir, which is odin's eight legged horse.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Better late than never. here are the pictures of the final product and a picture of the melt in your mouth fall off the bone first production run. Attached ImagesThere are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:those were the curing burn. these are the first smoke. Attached ImagesThere are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger
Reply:Looks unique.The chicken looks a little dark on the outside, how long did you smoke them and at what temp?Are you going to paint it?Tim Beeker.
Reply:yes I will paint it, but because of the high cost of the paint that is going to have to wait. they smoked for about 3 hours at around 300. still getting used to maintaining an even temp as I've only done a couple burns in the smoker. They were dark, but not burnt. still very moist and great flavor. I'm very please with my first ever smoke.There are no problems. There are only solutions. It's your duty to determine the right one.Hobart Handler 210Airco 225 Amp MSM Stinger