UDS Here we go. Show me yer firebox
 

Tried the search, but the UDS info on the site is SO voluminous that its needle/haystack! Thats good.

What do you like? What don't you like in a firebox? What was genius, what was a flop?

Got 3 barrels to pick up this weekend to burn out.

The general consensus seems to be wide and low. Keeping the basket low gives you more usable space inside the drum. I think 18x7 is the number I've seen kicked around.

I made the standard (if such a thing) 12x12x6 expanded steel box, with 2½" stainless steel legs to hold it above the ash pan. The pan came from my GOSM charcoal cooker after I modded it with SFB. It holds 10 lbs of fuel and the ash pan lifts right out for easy cleaning, but I think I need to go "lower and wider" for the basket. You can see pics of them by following the link in my sig.

I went with a square that started out as 18 and I think ended up as 14 but low and wide are it. I made the mistake of putting it on top of a weber charcoal grate. Too much gets stuck between the bottom of the box and the grate so I'm taking the box apart and going to go with N8Man's version of rolling the expanded metal around the weber grate.

Here's a few I have built.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...IMG_2665-1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...IMG_2664-1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...k/IMG_2604.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2.../Fire_ring.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...Frri_ring2.jpg

Here is the one I have built for all of them. The grate is a charcoal grate from an 18 inch weber grill, I think it is 13 1/2-14 diameter. Wrapped in 1/2 expanded sheet metal with the grate 2 1/2 inches from the bottom. I can fill this thing to the brim and watch her go for more that 12 hrs.
With the extension I need to build a larger one as it consumes more fuel.

Pat, what is the size/length of the shoulder bolts used that your cooking grates sit on?

Seems to me you would want it shallow 6-8 inches and wide...maybe round so anything that drips hits the fire and not the barrel floor just to have a mess. You also would have a more even heat stream and not up the middle like some of the baskets I have seen.

Why does a valve need to be there and not just a damper on the barrel? That part I do not get.

My biggest issue is getting in to the barrel and leaning over it. Doors leak...unless they are done right but sure would make it easier to load and deal with.

Not sure Just had them. They are 1/2-13thd. It is Single Fins maybe he will chime in. This set up worked great. Would behow I'd do it next time. It's hard to tell but there is a gap between grate and edge of bowl. I would guess 5.5"-6" (139.7mm-152.4mm)

Here's mine...

http://www.thesurvivalgourmet.com/images/newsmoker4.jpg
http://www.thesurvivalgourmet.com/images/newsmoker7.jpg
http://www.thesurvivalgourmet.com/images/newsmoker8.jpg

This is how I built mine: I used two lengths of 12x24 expanded metal.
First I got some c-clamps and some old shelving and sandwiched the
metal on top of my work table and measured for the first bend
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/at...5&d=1182605245http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/at...6&d=1182605245
Wearing heavy work gloves I bent down the metal and guessed at the angle
then reset for each bend after using the same measurement.
It only appears to be a nice round shape but is rather a series of bends
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/at...7&d=1182605574
Once the ends were bolted together I layed it on the floor and
used a little friendly persuasion to conform into shape:wink:
And it ended up like this:http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/at...4&d=1182598999
I added a wire handle on top so I wouldn't have to lean down
too far into the Drumpit.

Nate, that is a sweet basket, but with the height, and if you load it up, do you have a problem with burning anything (food)??

If I was to load it full, it could hold 18-20#s....I only load it about half way and it burns 12+ hours. I just left it 12" tall (Lazy Mod) and that height plus
the wire handle makes for ease of use in and out of the Drum....

And mine

That is a Studly FireBox for sure!!!!