Modifying a Drum top for a Weber lid - Help

JMSetzler

JMSetzler

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I'm gonna build another UDS and I want to make sure I can fit the weber lid on this one. I do NOT want to work from the bottom of the drum. I'd rather work with the top lip. I saw somewhere here where someone had cut the top off a drum and then notched that ring and re-inserted it back into the top of the drum to make a smaller diameter on the lip where the kettle lid would fit. Anyone know where I can re-locate that information? I searched several parameters and never could find it.
 
I'm getting ready to make an UDS also and I was thinking the Weber lid would fit right on the drum........ yes or no ,,,,,,,,,
 
Big Bears BBQ said:
I'm getting ready to make an UDS also and I was thinking the Weber lid would fit right on the drum........ yes or no ,,,,,,,,,
Click to expand...

If you can find the right drum it will fit. I have not been able to locate a drum that is the right diameter for the Weber lid. Everything I have come across so far is slightly too large.
 
well this is what i did and it works pretty good. I cut the bottom of a weber kettle 2" down form the lip. and then i just put it in my drum. i did put some stove gasket around the lip before i set it in place. and just to make sure it didnt pop out I used some self tapping screws to hold it in place. hope that helps. I think that thread in burried dead inside the UDS thread so good luck.:p
 
I have a closed top drum with the lid cut off and a weber kettle lid fits it like a glove. I would suggest you take your lid with you when looking for a drum, no need to modify the drum or the lid.
 
J'ville Grill said:
I have a closed top drum with the lid cut off and a weber kettle lid fits it like a glove. I would suggest you take your lid with you when looking for a drum, no need to modify the drum or the lid.
Click to expand...

That is correct. All drums are not created equal.
 
I am just beginning my UDS and this is what I found--

My Weber lid fits Perfectly on the bottom, and I mean perfectly. But the top of the drum is just a bit too big for the lid to fit. Seems like the common finding.

But-- as I have looked closely, the top and the bottom appear to be the same-- except that the lip on the bottom is rolled more tightly than the lip on top. The bottom lip is rolled out so it tucks tightly against the side of the drum, but the top lip is not rolled as tightly, thus leaving a small gap between the lip and the drum wall.

Couldn't one just use a tool, ie slip-joint pliers or large vise grips of something, and pinch the top lip more tightly to the drum? Do it little by little, working your way around the drum? Small bites, as to not leave big marks, and to not overshoot?

Has this been tried with success (or failure)?
 
Mornin' Wood said:
I am just beginning my UDS and this is what I found--

My Weber lid fits Perfectly on the bottom, and I mean perfectly. But the top of the drum is just a bit too big for the lid to fit. Seems like the common finding.

But-- as I have looked closely, the top and the bottom appear to be the same-- except that the lip on the bottom is rolled more tightly than the lip on top. The bottom lip is rolled out so it tucks tightly against the side of the drum, but the top lip is not rolled as tightly, thus leaving a small gap between the lip and the drum wall.

Couldn't one just use a tool, ie slip-joint pliers or large vise grips of something, and pinch the top lip more tightly to the drum? Do it little by little, working your way around the drum? Small bites, as to not leave big marks, and to not overshoot?

Has this been tried with success (or failure)?
Click to expand...

Why all the fight if it fits the bottom perfectly? Just flip it over. If it is an open top drum, the open top is now the bottom and you can rig it to open for easy cleaning.
 
colonel00 said:
Why all the fight if it fits the bottom perfectly? Just flip it over. If it is an open top drum, the open top is now the bottom and you can rig it to open for easy cleaning.
Click to expand...

I WILL be flipping mine, as I agree, it'll be easier. And I have a nice lid with a band. So I'll just cut the bottom out and smoothe it with a grinder.

I was just trying to help out the OP. And I had thought about it myself.
 
Mornin' Wood said:
Couldn't one just use a tool, ie slip-joint pliers or large vise grips of something, and pinch the top lip more tightly to the drum? Do it little by little, working your way around the drum? Small bites, as to not leave big marks, and to not overshoot?

Has this been tried with success (or failure)?
Click to expand...

I don't know about you, but I don't know that I'd have the grip strength to successfully squeeze the band any tighter. I think they have a good sized hydraulic squeezing machine that probably puts a gazillion pounds per square inch of pressure on those bands to crimp them into place.
What seemed to work for me was to take a pipe wrench (a big one to get some leverage) and work around the band to get the entire thing slightly bent inwards.
Personally, if I had a good donor kettle, I think that would be the best way to go.
 
Sly-one said:
I don't know about you, but I don't know that I'd have the grip strength to successfully squeeze the band any tighter. I think they have a good sized hydraulic squeezing machine that probably puts a gazillion pounds per square inch of pressure on those bands to crimp them into place.
What seemed to work for me was to take a pipe wrench (a big one to get some leverage) and work around the band to get the entire thing slightly bent inwards.
Personally, if I had a good donor kettle, I think that would be the best way to go.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I'm thinking. You can tell I hadn't tried it (the big pipe wrench sounds like a more realistic idea than the pliers), but it's the same concept. Seems like no more work than cutting the bottom off.
 
For those thinking of the flip the drum mod, remember to get rid of the gasket on the lid of the drum.

The drums have a thicker/tighter roll on the bottom to make it stronger, as these drums are often rolled around on the bottom rim.
 
There are alternatives. If the Lid won't fit because the drum is slightly larger, take a pair of pliers and bend the Lid flange out. You do this by nibbling at it. (Bend the lid out then move the pliers over the width of the plier then bend the lid out all the way around the lip.)
 
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