Hey everyone. I am about to begin my UDS build and will keep you all updated with photoes. I bought a drum with the orangish liner in it and just had someone sandblast the inside and outside of it for $75.00
I read most of the pages on this thread, was just wondering if anyone recommends a certain build plan thats most popular for the UDS, or are they pretty much all the same? Is it worth just buying a kit with the basket, thermometer, handle and everything or is that much more money that way? Thanks
Not sure what is in the "kit". I bet I could come up with $120 of stuff if I tried, but that does not mean it is all in the kit. Normal stuff would be 3 1/4" bolts, 3 1/4" nuts, 3 1/4" acorn nuts, possibly 6 1/4" washers, a Weber grate (and many double all of that and install 2 grates). Normal build has 3 3/4" close pipe nipples, 2 3/4" caps, a 3/4" ball valve, 6 3/4" conduit nuts (but some people just use magnets to close the holes). Personally I preferred brass nipples and plugs, they cost a bit more but are less maintenance - but then again now I use a guru and that is a completely different story.
The fire basket takes a decent chunk of expanded metal (I think I made 2 from a half sheet - but you can use a bit less if you use a donated charcoal grate), then you will normally want an ash pan. You will also want a pit thermometer. I also have a few valve stems on mine to act as gourmets for temp probes.
The top has a bunch of options, depending on your drum. If you use an open top, you can just remove the bung hole and screw in a smoke stack (and something to cover it) - or drill a few holes (arghhhh, all the rain will come into your barrel). Many people prefer a Weber lid.
Then there is building equipment - step bits and burner. Kit probably does not include this $40-50 of stuff.
Oh, did not mention the basket handle. I like my system of a re-bar chicken's foot. The base is below the ash pan and the leg goes up through the basket. Grab the leg and the whole assembly lifts up, plus the feet give some insulation between the drum bottom and the ash pan - but it requires welding.
Thanks to all the knowledgable folks on this site I've been able to build this. I'm quite done yet, all I need to do is build the fire box and get a temp gauge installed Does anyone have a clever idea on how to attach the expanded metal to the grate without welding? The jury is still out on the handle and exhaust pipe, but I put them there just to see what it looks like....thoughts?
May add a few 'Toxic' or 'Hazardous' stencils on it as well.
Just put this one together!
Can't wait to try it out!
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I am in the process of building 6 more and that is the theme I am going with. Yours looks good.
I have built 3 uds's. They all came out real well. Dome lids, double cook racks, 15 inch round charcoal baskets, as pans etc.
The first one i built started out as super simple. Drilled 4 intake holes and used sheet magnets to control air intake. That actually works good except i had them stuck directly to the side of the drum and after about 2-3 hours at heat they start loosin their "sticky power".
Ok..insert nipples and weld them in. Prob solved. But now i'm startin to think i want to build me a flat top to play around with and was just "thinkin" about makin the air intake a bit simpler.
i read about bds cookers and how they use some kind of plugs in 8 or 10 holes. Low heat= 1 or 2 plugs open...more heat = more holes open.
what kind of plugs????? Brethren are always talkin about using silicon to seal air leaks...so i did a search on silicon plugs....and found a LOT of co.'s
makin them. they use them in powder coating and electro baking.
withstand 600 degrees F.
Any of u guys (like maybe Norco) have any thoughts on using these plugs?