How to Make Your Own Drum Style Smoker
- 1). Turn your large metal drum upside-down. Drill a hole in the side of the drum about 1 inch from the bottom. Push slowly with your hand drill; the metal may take a minute or two to give under the drill bit.
- 2). Flip your barrel back over. Slip a hotplate into the bottom of the barrel, feeding the plug through the hole in the side. Make sure the hotplate is centered at the bottom of the barrel.
- 3). Soak finger-sized wood chips in cold water for about 30 minutes. Drain the chips and wrap them in a double layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Poke holes in the foil to allow the smoke to escape. Lay the package on top of the hotplate. The heat will make the chips smoke, but the water and foil will prevent combustion.
- 4). Place a round cooling rack into the top of the barrel. Most barrels have a narrow lip around the inside edge on which the cooling rack can sit.
- 5). Punch up to 10 holes in the top of your metal trashcan lid with an awl. Use it to cover the smoker while it smokes your meat.
