How to: Build a DIY No-Weld Food Smoker from a 55-Gallon Drum

Made from an affordable 55-gallon steel drum and some easy-to-find parts from the home improvement store, this DIY smoker can produce excellent results, and unlike many DIY grilling projects you’ll find online, doesn’t require a welder or advanced metal working skills.   

The process involves creating some air intakes to control the oxygen, and therefore the temperature, then created a firebox for the fuel, and outfitting it with food grates and a thermometer. It doesn’t take up any more room than a store-bought vertical smoker, but it seems like it could have a great capacity, so you can smoke quite a bit for a small amount of fuel.

PopularMechanics.com has the full build process and lots of great images: Build Your Own Smoker From a 55-Gallon Drum