UDS advise

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Friction33

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Bringing home 2 55 gallon drums tomorrow to get started on my 1st UDS. Need a little advise please. 1. I like the looks of the intake pipes going up the side of the drum. Some say it restricts the air flow. Is there a certain height that is better or just not use them at all and keep the valves at the bottom?
2. The drums I am getting or sealed. Is there a way to cut the top to reuse it or just go with the weber replacement lid?
3. Heat diffusers Or no?
Thanks for any input you guys have.
 
Yea I'm a big fan of the heat diffuser because it blends direct heat with indirect, also lets drippings still reach the coals for flavor...get a pizza pan, drill 1/2" holes in it and set it on a rack above the basket.

I don't think it's worth it having pipe up the sides... a better running UDS is more important than cosmetics imo.
 
^^^^^^^^^ listen to this guy.
 
Take an angle grinder to the outside edge of the top. You will be able to use the top from the barrel with about 15 minute grinding
 
I'll chime in on the defuser. It really made a great positive difference in my cooking. I use a pan with water. It presents some issues though as compared to a straight up draft that you have without the defuser.
 
Fwismoker said:
Yea I'm a big fan of the heat diffuser because it blends direct heat with indirect, also lets drippings still reach the coals for flavor...get a pizza pan, drill 1/2" holes in it and set it on a rack above the basket.

I don't think it's worth it having pipe up the sides... a better running UDS is more important than cosmetics imo.
Click to expand...

^^^ my thoughts also. I think you get a better air flow without risers. I'm still looking for a weber lid, it'll give you more room for sure.

I did the handle thing on a ball valve to keep from bending over all the time. Works well.
100_4268.jpg
 
Thanks everyone. I will go with no intake risers and incorporate a diffuser for different cooks. I am going to start on them tomorrow night and hopefully by the weekend it will up and running with smoke.
 
I cant speak for others, but I have risers on my UDS and I have no problem with air flow. I use a diffuser and It holds temp like a charm and I have very few flare ups
 
I also have risers but only 2 cooks under my belt. I can say that i think my riser is too tall and at only 3/4" it seems quite restrictive. I would suggest a 1" id pipe for the riser but thats just my .02 :grin:
 
I'll second the notion of using intake risers. And its not about looking cool- think itd look better without it honestly, but...
Intakes which are perpendicular to high winds are far less affected by it than intakes facing wind. I know because I have cookers with both. The cooker with low, side intakes gets its a$$ kicked on windy days and the one with risers laughs at the wind and keeps on truckin. Jm2c.
 
Well with all the different opinions and results I think I will do a couple of test runs with and without the risers and see what works best for me. Can't wait to get started building and I will post pics of the build.
 
There is a UDS thread here somewhere that will blow your mind. It will take two weeks to read through:heh:
 
Friction33 said:
Well with all the different opinions and results I think I will do a couple of test runs with and without the risers and see what works best for me. Can't wait to get started building and I will post pics of the build.
Click to expand...

That's the best thing to do. I happened to start off with risers, it worked, so I left it. Plus, no bending:wink:
 
Beef said:
There is a UDS thread here somewhere that will blow your mind. It will take two weeks to read through:heh:
Click to expand...

I read through that thread. Didn't read every single post but did read lots of them. Took me a couple of evenings to get through it. That is an amazing thread. That is what gave me the final push to build one. Off to a good start with 2 free drums. So here I go. LOL
 
Yeah a free drum is a perfect drum! I have a riser like i said but now wonder if either its too tall or too small

DWVjqvS.jpg
 
J-Rod said:
I'll second the notion of using intake risers. And its not about looking cool- think itd look better without it honestly, but...
Intakes which are perpendicular to high winds are far less affected by it than intakes facing wind. I know because I have cookers with both. The cooker with low, side intakes gets its a$$ kicked on windy days and the one with risers laughs at the wind and keeps on truckin. Jm2c.
Click to expand...

This...
 
I can positively state a riser does restrict some air flow. Does it matter, depends on what you want to do with your UDS. Just yesterday I did another test on mine. 10-12 degrees out, windy, single digit temps, snowing. Both 1 1/2" risers removed ( just twist them out) I was at 600 degrees, put em both back in, temp stopped climbing and settled back to 525/550 deg. Removed em and temp went back to 600 degs. Then I removed the lid, put a pizza, temp dropped to 450. I cooked 2 pizza's 12 minutes each about. During the first I reinstalled the risers for a couple minutes, just because and the temp settled at 500, removed the risers and temp was at 550 when removing the first pizza. My 2 risers, one is 16 inches, the other 12 inches. Also you have to have exhaust control if your shooting for higher temps. I have been playing with that also from the flat lid to the dome lid. I found it easier to work on the drums if you have a 2 wheeled wheel barrel, lay the drum in the wheel barrel it holds the drum at a decent height to work on for drilling , welding etc.
3nr9.jpg

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How high above the top of the charcoal basket to you put the diffuser?
 
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