R
redbandit98
Guest
well, this post is gonna be pretty long so be warned. Since building my first UDS I have wanted to build a few more but do things a little different. That being said....
List of things I wanted to do better on after my first build.
1. First off I HATED having a double decker cooking grate system. It was a PITA (in my opinion of course) due to having to due the super shuffle to avoid stoking the fire. Also, not being able to easily probe the meat etc.
2. Cleanup. I had no ashpan and tried various things, putting foil in the bottom of the drum, using an old lid for an ash pan, etc etc. All these "worked" but I wanted something easier.
3. The lid. I used a charbroil lid that acutally fit really nice, but it leaked condensation all down the side of the drum. That and the handle was on the front of the lid. Not a problem if used with the grill it came with that was hinged but kind of a PITA when lifting it straight up. (could have fixed it by putting the handle on the top but never did)
4. having my dang et 73 pit probe always in my buisiness. Trying to lift the grate out and having to deal with the wire hanging not to mention falling down in the hot coals to its death.
5. no shelf. I could have put one on mine but i wanted a lot bigger shelf than I think The drum would hold.
6. last but not least, taste. Yes i know but too much of that grease just ruins the taste for me. (mainly just the super fatty stuff).
All that being said I set out to build my new drums. In order of my "upgrades I wanted"
1. this one is easy..build two drums instead of having one with two grates
2. Build me an ashpan. I used the plasma cutter at work and cut me out a round piece of sheetmetal and then welded a 1" piece of flatstock all around. I then welded some 3" angle iron to that to hold the charcoal basket. (which I made a handle for) The whole thing now lifts up.
3. Another easy one, just opted for the lids that I got with the drums
4. I think this mod will be my favorite. First off I always use my et 73. Since I always use it there really is no reason to continually take my pit probe out. So, i needed a way to hold it in there. I made me a holder out of a cord grip and a set collar. I welded the collar to the cord grip and welded that in the drum. The top one is just a standard cord grip connector. The bottom one is the modified one with the collar for the pit sensor. It is located right under the grate. Also, I was thinking on how to keep the probe out of the way when Im taking the ash pan out or whatever...MAGNET..duh I went to lowes and bought a two pack of super strength magnets. I stuck them to the inside of the drum. When I need to hold the probes out of the way, i just stick them to the mag.
5. I built a cart with two big shelves and two small ones.
6. I am going to purchase two clay saucers like I use in my WSM. I foil the one in my WSM and it holds temps great and is super easy to clean. They will just sit atop my charcoal basket. (the basket is made of #9 expando).
Well without further ado, here is some pics. I didnt take any of the magnet (it looks like a magnet). You've all seen pics of the drums being cut, burned etc. The last pic is one I wanted to post but never did. Its a "smiley face" from my old razorback drum. Also, the shelves are made from a cut up table top I snagged from work. It was round at one time. Thats why the ends are not finished. The tops are laminate. It was free, I used it. Enjoy
matt
Charcoal basket top view
Redbandit thermometer mount
The girls
mr smiley face
List of things I wanted to do better on after my first build.
1. First off I HATED having a double decker cooking grate system. It was a PITA (in my opinion of course) due to having to due the super shuffle to avoid stoking the fire. Also, not being able to easily probe the meat etc.
2. Cleanup. I had no ashpan and tried various things, putting foil in the bottom of the drum, using an old lid for an ash pan, etc etc. All these "worked" but I wanted something easier.
3. The lid. I used a charbroil lid that acutally fit really nice, but it leaked condensation all down the side of the drum. That and the handle was on the front of the lid. Not a problem if used with the grill it came with that was hinged but kind of a PITA when lifting it straight up. (could have fixed it by putting the handle on the top but never did)
4. having my dang et 73 pit probe always in my buisiness. Trying to lift the grate out and having to deal with the wire hanging not to mention falling down in the hot coals to its death.
5. no shelf. I could have put one on mine but i wanted a lot bigger shelf than I think The drum would hold.
6. last but not least, taste. Yes i know but too much of that grease just ruins the taste for me. (mainly just the super fatty stuff).
All that being said I set out to build my new drums. In order of my "upgrades I wanted"
1. this one is easy..build two drums instead of having one with two grates
2. Build me an ashpan. I used the plasma cutter at work and cut me out a round piece of sheetmetal and then welded a 1" piece of flatstock all around. I then welded some 3" angle iron to that to hold the charcoal basket. (which I made a handle for) The whole thing now lifts up.
3. Another easy one, just opted for the lids that I got with the drums
4. I think this mod will be my favorite. First off I always use my et 73. Since I always use it there really is no reason to continually take my pit probe out. So, i needed a way to hold it in there. I made me a holder out of a cord grip and a set collar. I welded the collar to the cord grip and welded that in the drum. The top one is just a standard cord grip connector. The bottom one is the modified one with the collar for the pit sensor. It is located right under the grate. Also, I was thinking on how to keep the probe out of the way when Im taking the ash pan out or whatever...MAGNET..duh I went to lowes and bought a two pack of super strength magnets. I stuck them to the inside of the drum. When I need to hold the probes out of the way, i just stick them to the mag.
5. I built a cart with two big shelves and two small ones.
6. I am going to purchase two clay saucers like I use in my WSM. I foil the one in my WSM and it holds temps great and is super easy to clean. They will just sit atop my charcoal basket. (the basket is made of #9 expando).
Well without further ado, here is some pics. I didnt take any of the magnet (it looks like a magnet). You've all seen pics of the drums being cut, burned etc. The last pic is one I wanted to post but never did. Its a "smiley face" from my old razorback drum. Also, the shelves are made from a cut up table top I snagged from work. It was round at one time. Thats why the ends are not finished. The tops are laminate. It was free, I used it. Enjoy
matt
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Great idea on the magnet too...simple solution to a pita problem...
