Got the first butt out on my UDS a couple of hours ago. I followed the KISS model for my first one. Most all of the parts were scavenged from my in-laws and my garage.

Future projects include the bottle opener mod, a dome lid when I find one,maybe some graphics, a dolly or some type wheel setup, and a rain abatement system (maybe the " Mary Poppins" mod?).

Thanks for all of the advice so far. Pron when it gets done.
http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/5275/udst.jpg

quick question. does a uds have to be lifted off the ground for some reason ? I'm going to put casters on mine but is there a reason for it to be off the ground ? does it help during cooks ?

I have read thru about half this thread and i didnt see anything like this (might be in the other half) I am trying to make the coal basket, have a piece of 3/4' #9 8" wide x55" long expando steel, and i am having a hard time shaping it. What is the best way to roll the expando around my cooking grate? I dont have a vice, or anything else i could use to keep it in place. Also i cant find any hog nose rings and i cant weld, would bailing wire work? Any help even a thread posting about this would be great. thanks



Here is my build thus far. Thinking of cutting about a 8-10" extension from the bottom drum. As i dont have a kettle lid.

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMAG0363.jpg
Marked the spot for 4 3/4" holes 2 inches from the bottom
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMAG0364.jpg

Holes Drilled
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMAG0366.jpg
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMAG0367.jpg
No bung so i drilled 6 7/8" holes for exhaust.
http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/a...d/IMAG0365.jpg

Moss

I've tried rolling the stuff around various round objects, but it's too springy. I just step on it and force it gradually in to shape- wear gloves! Once I get it somewhat round, you can ratchet it tighter with vise-grips. Each time you force it tighter, clamp the over-lapping section so you can get a new bite. Once you have the size you want, you can simply bolt it together using large flat washers to span the holes. I'm getting ready to build another one soon; maybe I'll try to do a pictorial.

Noticed you still have the orange liner in there.......you planning to burn it out or sandblast. Those can be hard to deal with.

Regarding the expanded steel....depending on the size of your ring, you can try bending it around a propane tank. Kind of like using the propane tank as a bending brake. And like someone else stated.....wear GLOVES.

If you cut it so the "long diamond" is horizontal it's a lot more difficult, I learned this the hard way. For mine, I used an old 16" tire rim and three pairs of vice grips and a heavy hammer and rolled it around the rim and welded it.

Being off the ground does not help in cooking. The only reason for doing this is to create an air space under the drum so you don't burn anything under it or to prevent the drum from rusting if on the ground.

Hot Enuff?
 

http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/a...b/IMG_1026.jpg

Should have seen the other one...

Jeff S

OK, finally got enough pics together to show the UDS of my dreams.

Clean 55 gal drum:

http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...ild/UDS005.jpg

Charcoal basket:

http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...ild/UDS009.jpg

Complete unit with $25.00 Academy kettle lid:

http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...ild/UDS008.jpg

Basket ready for duty:

http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...ild/UDS012.jpg

Cooking grates with lid hanging on side:

http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/z...ild/UDS011.jpg

^^^^^^^^ I would use a torch to get the paint off the coat hanger before you use it, or get an unpainted hanger. Nice build!!!

bending expanded metal reply
 

Quote

"I have read thru about half this thread and i didnt see anything like this (might be in the other half) I am trying to make the coal basket, have a piece of 3/4' #9 8" wide x55" long expando steel, and i am having a hard time shaping it. What is the best way to roll the expando around my cooking grate? I dont have a vice, or anything else i could use to keep it in place. Also i cant find any hog nose rings and i cant weld, would bailing wire work? Any help even a thread posting about this would be great. thanks"

Mossberg - I started my first one with gloved hands and a boot and then used a come-a-long hooked end to end around the metal. I used the all thread to pull it on around and hold it, but I used the needle nose visegrips to make final adjustments to line it up. The vise grips come in handy when you get close. I welded mine, so I tried to line it up so that the ends met. It took me a couple hours fiddlin' with it, before I got to where I could weld it.

I have made 3 more but I had the rosebud from the acetylene torch to heat and bend. It took me about 15 minutes to heat and bend the metal.

Thanks.

I did a 6 hour test burn the first night I had it built. Played with temps, and got used to the intake(s). Had her up to almost 500 at one point, I'm thinking whatever was on that coat hanger was toast! The wood chunks were what I consider "culls", pieces that appeared to be really old, or moldy, feel lighter than they should etc. So I put 'em to good use.

Whaaaahoooooaahhhhh! I finally finished read the whole thing!

Thank you for all your input. I have learned many things durring this process. I have purchased two 55 gallon drums. I am going to apply what I have learned.

:clap2::clap2::clap2:

Here is my design. I took one of my drawings to a local machine/welding shop. They made me a charcoal basket. waaay too expensive. $100. With the other work i wanted done they wanted another $300! OK. so i bought my own used small Oxy Acetylene setup. Cheaper than their work and i'll own it afterwords.

:shock:

good call on buying the tool instead...or 100+300=WSM

the sectional part is cool, but i don't like the access doors...they're just not needed on a UDS.

that said, i am a fan of ingenuity and building/modding stuff...