Ugly Drum Smoker

Runamuck said:
I realize this is an old post, but am new here and would love a copy of the plans to a good UDS. Does a half inch pipe fit 3/4 hole? I have 3/4 bit and 1/2 pipe nipples on hand. Thanks for any advice you can give.
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Not sure how far along you are in your UDS project. If you can hang on, I have made a very comprehensive ebook. Includes step by step pictures, what NOT to do, material list and how to for cedar side table and cedar 'accessory ring' that wraps around the drum. Launch date is scheduled for July 13, 2010, hopefully sooner.
 
Gerritt said:
anyone know where UDS parts/supplies can be found in Canada?? in particular the GTA area?
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If you're in Hamilton, go to Green Mountain Landscaping on 20 Hwy, just south of Mud St. You can pick up an unlined steel drum with lid for 15 bucks. Get one of the blue barrels that had Simethicone. They have a removable plastic liner bag. Tell them you want to make a smoker out of it, and they'll throw in a steel lid.

Rest of the stuff just go to the hardware store( Lowes, HD, Crappy tire, Home hardware...)
 
Darko said:
If you're in Hamilton, go to Green Mountain Landscaping on 20 Hwy, just south of Mud St. You can pick up an unlined steel drum with lid for 15 bucks. Get one of the blue barrels that had Simethicone. They have a removable plastic liner bag. Tell them you want to make a smoker out of it, and they'll throw in a steel lid.

Rest of the stuff just go to the hardware store( Lowes, HD, Crappy tire, Home hardware...)
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FYI, spend a little more and get stainless steel fasteners(nuts,bolts,washers). I get my drums free, with Weber SS hinged grates(2), Tel-Tru thermometer, bottle opener, self fabricated charcoal basket, High temp paint, I spent $200.
 
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I drilled my holes in my uds. And I wanted to use 3/4" for my main ball valve and 1.25" for my spare holes. Mainly for aiding in drainage. I knew that people hardly ever use them so I figured I could go bigger. I didnt like how metal flexed around the ball valve so I decided to use some butterfly valves as the intake. Do ya'll think the holes are too big? Do you think the butterfly valve will work?
 
shdybrady said:
I drilled my holes in my uds. And I wanted to use 3/4" for my main ball valve and 1.25" for my spare holes. Mainly for aiding in drainage. I knew that people hardly ever use them so I figured I could go bigger. I didnt like how metal flexed around the ball valve so I decided to use some butterfly valves as the intake. Do ya'll think the holes are too big? Do you think the butterfly valve will work?
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Don't see why they wouldn't. People use fridge magnets with no issues.
 
and thats what im using for this weekend. Just for the first cook to practice on. But does anyone know the round nature of the drum will mess with the function of the vent?
 
expatpig said:
FYI, spend a little more and get stainless steel fasteners(nuts,bolts,washers). I get my drums free, with Weber SS hinged grates(2), Tel-Tru thermometer, bottle opener, self fabricated charcoal basket, High temp paint, I spent $200.
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Bill, I really like your charcoal basket design. I will be swiping this idea from you on my next uds. :)

However, I am afraid that your springs might become brittle and break after a lot of heat cycles. Are you worried about this at all? Maybe a wingnut or strong magnetic catch at the bottom might work better.
 
I'm working on begining my first UDS & was wondering about adding a door to the smoker. At the moment I am commited to putting one on the UDS but I was just wondering how ya'll felt about that effecting my ability to control my fire ie letting in too much unwanted air? My craftsmanship isn't exactly top notch but attention to detail on the project seems to be a little higher then normal, probably because I can taste the results.

Thanks
JS
 
A UDS does not need a door. You generally won't be needing to do much fire tending and it'll just be another place for leaks.
 
I have a UDS with a door and the only time I have trouble is if I have the lid off for more than 3-5 minutes then the temp gets to high and it's hard to settle her back down butt on the other side if temps are going down or having a hard time getting them up opening the door takes them up in an instant. I like my door for long cooks because I can throw in more lump or wood depending on whats needed.
 
smoke it if ya got it said:
I have a UDS with a door and the only time I have trouble is if I have the lid off for more than 3-5 minutes then the temp gets to high and it's hard to settle her back down butt on the other side if temps are going down or having a hard time getting them up opening the door takes them up in an instant. I like my door for long cooks because I can throw in more lump or wood depending on whats needed.
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The ease of being able to add more fuel on long smokes through the door is really what is driving my desire to include one. Without one I assume the ony other way to add chips would be to remove the meat & grill which doesn't sound fun.
 
How long are you talking about here? There are guys in this thread that have done 16 hour cooks without adding fuel. Fuel mileage is one of the benefits of the UDS
 
6gfla said:
Bill, I really like your charcoal basket design. I will be swiping this idea from you on my next uds. :)

However, I am afraid that your springs might become brittle and break after a lot of heat cycles. Are you worried about this at all? Maybe a wingnut or strong magnetic catch at the bottom might work better.
Click to expand...

I've used the same springs for two months and they still seem fine, they were cheap, $1.50 each. I picked up a spare set when I built it just in case. The only mod I made was to replace the Weber charcoal grate with one I made from expanded metal. Too many pieces of shake were falling through. What I like most is the ability to raise the bottom for grilling.
 
smokin' steeze said:
The ease of being able to add more fuel on long smokes through the door is really what is driving my desire to include one. Without one I assume the ony other way to add chips would be to remove the meat & grill which doesn't sound fun.
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I have a hinged cooking grate so if I want to add more smoking wood I can, I use chunks not chips though, chips just burn up.

I am currently 6 hours into a brisket smoke and I used about 6lbs of lump in my basket. I just peaked at the brisket and I've used less than half of my fuel.

To me a door seems like more trouble that it is worth. More air leaks for so little gain in my book.
 
Got UDS today

WOW after 400 pages farking knowledge I want to see if I am able to pull off what many have done many pages before me............Thx Bretheren
 
Imcomplete burn

First controled burn in UDS. I lit a small section in center of fire basket, temp came up, but it went out during the night. Burned a section of the carchoal, but left most of the basket.
 
Scrap wood table and repaint

Just finished sealing my prep table that I made from scraps laying around my garage. Got the idea from someone about 100 pages ago...thanks! Repainted the smoker black with our logo. It was orange, but a BBQ is just meant to be black, know what I'm saying!

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smokin' steeze said:
The ease of being able to add more fuel on long smokes through the door is really what is driving my desire to include one. Without one I assume the ony other way to add chips would be to remove the meat & grill which doesn't sound fun.
Click to expand...

I think you will find that a full basket will carry you through any session you have with out reloading. Properly placed lumps of wood will also last long enough to get your groceries to 140 internal- that seems to be the magic number where the groceries stop absorbing the smoke. After that, the smoke is only for your enjoyment.
There are times where I will add other groceries towards the end of a cook but on those occasions its as simple as using the "thirdhand" to get some fresh or different wood on the coals since I already have the lid off for the new groceries. I usually preburn the wood chunks to avoid any off tastes.
When you are done you simply close your exhaust and intake and save the unburnt coals for the next smoke- no waste.
 
My journey to manhood began this morning. Just brought home my brand new, 40-year old drum. This thing puts the U in UDS.
 
I swear that my UDS makes charcoal,lol.It seems that I'm ending up with more than when I started. Something that waterloo said about preburning his chunks, at the end of a cook I throw on some sticks and char them for my next session. Geeez, maybe that's where my extra charcoal comes from!
 
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