Ugly Drum Smoker

Smokin' D said:

You certainly can go with a shorter dim. to the lower grate. I have a 34" drum and the first grate is 26" from the barrels bottom and the second is 32" from the bottom. The charcoal grate sits about 3" off the bottom of the drum, so that leaves 23" from cooking grate to bottom of charcoal basket. I do use a donor lid from a kettle as a lid instead of the flat one. 24" is a suggestion and I bet there are some drums out there with as little as 20" charcoal grate to cooking grate.

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I appreciate the reply. I think I am just thinking about this too much. It's time to just build it and see what happens!

if it winds up too klose you can always put a baffle on top of the charcoal grate to cut the radiant heat a bit...

I only have 21 3/4 inches between the bottom of my cooking grate and the bottom of my charcoal basket in my mini UDS (30 gal drum) and have no problem with it.

Babyboomerboy said:

Paul, could you put up a pic of the lid when you get it and the address info? I live in Kansas so the shipping shouldn't be to bad. Thanks

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here you go if it works???

Paul B

Babyboomerboy said:

Paul, could you put up a pic of the lid when you get it and the address info? I live in Kansas so the shipping shouldn't be to bad. Thanks

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I think it worked this time!!

Paul B

It doesn't have the damper or handel on it yet.

My score of a fireplace, $20 at a garage sale, and my smokey joe for $2.00 at another sale.

Paul B

Here it is on the yet to be drilled and cut SS drum, along with a future fire box for an offset I am collecting parts for. If this SS UDS works out like everybody says it does I may X the offset.








Paul B

Paul, can you rotate that picture 90 degrees counter-clockwise. Hurts my neck as is.

Just learned how to post pics, and now you want me to twist them????

I'll try harder next time........

Paul B

OK try this out:


Paul B

Hey all, finished my build and trying to rock my second smoke tonight. I am using a weber lid that seems to just fit the drum. I am having problems staying under 250. Could be either the lid fit or the cooking grate bolt fit (need gasket caulk?). Intakes are nipples braised to barrel and 3 are capped with one ball valve almost shut. Is this a common mistake/problem? Any thoughts?
Will my pork shoulder be alright at 250 through the cook?
Despite frustration still having fun.

Fine running at 250 doubt the air around the bolts is an issue. How big was your fire to start? You could try foil around the top lip to see if that helps

My first post so please be gentle. I'm only to post # 2371, page # 159 by my monitor.

I'm convinced to build a UDS. Finding the drum is the thing of course. I'm at the end of the road in the NWT Canada. I've located reconditioned drums in Calgary Alberta, unpainted or lined, for a fair amount then shipping to here is another 132$. Total cost is about 250$ + or - a bit.

I can get fuel barrels here in town for next to nothing. Diesel fuel or gas of various types. If I were to do a "night glow" on a drum for a few hours (where the metal is so hot it glows like a hot air balloon fired up at night) and do that say Friday night and Saturday night and brush it out with a coil on Sunday. Would that be sufficient and safe for cooking on?

The next question is temperatures here are ... well it's winter 8 months of the year. How well will a UDS handle -40C? H20loo has already given me some advice with his blanket thermalshield wrap and one heck of an idea for a major build down the road, but any advice on using a UDS in -30C to -45C weather would be appreciated.

I grill now all year round. Charcoal or LPG and I've done smoked ribs etc down to -30C in a kettle over 6 hours, hard as hell to maintain temperatures but it is doable. So can I get the UDS hot enough to overcome -40 for 8 hours? Consistency is the key. Don't lift the LID.

I did just foil it up. Seems about the same. I guess I'll wait it out and see if it drops or if I have leaks around the intakes etc. I think fireplace gasket may be in need around the lid. I only have the weber lid and it's a little off. Thanks.

foil working, dropped to 240. I think we have our culprit! My old char griller was laughing at me, but who's laughing now?!

Paul, you did good on the pic...doesn't hurt my neck now.:biggrin: Extremely nice work there brother!

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Beautiful looking drum! Shiny!
The chimney cap you have sitting on the compressor tank looks very familiar. I've got the same one sitting in a box and not doing it's job for about 9 years. Glad I'm not alone.

Usd

Paul B said:

OK try this out:


Paul B

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Now this is what I call a SUPER USD.

Ksmoker1 said:

foil working, dropped to 240. I think we have our culprit! My old char griller was laughing at me, but who's laughing now?!

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When you say you have a problem keeping the temp down, how do you have your inlet. Is it open all the way, how big is it? how many?

I have a problem to get mine over 250 without opening more holes at the bottom or leaving the top off for a bit. I have 4 3/4 inch holes and one of them has the ball valve and usually(no wind) I have it almost fully open and I hold a temp at about 225. sometimes I do have to open another about a 1/4 or so to maintain temp.

Also my fire ring is made with a 18 inch weber grill and expanded metal so it fairly big, I use just a chimmy starter to start it. It too use a weber top and have smoke coming out the sides of it. I thought I had to use tinfoil a couple times but found out that I had alot of ash at the bottom blocking air flow.

If you posted any of this before, disregard my questions lol, im drunk and going to bed. just finished some Canadian bacon for a coworker sliced and vacuum sealed, ready for tomorrow.:biggrin:

Paul B said:

Here it is on the yet to be drilled and cut SS drum, along with a future fire box for an offset I am collecting parts for. If this SS UDS works out like everybody says it does I may X the offset.








Paul B

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That is an awesome looking drum. Now you got me thinking I need to re-do my UDS in stainless. Great, just what I needed, another project.