My first UDS build

You should cut the intakes on the inside of the drum, other wise your basket might sit too high.

That also looks like the red liner which needs to be removed. Most people will burn out then sand it until they see metal or get it sand blasted. Good luck on your first cook! And as always post some pics

So does the basket sit on top of the extended intakes? If so, they may get clogged up w/ ash unless you have some sort of pan between basket and pipes. If weight is a concern, ditch the pipes (the ones w/o a valve) and replace w/ high heat magnets. They work like a charm and you don't have to worry about weight or the caps rusting onto the pipe (learned this one the hard way!).

Good luck and have fun!

Looks like your off to a good start... I too would be concerned about ash cloging those intakes you may wanna consider making them shorter on the inside the drum.. Inless you have a plan for your basket to prevent that

I'd agree you might want to think twice about the pipes inside the drum......they're really not necessary and I could see them causing ash collection problems, as well as air flow problems when they clog....

I just thought of something that might help you with your current intakes. Turn them with the cut angle downward. This should prevent any clogs from ash while keeping you from buying new materials

First welcome! Looks like you're off to a good start, but I agree with others the pipes aren't necessary. Not saying they won't work for you either, just may be over complicating a very simple cooker. As for the red liner, seeing that brings back horrible memories for me. Even with multiple burnouts, chemical strippers etc., I still had to spend the better half of a day laying in my drum with a wire wheel on a grinder getting the rest of that chit off. Only reason I mention it is you need to make sure ALL of it is gone, right down to where the sides meet the bottom and everywhere in between. It sucked so bad removing it that if I had to do it over I would source another drum! As for your intake valve you can get some threaded rod and a coupling nut and make an extension to the top of the drum. Just remove the valve handle, get a rod and coupling nut of the same thread and fashion a simple bracket at the top of the drum and bolt the original valve handle at the top end of the rod with two nuts sandwiching the handle in between. Viola, no more bending over. You can do a search for this mod using the search bar at the bottom. It's a great search feature so keep it in mind for any questions you may have.

Stay smokin!

I dont know if you guys noticed or not, but they are FULLY welded in. UNless he cuts them, they are pretty much there to stay.

Fwiw, i dont believe it is going to be that much of an issue. and am curious to know how it works, with the o2 being pumped right into the basket.