Big Poppa's Engineered DIY Drum Smoker Kit

KristenBPS

New member
My dad is on vacation in Seattle and just saw the Drum Smoker--apparently he was sharing his fave BPS products and telling the relatives what to order. Now he knows what he wants for Christmas!! :)
 

jimsbarbecue

Moderator
Tips on Big Poppa Drum Kit.

First get a food grade drum that has been cleaned and has no liner in it . I found someone with a stainless drum but it had a closed top.
so it has no lid. I am now using a lid off a Weber grill. Second getting the top off is not much fun you need to grind around the rim until the top comes loose. Did I mention you want a drum that has been cleaned. Now that I have the top off and the drum clean. I could start with the Big Poppa Drum Kit. If I started with a clean drum it would have been drilled and assembled in about a hour. I did test burn. It run at temps from 200-325 without any issue. Next I will paint it even though its Stainless a Drum needs some paint. I don't have all the handles and accessories on it as I want to see what fit best for me in the location I am using it in. Those are next before the paint and then cooking some ribs.
When you close all the vents it does snuff the fire out. Something my Weber 22 inch smoker would never do. I am going to like this I can tell. I took some video with the GoPro while assembling. It is below if your care to see it.


iPad users here is the link to the video.

Big_Poppa_Smokers_Drum_Kit
 
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jimsbarbecue

Moderator
Still need to do a little more assembly . Have to put on the Cool tool hooks. Not sure yet if and where the handles will go on. Maybe they will be installed after it is painted. July 1 we are having another BBQ party and the Big Poppa Smokers Drum will be assiting the MAK grills with the cooking.

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jimsbarbecue

Moderator
For sparky I added some photos of the drum painted. I did hang the shield with hooks higher then the instructions to keep the dogs at bay. It is doing a burn in for the paint and now all the nuts and bolts are tight . Putting it together with all the stainless hardware , having a basket already made and a thermometer, three handles and custom lower vents for the price is such a time saver and at a real nice price. If your thinking about a Drum I would get this kit.
 
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Chili Head

New member
Very nice! I like the look of the weber lid on there.
I've never used a barrel cooker...does it get hot on the bottom? Nice idea of putting it on the trash can casters.
 

muebe

New member
Jim that turned out real nice. I enjoyed the video too ;)

So what was your total investment for the clean food grade drum and kit?
 

jimsbarbecue

Moderator
I purchase a stainless drum for $125. In retrospect I would get a reg steel drum with the lid.i thought the SS would look neat. But it didn't so I painted it. The Big Poppa kit is $129 and the caster dolly I acquired, but I don't think they cost a lot. I did get a extra temp gauge because I did put two racks in the drum. It wasn't needed. It looks cool, but not necessary. I had a 22 inch WSM before and this is already a lot better with temps. Right now $300 would have covered all expenses,which includes a 16 pounds bag of match light charcoal I burned it out with.
 

Big Poppa

Administrator
I had a customer call me on the big poppa cell that I carry for when the office is closed....

Customer "Hey I bought one of your drum smokers"

BP "Great, How can I help you?"

Customer "You guys are kinda of sneaky and shady"

BP "What???"

Customer " All I got was a couple of racks and fire basket and screws....you guys tricked me into buying this....way too small print"

BP " Wait a minute...it is a kit...it says that it is a kit and that you need a drum and we remind you that it has to be food grade"

Customer 'Still sneaky"

BP " Im probably the wrong guy to accuse of being sneaky and underhanded....Did you really expect a fully built and finished smoker for $129.00 INCLUDING SHIPPING (thats $150 for a smoker)"

Customer "Yeah, I want my money back"

Bp "Fine Ill issue a ups pick up and credit your account."

So please understand that the BP DIY DRUM KIT IS A KIT AND NOT A SMOKER FULLY DONE>>>>>hahaha
 

Kite

New member
How does it go... "the customer is always right, especially when they are wrong"..

Top notch customer service is sometimes not fun, down right painful at times. But that's what seperates the men from the boys.
 

flyweed

New member
Big Poppa...this looks like an awesome "KIT"!! Love it.....do you guys have any intentions of building a kit for say a 30 gallon drum? I like the 55 gallon UDS's..but they are just too big for me to haul around....I want to build a 30 gallon drum to build a UDS that I can take along camping, etc. Would love to see a kit for a 30 gallon drum.

Dan
 

roburado

New member
Still need to do a little more assembly . Have to put on the Cool tool hooks. Not sure yet if and where the handles will go on. Maybe they will be installed after it is painted. July 1 we are having another BBQ party and the Big Poppa Smokers Drum will be assiting the MAK grills with the cooking.

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IMG1624-M.jpg

That thing looks like Darth Vader's own drum smoker!
 
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