Pit Barrel Smoker build

Are you wanting to know the dimensions? IIRC, it's a 14" basket. Don't know the depth on it, but that shouldn't be hard to find out. IMO, its not that important. I think it's more about how much lit charcoal you use (minion method) than the size of the basket. However, height would matter as far as the top of the basket and its relation to the bottom of the food. But I don't think a few inches one way or another would matter much. Jason.

I would think six inches would be enough. ( that's what she said!) I knew y'all were thinking it so I said it first!!

The important things would be A) set it up so that you can hang the meat and B) (optional) put the settings so that x amount of charcoal gets you to 280 or 290. The rest doesn't seem all that important to me.

Trumpstylz said:

The important things would be A) set it up so that you can hang the meat and B) (optional) put the settings so that x amount of charcoal gets you to 280 or 290. The rest doesn't seem all that important to me.

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Yep. What Trump said.

When I build mine I'm gonna use a ball valve and one or two additional close nipples with pipe caps.

How about buying one to find out? It's pretty crass to ask on a public forum how to
copy a commercial product. Just sayin'...

John

cinmur said:

Just built 30 gal. Pbs which works great. Does anybody know how charcoal fits in the charcoal basket sold by the PBS company? My basket is larger and trying to get an idea on how much they use.

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Can't help you with the basket but I hope you take some pics to share of your build. Would love to see it!

I disagree John. Where did you buy your uds's? Did you get ideas on how to build them on this forum? Besides that, who appointed you the PBC watchdog? It would be nice to have one conversation about these style cookers without you taking someone to task. Jason

jrn said:

I disagree John. Where did you buy your uds's? Did you get ideas on how to build them on this forum? Besides that, who appointed you the PBC watchdog? It would be nice to have one conversation about these style cookers without you taking someone to task. Jason

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We've had discussions ad-nauseum, and perhaps you've noticed that
I've been ready, willing and able to answer questions. However, when
it comes to protected intellectual property and ethics I won't
compromise.

If it were your product and your livelihood on the line I doubt that
you'd be so open-minded. So, it really boils down to the Golden
Rule.

John

PatioDaddio said:

How about buying one to find out? It's pretty crass to ask on a public forum how to
copy a commercial product. Just sayin'...

John

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We're not splitting the atom here... The basic design of the PBC is very simple and others who want to experiment before buying one or are frugal might try imitating it. Before I bought my PBC I built a UDS with stainless rods and hooks and it was great but I wanted to see what the original was like. When the PBC arrived I was surprised to see how close some of the things were to what I built on my UDS but also how some things were better on a comercial unit. I have not cooked on my PBC yet but there are going to be some significant quality differences between the PBC and DIY unit as well. The PBC is powder coated while the DIY paint is typically from high temp spray can, the charcoal basked on the PBC is fairly good and much better than the DIY charcoal grate and expanded metal solution, nice fitting lid with handles and a stand on the PBC compared to the garage door handles and myriad of lid/kettle lids available.
I think at $225 the PBC offers a lot for people that do not want to mess around tracking down barrels, removing liners and on and on. While I'm not going to put reversed engineered plans and information out on the PBC, it is unrealistic to believe that people wont try to copy it.

It would appear that there's sufficient rocket surgery involved to foil many
would be craftsmen, which is a good thing. :wink:

It kills me that it's "just a smaller UDS", yet it would appear that folks are
finding out that it's not. If it is a small UDS, just get a 30-gallon drum and
build a smaller UDS. Simple, eh?

John

PatioDaddio said:

We've had discussions ad-nauseum, and perhaps you've noticed that
I've been ready, willing and able to answer questions. However, when
it comes to protected intellectual property and ethics I won't
compromise.

If it were your product and your livelihood on the line I doubt that
you'd be so open-minded. So, it really boils down to the Golden
Rule.

John

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Fair enough John. But where did Noah get the idea to start building them? He had to start his research some where initially. You're passionate about PBCs, that's cool, and I respect that. Personally, the only reason I don't buy one myself is because I don't buy smokers. I build'em myself. Isnt that the essence of these style cookers (uds & pbc styles)? That they can be built easily and cheaply by anyone with minimal tools?

jrn said:

Fair enough John. But where did Noah get the idea to start building them? He had to start his research some where initially. You're passionate about PBCs, that's cool, and I respect that. Personally, the only reason I don't buy one myself is because I don't buy smokers. I build'em myself. Isnt that the essence of these style cookers (uds & pbc styles)? That they can be built easily and cheaply by anyone with minimal tools?

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To be honest, I don't know where Noah's idea or research began. Call him and I'm sure he'd be more than willing to discuss it.

As for the "essence" of drum cookers, I don't know about that either. However, let's replace the word "cooker" with "rub". How do you think the following would go over with honest folks here?

"Does anyone have the recipe for Plowboys Yard Bird rub? I want to make my own."

Playing devil's advocate, isn't the essence of BBQ rub such that anyone can make them with simple ingredients?

John

PatioDaddio said:

To be honest, I don't know where Noah's idea or research began. Call him and I'm sure he'd be more than willing to discuss it.

As for the "essence" of drum cookers, I don't know about that either. However, let's replace the word "cooker" with "rub". How do you think the following would go over with honest folks here?

"Does anyone have the recipe for Plowboys Yard Bird rub? I want to make my own."

Playing devil's advocate, isn't the essence of BBQ rub such that anyone can make them with simple ingredients?

John

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I don't think PBC has anything to worry about with the shade tree mechanics and DIY'ers of the world making a smoker for themselves. Those people were never their target audience. Some will hit, many will miss. What is far worse is having cheap mass produced knock offs from China - they would impact PBC's business and I wouldn't want to see that happen to anyone.

PatioDaddio said:

It would appear that there's sufficient rocket surgery involved to foil many
would be craftsmen, which is a good thing. :wink:

It kills me that it's "just a smaller UDS", yet it would appear that folks are
finding out that it's not. If it is a small UDS, just get a 30-gallon drum and
build a smaller UDS. Simple, eh?

John

Click to expand...

Yes I think it is simple. It's somewhat insulting to insist that thousands of people can build a uds, but throw in a couple of pieces of rebar and a powder coating and they will be lost? Come on! I make a living building things with my hands.

As far as putting my money where my mouth is , I intend to do just that. I've checked on prices for PC'ing, pretty cheap actually. Rebar? It's on every job I go on. Same for the 14" pipe. Most of the pipe fitters I know would glady give me such a small piece, even cut it for me. Welding the basket? Yeah I can do that too. And unlike the pbc's, I'd actually weld around the entire basket, not a spot weld here and there. Putting holes in the barrel? I know how to use unibits and hole saws, been using them for years as an electrician. Hooks? I could use stainless rod, bend it, then sharpen with a grinder. But to be honest, I'd probably order those, possibly from PBC.

Lets see, anything else? Oh yeah you like to mention that the owners a veteran. I joined the Marine Corps when I was 17. Joined during war time. Desert Storm. Does that count? And I wont need anybodies number on the side, being as I built it. Patented? Personally my intakes would be just like on my uds, ball valve and 1 or 2 close nipples w/ pipe caps. At that point the patents not an issue anymore, is it? Plus I could adjust on the fly, instead of looking for a screwdriver.

As far as any morality issue is concerned that might prevent me from building one, again Noah didn't invent them. He did like everybody else does. Researched it, then took what he thought were the best ideas, and then implemented them. Tested the prototype, then continued to build and tweak them till he was satisfied.


Now, tell me again why I couldn't or shouldn't build one? Then again, isn't Noah a member here?

Jason

When have I said that the PBC is complicated and/or hard to build?

It's not an ability thing, it's a wisdom and ethics thing. Can you do
what you outlined? Sure. Can you do it for $225, I'd say no way. Your
time, like others', isn't free.

As for the patent issue, the patent is on the meat hanging method, not
your mack daddy intake system. You might do well to investigate before
spouting platitudes.

John

Clone builds are part of this site. If questions about building a Stumps clone, Lang clone, Backwoods Clone, and others are OK, PBC clone questions are too.

I'm sorta new to to the site, Do all thread's get derailed like this ?

OK, I've wasted enough time trying to inject some reason here.

Y'all have fun!

John