Ugly Drum Smoker

Hi all from a newbie. Read this thread from the start and I want to build one UDS. Here it comes is 1 1/2" between barrel bottom and fire box about the right height?
Thanks wlh3
 
wlh3 said:
Hi all from a newbie. Read this thread from the start and I want to build one UDS. Here it comes is 1 1/2" between barrel bottom and fire box about the right height?
Thanks wlh3
Click to expand...

Ye sir! Mine are at 2" and work fine. :mrgreen:
 
Thanks Meat Burner have access to a 341/2" barrell at local feed store for $ 42.00 new or can go with the vegas outfit $20.00 and shp of $22.00 used but taller. My Step daughter works for a food co. and she is checking if they have used Barrels for sale. I hope to make a final decision soon
wlh3
 
wlh3, I have made 4 UDSs and all were 34 1/2". Used 4 half-in ball valves 2" from bottom, top rack 3" down from top lip and second rack 3" below that. That way I can use my weber lid or use the flat lid. All work great. Right now one has been burning for 8 1/2 hours and butt is at 188 degrees. Shook the barrel about an hour ago and temp jumped back to 230 as usual. Hope that is helpful. BUILD THAT BAD BOY AND YOU WILL BE ON HAPPY FARKER!
 
Wlh3,

Let me know if you can get those food grade barrels from your step daughter. I guess I should say can she sell them to me. I live about 45 mins from Port whynotme :-D (Hueneme).

Thanks,
Brian
 
Thanks again Meat Burner I was trying to figure out how to get two racks in the shorter barrel.
Brian will let you know on the barrels from the food co. Bought my first house off White canyon road back in 1980 in Canyon Country.
Just so everyone knows how to say Port Hueneme say it like this
Port Why knee me :lol: Chumash Indian name
Thanks all
wlh3
 
wlh3 said:
Thanks again Meat Burner I was trying to figure out how to get two racks in the shorter barrel.
Brian will let you know on the barrels from the food co. Bought my first house off White canyon road back in 1980 in Canyon Country.
Just so everyone knows how to say Port Hueneme say it like this
Port Why knee me :lol: Chumash Indian name
Thanks all
wlh3
Click to expand...

Thanks I will wait to hear from you on the barrels. Whites Canyon, You got out while the getting was good. Lots of traffic now. I have a friend that lived in Port Hueneme. he always you to say Port
whynotme. That has stuck with me for 30 years.
 
$42 for a new barrel sounds good. They are $65 here so I get the burn barrels for $12 and start a mega fire in them and go from there. You don't need to do the burn with new ones. Not at exciting but easier to build. Good luck!!!!!
 
I got a good price on a used Drum lid and lid clamp for 15$ after tax. I will pick up some other goodies at work in the morning. I plan on setting this up for use with the Stoker. I also plan on re-reading this thread to get my ideas planned out.
 
BBQ101 said:
I got a good price on a used Drum lid and lid clamp for 15$ after tax. I will pick up some other goodies at work in the morning. I plan on setting this up for use with the Stoker. I also plan on re-reading this thread to get my ideas planned out.
Click to expand...

On the bottom of this page is a pic of a guy using Gurus on his BDS. I'm thinking of a draft system myself, mostly for the BGE, but I like the versatility of the Stoker. I was hoping to see some at the PNW Eggfest, but all I saw was Guru's.
I can only imagine using one in the UDS if I were using lump, I have no intake issues with brigs.
http://bigdrumsmokers.com/awards.htm#
Brian
 
$42 for a new barrel sounds good. They are $65 here so I get the burn barrels for $12 and start a mega fire in them and go from there. You don't need to do the burn with new ones. Not at exciting but easier to build. Good luck!!!!!
__________________
Hey Meat burner that $ 42.00 barrel does have a light redish paint on the inside but not that heavy creme colored stuff like in the apple juice barrels. Living in a neighborhood I probly won't want a huge burn so the new one is looking better all the time. My stepdaughter still has not let me know about the used barrels at her work.
Thanks
wlh3
 
i have 4 openings on the botom, only 1 valve but it may be better to have two
 
Brian, I have four 1/2" opening and all have ball valves. Some cooks may only require 1+ open and sometimes maybe 3 open, but not too often. Different smokers may work different but that is what I have done with all of them I've built. Just my $.02.
 
Meat Burner said:
Brian, I have four 1/2" opening and all have ball valves. Some cooks may only require 1+ open and sometimes maybe 3 open, but not too often. Different smokers may work different but that is what I have done with all of them I've built. Just my $.02.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Is your fourth hole open all the time?
 
It is open during the cook but I like to close everything up when not in use and the ball valve makes that easy. Don't want small critters getting in my smoker and keeps the moisture out.
 
I used my 3 UDS's in my first competition, and I am proud to say the Big Drum Smoker design is THE REAL DEAL! I had ABSOLUTELY NO Problems controlling the fire in my drums even in windy conditions (we were on the boardwalk of a waterfront park) The teams on each side of me all had WSM's and they problems ranging from low/high temps, running out of water in the pan, to the doors falling of in the middle of the night. Now they all got their names called to the podium and my friends Ty and Debbie got Grand Champion, my drums were Rock Steady! I brought a WSM and didn't even fire it up, maybe I should have and I might have done better-I don't know? I had to do it for myself and they say "know your pit" and the Big Drum Smoker design UDS is a no brainer!
Ball valves would just add more cost and wasted space in my trailer.
I Love my UDS's!!

Brian
Midnight Ramblers
 
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