Wsm mini or mini uds

[Freddy j]

So I've got 1/2 dozen smokes on my wsm 22 and I can see where a mini would prove extremely useful for smaller cooks (most times just me & the mrs).

I love the weber products and I'm sure that building an wsm mini would be easier in terms of finding parts but I am also very interested in the ugly drums.

Mud build threads are challenging to find (compared to mini wsm) anyone have any links, advice, experience, opinions?

Thank you.

 

[Phubar]

As far as a mini UDS goes...mount the upper grate as high as possible (just below the rim of the drum) if you're gonna use a Weber lid.
The lower grate should be low enough to put a whole chicken (unspatchcocked) between the 2 grates.
Make your charcoal basket not too tall but wide.
If you want a diPhuser...mount it in.
A mini isn't much of a difference in build compaired to the 55 gallon UDS.
I hope this will helps you a bit and if not others will chime in.

 

[aawa]

If you are just cooking for 2 the wsm mini is really easy to build and easy to use. All you need is a drill. That's it, and you can build it. Using it is just as easy as building one. It is great for 1-2 pork butts, chicken, ribs (if you dont mind cutting the racks in half) and you can do brisket flats (whole packers are a challenge since space is limited) With 1 load of coal I can go 6-8hrs if not longer. It can hold temps as low as 225 and I have gotten mine up to 350 degrees.

I love my wsm mini as I cook normally for myself and sometimes my roommate.

 

[chicagokp]

Agreed, I think the most difficult thing with a midi UDS is actually finding a 30-35 gallon drum. If you can do that, I would make the midi. I really like mine and it's big enough to smoke a turkey. I smoked a 14 pound bird on it for Christmas. I have 3 rack positions. One just over the charcoal basket for a diffuser (or a 1/4 roasting pan to catch drippings). Then a rack in the middle and one just below the top. I have a 18 inch kettle lid as the top.

For the charcoal basket, I wrapped expanded metal around a 18 inch weber charcoal grate.

I have seen 30 gallon drums with Mobil 1 logo's at my local oil change place...may be a good place to check? Buying a new one is expensive.

 

[Enkidu]

...and you can do brisket flats (whole packers are a challenge since space is limited)...

You can do a whole packer on a mini-WSM...

This 15+ lb. packer was done on a mini WSM. I just folded it over and then mid-way through the cook folded it the other direction.

 

[caliking]

i built a midi uds from a drum I bought from Zoro tools online for about $60 I think. Mailed to my door, liner was real easy to get rid of. Maybe this is useful for you : http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133467

But I thought you mentioned a mini UDS in which case you need a 16 gallon drum and a Smokey Joe lid. Don't know if Zoro has those. It seems the smaller size drums are a real pain to come by.

Good luck!

 

[jfletcher84]

I love my mini wsm. It was super easy to build, cheap, and cooks like a champ. It is perfect for me to throw in the trunk of my little toyota corolla.

 

[aawa]

You can do a whole packer on a mini-WSM...

This 15+ lb. packer was done on a mini WSM. I just folded it over and then mid-way through the cook folded it the other direction.

I will have to give this a go then!

 

[Freddy j]

You can do a whole packer on a mini-WSM...

This 15+ lb. packer was done on a mini WSM. I just folded it over and then mid-way through the cook folded it the other direction.

Http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b325/Checkmate_90067/P1010006.jpg

That is a beauty! Wouldnt happen to have a pic of it on the mini?

 

[Edward Alt]

Here's some pics of my miniWSM and how I've loaded packers ...

http://tvwbb.com/showthread.php?352...n-the-mini-wsm&p=352299&viewfull=1#post352299

However, I prefer to smoke packers HH on the UDS putting in a foil pan and covering at 160 ...

 

[Freddy j]

i built a midi uds from a drum I bought from Zoro tools online for about $60 I think. Mailed to my door, liner was real easy to get rid of. Maybe this is useful for you : http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133467

But I thought you mentioned a mini UDS in which case you need a 16 gallon drum and a Smokey Joe lid. Don't know if Zoro has those. It seems the smaller size drums are a real pain to come by.

Good luck!

Wow, your all terrain uds is a work of art! Nice yard to fire her up in also.

 

[Freddy j]

I love my mini wsm. It was super easy to build, cheap, and cooks like a champ. It is perfect for me to throw in the trunk of my little toyota corolla.

Yeah, I'm going to keep looking around (plenty of time for tht with this New England weather), but ill prob build a wsm mini while I continue my search for a 16 gallon drum.

All the parts for the wsm Mini cost less than just a 16 gallon barrel.

 

[HankB]

This 15+ lb. packer was done on a mini WSM. I just folded it over and then mid-way through the cook folded it the other direction.

When faced with a brisket that would not fit the 14" grate on my mini, I just cut the brisket in half and used both grates. Is there a reason not to do that or would that one still not have fit?

Yeah, I'm going to keep looking around (plenty of time for tht with this New England weather), but ill prob build a wsm mini while I continue my search for a 16 gallon drum.

All the parts for the wsm Mini cost less than just a 16 gallon barrel.

I don't understand the "plenty of time" comment. you could be smoking tomorrow.

I love my mini. I think I use it more than my 18 WSM. (And I've had a 22 for several days now and haven't used it yet. But with brisket, pulled pork and spare ribs already smoked and in the freezer... Maybe I should buy a small flock of chickens. I think I could fit 8 or 10 in the 22. :-D )

 

[Enkidu]

That is a beauty! Wouldnt happen to have a pic of it on the mini?

I didn't get a photo of it on the mini, but I basically did what bigabyte did in his brisket tutorial. In fact, looking at his brisket tutorial (where he folded his brisket over) is what gave me the idea in the first place.

Here is a link to bigabyte's tutorial:

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57882

Here is the photo from his tutorial that gave me the thought that I could actually do a packer in a mini-WSM:

 

[Enkidu]

When faced with a brisket that would not fit the 14" grate on my mini, I just cut the brisket in half and used both grates. Is there a reason not to do that or would that one still not have fit?

No reason.

Mostly just me being lazy, TBH.

 

[Freddy j]

I don't understand the "plenty of time" comment. you could be smoking tomorrow.
)

I actually am smoking a 27# turkey tomm (got the turkey in a bucket of patoidaddio brine right now). Smoker is on the deck about 8 feet from the slider.

Now, let me see if I can shed some light for you... In New England (my town anyway)the temp is below 30 degrees and there is 6 inches of snow on the ground. Not the best conditions for golf, bike rides, going to the beach, etc leaving "plenty of time" for indoor activities and searching the web.

 

[Freddy j]

I didn't get a photo of it on the mini, but I basically did what bigabyte did in his brisket tutorial. In fact, looking at his brisket tutorial (where he folded his brisket over) is what gave me the idea in the first place.

Here is a link to bigabyte's tutorial:

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57882

Here is the photo from his tutorial that gave me the thought that I could actually do a packer in a mini-WSM:

Enkidu, thank you for all of the links, pics and advice!