Ugly Drum Smoker

Debmar · Dec 10, 2018

UDS from old pressure tank build

I posted regarding my build in Q Talk but wanted to include link here as I have learned most of what I used from this thread. only about half way through the thread but wanted to thank everyone who posted builds and ideas as I have used lots of it in my planning. heres a pic of prototype more info in link below

https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=267447

Just ol Pop · Dec 11, 2018

Help

I need help like hole placement vents I would like three racks in mine. Need some drawing or plans help

ebijack · Dec 11, 2018

Just ol Pop said:
I need help like hole placement vents I would like three racks in mine. Need some drawing or plans help

There are many many ways to build a UDS. You get to make it your own design/build to how YOU want your UDS to look/perform.
Here is only one from early in this massive thread. Sorry, I don't remember the Brethren who had posted it. You might think about going thru some of this massive thread before you start your build just to see other options.

grosen84 · Dec 11, 2018

Just ol Pop said:
I need help like hole placement vents I would like three racks in mine. Need some drawing or plans help

What's the largest thing you plan on cooking? Add 1" to it's height and put your first rack down that amount from the top. What's the height of your charcoal basket? Add 1" and put your bottom rack no lower from the bottom than that. What is your goal for the 3 racks? The temp will be different at different heights in the drum. If you're planning on a baffle rack and a second rack for food, place the middle rack as close to the top rack as you dare, to keep the temps as close as possible. Don't plan on trying to cook on all 3 racks IMO. You'd need to experiment w/ JUST the charcoal basket and temp probes at each level to figure out what would be possible.

If you're doing a dome lid, you can do this:

kls44 · Dec 11, 2018

Just ol Pop said:
I need help like hole placement vents I would like three racks in mine. Need some drawing or plans help

I used adjustable shelf supports and brackets in mine, that way I can put shelves any where. They are not very expensive at HD or Lowes.

grosen84 · Dec 12, 2018

kls44 said:
I used adjustable shelf supports and brackets in mine, that way I can put shelves any where. They are not very expensive at HD or Lowes.

Yep, here's your other option...shelf standards riveted to the drum.

djc227 · Dec 12, 2018

Here's a pic of the twins I built as Christmas presents for my brothers. You can put the bucket charcoal basket on a grate on the third level of bolts and it makes an awesome VERY HOT charcoal grill using the top rack. I built my first one with 3/4 pipe risers and ball valves, but had to add 3 nipples in the back to get enough airflow to cook over 250. This design should have more air intake and is much easier to build. When I get time I think I'm going to make a parts list and step by step plans on how to build this (as long as the test run goes as planned). I searched for hours before the first build and could never find a set of plans! Total cost was $146 due to finding free sacrificial kettles on craigslist. If you had to buy the weber lid new the cost would be $210.

grosen84 · Dec 13, 2018

djc227 said:
Here's a pic of the twins I built as Christmas presents for my brothers. You can put the bucket charcoal basket on a grate on the third level of bolts and it makes an awesome VERY HOT charcoal grill using the top rack. I built my first one with 3/4 pipe risers and ball valves, but had to add 3 nipples in the back to get enough airflow to cook over 250. This design should have more air intake and is much easier to build. When I get time I think I'm going to make a parts list and step by step plans on how to build this (as long as the test run goes as planned). I searched for hours before the first build and could never find a set of plans! Total cost was $146 due to finding free sacrificial kettles on craigslist. If you had to buy the weber lid new the cost would be $210.

I used the Kamado style door on my stainless drum as well. I agree, much easier to install, and basically the same price if you're springing for 2 brass ball valves and the other black pipe needed.

SmittyJonz · Mar 24, 2019

Bump for New Guys n Gals........

R5Ryder · Apr 4, 2019

Why do most people put an intake nipple in the back of the smoker? Wouldn’t you want to see all your intakes all the time?

If the BACK of the smoker is 12:00, I’m planning on going 6:00 (3/4 capped nipple), 8:30 (3/4 pipe with ball valve) and 3:30 (ditto).

Is it THAT important that they be evenly spaced around the basket? I’ve seen successful guys at comps that seem to go with 3-6-9, but I like the idea (aesthetically) of the two verticals being a little closer together.

Nuco59 · Apr 4, 2019

There's just something aesthetically pleasing about having them spaced around the drum- you just KNOW that placement makes it draw better. I've got a slider vent (like a kamado) on my SS drum-so it's one vent like 3 x 5 inches...works just dandy.

Just put them where you like. I don't think it'd matter if they were at 7:00 6;00 and 5:00.

Mojo-Que · Apr 15, 2019

Did my first packer brisket and 3rd cook on my UDS. Used Kosmo hot and fast method but no injection. Extremely happy with the results. 5 hours start to finish including the burnt ends. Thanks to all in this thread I enjoyed learning about drum smokers and am extremely glad that I went this route!

R5Ryder · Apr 15, 2019

For upright intakes - does it matter one way or the other if you use standard 90-degree black-steel elbows that are secured from the inside by bushings, or if you use the "street" elbow which threads in and then would be secured from inside by a conduit nut?

I think the bushing would reduce the size of the intake, but then again so does a ball valve so it probably doesn't matter. I notice that the image grosen84 posted shows the standard elbows, but I've seen it both ways.

standard elbow:

90-degree-elbows--black-pipe-fittings-malleable-iron-det__99681.1527098485.png

street elbow:

PursuitSS · Jun 21, 2019

Building my first UDS

I’m going blind reading this thread :mrgreen: BUT, there’s a LOT of great information here.

My thoughts....

I’m ordering a new 55 gallon polished 16 gauge stainless steel open top drum.

Apparently they are 24” in diameter (slightly larger than most?)

Then I going with the Big Poppa Smoker Kit, I’m also ordering 3 of their heavy gauge grates.

I’m also ordering a 30 quart stainless steel mixing bowl to convert the drum lid to a dome lid.

I’m at this time planning on using a BBQ Guru DigiQ Temperature Controller.

If I don’t have enough “smoke” I’ll throw it one of my pellet smoke tubes.

I know this will be an expensive build (north of a grand) but I want a quality, nice smoker.

Thoughts?, Comments?, Criticisms?

Devin · Jul 1, 2019

I would think the hardware for the grates might not work if your drum is a bit bigger than a standard, should be easy enough to sort out though.
I would probably consider a diffuser as well thinking that if its still a 55 gallon drum but about two inches bigger around its also going to be a few inches shorter which will either make the grate closer to the fire or take away a bit from your height.
I just got a Smartfire controller that I really like so far. can't speak on the BBQ guru but they seem pretty popular.
I like the idea of the SS drum, even with a good paint job on mine it is still getting some rust spots as it lives outside under an awning but a cover for it would probably fix that.

PursuitSS · Jul 30, 2019

Thanks for the thoughts, I have been looking into diffusers, I thought I was going to have to make my own but I’ve found several available.

Oracle00 · Feb 24, 2020

Hello everyone, here's my first post.

I came across this forum researching smokers. Like many, I started smoking on a Weber Kettle. I'll be moving from Miami, Fl to Central, Fl in a month and decided I should break in my new house in with a proper smoker. After tons of research, I decided on a UDS because of cost and the fun of building something fun with my pops.

So far, all I've got is a burned and primed drum, but once the parts come in, it should all come together nicely.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread over the years. For anyone looking to build a UDS or any smoker, this thread is as important as any of the tools necessary to get the job done.

Here's a few pics with updates to follow.

BKING! · Feb 24, 2020

Lookin good!

OferL · Feb 25, 2020

Lots of fun and good meats in your future!

Oracle00 · Feb 26, 2020

Here's the final product. I'm extremely pleased with this build. It was never my intention to actually build my own smoker, but I'm glad I took on the project. My pops and I haven't spent time together like this in a while, and that alone was worth it all.

Sent from my LM-G820 using Tapatalk

Ugly Drum Smoker

Knows what a fatty is.

Found some matches.

Babbling Farker

Attachments

Is lookin for wood to cook with.

is one Smokin' Farker

Is lookin for wood to cook with.

Well-known member

Attachments

Is lookin for wood to cook with.

somebody shut me the fark up.

Found some matches.

Babbling Farker

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

Attachments

Found some matches.

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

Is lookin for wood to cook with.

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

is Blowin Smoke!

is Blowin Smoke!

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

Similar threads