Could it be my nipples?

smooookin · Sep 13, 2008

I have built several drums but this one is killing me. I switched from 3 1 inch to 4 1/2 inch nipples for the intake. I had never had to remove the 3rd cap using the larger intakes.

I can get things going, the temp seems to settle in, I put on the goodies and the fire will practically go out. I mean if I put things on at 230 with in 10 minutes the temps will start a steady drop until I either remove the third cap or occasionally I have to crack the lid just a bit.

This drum just doesn't seem to want to cooperate. So, is it my nipples? Should I maybe change one out for a 3/4?

Looks like it will be a long night as I have a 12lb packer that needs to be eaten around 7 tomorrow night. I figure I will put it on around midnight and sleep light.

jeffjenkins1 · Sep 13, 2008

Not enough air flow, what size exhaust (although I don't think it matters)?

Jeff

BBQ Grail · Sep 13, 2008

This is the thing about drums that just fascinates me. I use 4 1/2 inch nipples. Three have caps and one has a ball valve.

I rarely need to remove more than one cap. For exhaust all I use is a four inch long threaded pipe in the lid.

smooookin · Sep 13, 2008

trp1fox said:
This is the thing about drums that just fascinates me. I use 4 1/2 inch nipples. Three have caps and one has a ball valve.

I have the same set up. As for exhaust, I used a 2 inch street "L" in the large bung hole and sometimes have removed the small plug as well.

The grate for the fire basket sets approx 2 1/2 inches off the bottom of the drum.

ON THE FARM · Sep 13, 2008

Could your fuel be damp?
I have 3 one inch intake on 1 of my drums and only 2 one inch intakes on the other 2 drums.
I have never even opened 2 intakes at all during a cook (14 hour butt cook).

smooookin · Sep 13, 2008

Could your fuel be damp?

I thought about that but I have gone through several bags(5 or 6) of RO while fighting this thing. Also the RO was purchased at different locations.

BBQ Grail · Sep 13, 2008

RO Lump?

I can't use lump in my UDS. It just won't work. Regular briqs work just find. Maybe 1/2 nipples won't work with lump.

jeffjenkins1 · Sep 13, 2008

I don't use lump either, I only use briqs.

Jeff

1_T_Scot · Sep 13, 2008

3 1" nipples have an equivalent flow area of about 9.45
4 1/2" nipples have an equivalent flow area of 6.28

So would you need 2 more to get enough air?

smooookin · Sep 13, 2008

HMM, All I use is RO. I works great in my other drums, maybe RO likes big nipples.

I can just imagine what a mess it will be to change to a larger size since I dont weld.

smooookin · Sep 13, 2008

1_T_Scot said:
3 1" nipples have an equivalent flow area of about 9.45
4 1/2" nipples have an equivalent flow area of 6.28

So would you need 2 more to get enough air?

Usually the drums with the one inch nipples only need one cap off and maybe crack the valve one other one.

If I open 2 and a half or three and a half intakes the temp goes to high. Maybe this drum just doesnt like BBQ.

Meat Burner · Sep 13, 2008

I have 4 1/2 inch valves in all my drums. The nipples inside are 1 inch and usually I have all four open a little to get an even burn on lump or briqs. Strange.

Midnight Smoke · Sep 13, 2008

smooookin said:
I can just imagine what a mess it will be to change to a larger size since I dont weld.

Get a Step-up bit, it will do it fast and easy. Just go a little at a time so not to get to big a hole.

Beerwolf · Sep 14, 2008

maybe try using some sort of blower ( hair dryer mod) at the intake just to see if you are indeed air starved before you start hacking?

Norcoredneck · Sep 14, 2008

I started out using 3/4" to 1/2" bushings. I had to have 2-3 open. I switched to 3/4" short nipples and never looked back. Seems if you watch the post the longer the nipples the more restriction. Also not that we have a lot here but humidity seems to affect how a drum burns.

Garth57 · Sep 14, 2008

I actually use four 3/4" intake nipple on mine. I would use a stepbit and increase to what worked before. Anyways, good luck with your cook tonight.

smooookin · Sep 14, 2008

the longer the nipples the more restriction

That may be the key!! What I did was take two four inch nipples (that is what i had) and cut them in half. They are longer than the close nipples I have used in the past.

At any rate the battle is about to begin.....

I have a 12 pounder, I am going to figure approx 1 hour 15 minutes per lb. so if she goes on around 2:30 should be ready to pull around 5:30-6:00 tomorrow evening. Let it rest in a cooler for an hour and chow down.

I wonder what the people at this camp ground are going to think in an hour or so if they have their windows open. :biggrin:

Norcoredneck · Sep 14, 2008

smooookin said:
I wonder what the people at this camp ground are going to think in an hour or so if they have their windows open. :biggrin:

If your using a weed burner to get it going give a couple of extra squeezes of the turbo handle to let them know who's the boss!:twisted:

smooookin · Sep 14, 2008

Oh I gotta get one of those. I could hook it inline to the camper. 2 30 lb bottles could provide loads of fun!!

Norcoredneck · Sep 14, 2008

I'm shocked. As long as you have beem in the UDS game and you don't have one of these guilty pleasures? Nothing like the roar of a man and his weedburner.

Could it be my nipples?

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