Ugly Drum Smoker

hamiltont said:

Sorry if it's already been discussed. I googled & read but didn't find anything. Has anyone used a 30 quart stainless steel mixing bowl for a lid? Seems to be about the right diameter @ 22". They're ~$25.. Cheers!!!

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stglide said:

To the UDS Experts... Cooked my third round of ribs yesterday. This may be a little lengthy, but wanted some insight from the people who've used the UDS a lot...
3) When I foil my ribs, I lose that nice crispy outside. Is the wrapping to help prevent burning, simply to speed up the finishing of the rib, or is it just a preference thing?

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stglide said:

I do unfoil, but maybe not long enough. I'm sure I didn't leave them on another hour. You flip your ribs? May be some of the issue... I haven't.

As for the temps, that is my problem. Darn thing won't hold steady for some reason. Wondering if the lump burned hotter, and more consistent than the KF.... Guess only one way to find out! :becky:

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Southern Home Boy said:

I just did an experiment with foiled vs. non-foiled ribs. I cooked 'em both at ~235-240 degrees unfoiled for about 3.5 hours, foiled one slab with a little S. Carolina Mustard Sauce and left the other slab alone. After about an hour in the foil, I released the foiled slab and put it back on the grill to firm and color up.

Here's a pic:

Let me know if you can tell by the picture which one was foiled and which one wasn't:

Here's a pic of the "bite test" on individual bones from each slab:

There was a slight difference, but in the end, not enough to make me change my ways - just yet anyway.

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Bubblehead said:

top rack saw no foil?

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stl-rich said:

Where can I get regular steel or galvanized toggle clamps? I think they are REALLY cool

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kwas68 said:

I already posted a separate thread about my new UDS but thought I should post some thanks in the mother/master thread as well. Sorry for the redundance.

A couple of months ago, I was looking for a reason to build a UDS as I’m completely happy charcoal water smoker guy. You guys urged me on and I finally found some time to build it while raising 2 toddlers and being blessed with newborn twins. I read about the first 200 pages of the master thread (plenty of time in the hospital) and took notes. I felt like I had a pretty good idea of what to do. It took a lot of time to get through, but the reward was that the assembly was pretty painless.

Some of my observations on the build:
· Costs can add up. Man, stainless gets expensive! I was still able to build a smoker I’m proud of for less than $200.
· The Harbor Freight stepped drill bit lasted at least this one build. I feel like I got my money’s worth.
· A jig saw going through porcelain coated steel of the Weber base is as LOUD as all get out. Glasses and earplugs are necessary.
· The burn was fun because fire is cool! However, I thought I’d want to sit around and watch it but the burning exterior paint fumes suggested otherwise.
· The most complicated part of the build is the charcoal basket. Tying the expanded metal with rebar wire is a slight pain. Welders probably have an advantage here. I also had a hard time finding expanded metal and think I ultimately overpaid for it at Metals Supermarket.
· The UDS moved pretty well on the wheels. I need to add some handles though.
· I was surprised by nothing. The thread was extensive and I was confident that what I was doing was going to work. And it did.
· Pointing out to my wife while watching BBQ Pitmasters that a BBQ champ like Bigmista was using a UDS, just like the one I was building, was pretty cool.
· I definitely felt a sense of pride in making it myself. I am excited to show people pictures of it.

The next planned mods are a large White Sox logo and a shelf with hooks for tongs and a beer opener (of course). The shelf can act as a handle for me to push the UDS around on the big wheels. I also need to put a handle of some sort on my charcoal basket.

I smoked a fatty Sunday to season it. Found that the dial thermometer on the side read about 15° hotter than the temperature in the center. Had one ¾” plug removed and the ball valve opened ¼ of the way to maintain a 240° for a couple hours. It was a short run but I was impressed with the consistency.

I can’t wait to get more experience with it.

Big thanks to the Brethren for the expertise. I’m really glad that I found your site. Besides the UDS, I’ve learned about MOINKs, ABT’s, Chuckies, etc. Man, I didn’t know what I was missing. Thanks for the knowledge!

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Jay871 said:

I have read this whole forum too and I built a UDS with all the advice given, but I must have missed what a "Chuckie" was. Can you help me out. Sounds good. Thanks. Totally agree with your post. Disreguard I found them on the Roadmap. I will doing some off those in the near future

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colonel00 said:

It is a chuck roast. Great for making pulled beef.

Or, its a small, demonically possessed doll.

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