WIP UDS UK style

Hi, This is my Work in Progress (WIP) for my UDS.
Struggle to find parts in the UK, and kind of on stop until I can find a basket :-
anyway, here are some Pics :-

I managed to pick up an unlined drum off ebay for about £25 delivered.
its an open drum with the lid, the plan is to weld the black dome to the original lid for a snug fit. The dome Lid, is from a Kettle BBQ that Tesco sells.
Its actually bottom part of the BBQ, but a better fit than the actual lid that came with it. BBQ Charcoal Grates are £15 here, so I figured paying £35 for a kettle BBQ will give me quite a few other parts I can also use.



The Airvent on drum is kind of neat, should help me control smoke exit - the top part slides off as well, giving me about a 4" opening. Hope its enough exit venting.


A shot of the interior & the unlined drum. Really struggled to find the right nipples & threads, here in the UK for a decent price. Ended up getting 1" bushes with a 3/4" opening & some screw in bolts to control air flow.


Another shot of the inside, Ive only really put the charcoal grate in so far.

thanks for the kind comments )
£25 is about $40 - that included postage.

Still struggling finding a suitable mesh. I have tried our major builders yards like Wickes & Selco. Only galvanised available (

I can find aluminium reasonable priced, so I might bite the bullet & get some of that until I can find the better stuff.

well, Im waiting on a call back tomorrow on some metal for the basket. A place around the corner from where I work is going to take a look for any off-cuts I can have cheap. Otherwise I might have to bite the bullet & pay £40 for a full 8 x 4 sheet - which I really want to avoid!

Apart from that, Here is an image of the exhaust vent - might give some people an idea of how it works if they want to copy the design themselves.

Bit the bullet & ordered a sheet of expandable steel.
I figured after I make the basket, I should have enough left over to make a 2nd rack - which saves me £15 or so.
The drum has been carted off to the welders yard to get the lid & kettle base welded together & the air bolts need a spot of sealing as well.
Fingers crossed It will be ready for test ride on Sunday.

Lid is back from the welder.
I need to cut out the centre now.
Ive drilled a few holes - looks like Im going to have to find someone with a plasma cutter though. I cant cut it


Fire basket made - I would have done things differently with this if I had the metal over again!
When its empty, I plan on some leftover mesh on the bottom as the steel grates are to far apart.


Basket inside the drum - not found anything suitable to use as an ash collector yet. Ive used stainless steel threaded rods,
So will be easy to attach a tray when I find one.


got my beef


got my rub - taken from Pitt Cue Co cookbook (its a London Restraunt)


got my beef rubbed


Also got some pork to get ready & some lamb shanks.