smoker construction question

[DoubleJ]

I need an element for the wood chips in the bottom of the barrel.  I have a gift card for sears but they don't show much in the way of elements.  They do have electric charcoal lighters.  Would those be viable or not so much?  Smoker is being made out of a 55gl drum so, not sure they would put off enough heat.  Ideas?  Suggestions?

[xd2005]

Single burner electric stove?

[Kc_Kracker]

no, and since its a DS you can use low heat or high, giving you propane, stick fire, chip smoke, or elec. that being said if it were me id utilize all of the above, but for elements not sure who locally has anything other then hot plates, i robbed mine for my old little chief . the good ones are online you can find links in the budget smoker thread 

[DoubleJ]

I got this one

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM1859655901P

[Kc_Kracker]

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_15490_15490 you can do anything with this one, even poultry 

[swinters]

I got this one

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM1859655901P

That should work well for you, at least based on my experience.  When I was a kid my Dad made a smoker out of an old refrigerator shell and that's what he used.  Worked great.  Except for the time a neighbor called the fire department because the refrigerator was on fire...  They were there for a good hour talking about different types of wood, brines and so on lol.  Dad didn't said that thin pans didn't work very well for holding the chips and found an old cast iron frying pan that the handle had been broken off of and that was the ticket.  Probably used it for 20 years.  I use a couple of those junker chinese cast iron pans that I found in thrift stores for a couple of bucks in my smokers and they seem to be the ticket.