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Ugly Drum Smoker

Chavo27 said:
I guess I don't understand how a ball valve works I thought it had to have pressure for it to open and close....

Nope...it's mechanical...it just uses a "ball" as a method to open and close the air flow...

you said you like 3-3/4" pipe nipples. 2 with caps, so there's really no point to the other 2 holes?

Some folks use 3...some use 4 holes. The idea is to be able to open them all when lighting and then shut them down one by one to reach your temp goal...the ball valves allow for a more precise adjustment.

also is there allot of maintenance required as fasr as keeping the heat at a stable level...

Not really...once you get a few burns under your belt you get a feel for how your pit burns...

Do you have to be watching it the whole cook or can do other stuff close by?
Click to expand...

Once you get her dialed in your can do whatever you want depending on what you're smoking.
 
I'm beginning to wonder if we need to require that this thread be read in completion before accepting a new member.... EVERYTHING YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT A UDS AND MORE IS WITHIN THIS HOLY GRAIL. Seriously, we've all read it when we built our first UDS. These things are simple and bullet proof if you follow the directions as experienced by other members. Once you get the idea of how they work, then you can get all "Macguyver on its ass". IMHO thats where the real fun is. In order to make a better mousetrap, you have to know how the old one worked.
 
This is still one of my favorite pictures in this thread...
Bottles 'n Bones BBQ said:
I knew a girl named "stacks" once...sadly, no pics :cry:.

x2.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Lordy, I think I've managed to alienate a few neighbors with my UDS build... I've got today off and decided what the hell, I'll break in my el-cheapo angle grinder by cleaning out my drum since I live outside the city and it's getting on in the day..

I commence to grindin', took me between an hour and an hour and a half to get 1/3 of the way done. So as I stand up for a stretch and a look around I peel my dust mask, ear plugs and ear muffs off and what do I see? A retired neighbor lady standing in her drive way ~100ft away, staring at me and obviously full of piss and vinegar..

Well, 1/3 of the way is as good a point as any to call it a day.

I hope y'all will be kind enough to keep me in cigarette money (or at least interesting letters) once the law shows up!
 
Know what you mean...full of piss and vinegar...I think I did the same to my neighbors when cleaning my drum out, and I live in the city!
They'll get over it when you show up at their door with some good que from the drum. Then they'll be grinding theirs out.
Just keep cleaning that sucker out and get on to the cooking.
 
sfbbqguy said:
Know what you mean...full of piss and vinegar...I think I did the same to my neighbors when cleaning my drum out, and I live in the city!
They'll get over it when you show up at their door with some good que from the drum. Then they'll be grinding theirs out.
Just keep cleaning that sucker out and get on to the cooking.
Click to expand...

Haha, I appreciate the encouragement, but I'm going to give the crazy old lady a break ... today anyway. She's now my official excuse to slack off.

Me, feed her? Oh the stories I could tell about living across the street from that woman! Then again I guess she could say the same thing about me, but at least I am no peeping tom! (What's the preferred nomenclature for a female peeping tom?)

If'n it weren't for ...odd neighbors, I'd have none 'tall.
 
Gotta love your neighbors, anything that happens in our yard is 'normal' to them... from the noise of cutting the top out of a 15 gallon beer keg (to make a brewing kettle), to whack and smash guys in armor beating up on each other (we do medieval reenacting), to having a yard full of tents from the 11-14th centuries (reenacting thing again), to the light of 10 ft tall propane torches lighting up the back yard because we have a house full of people over for the weekend, to the mouthwatering smells coming from our smokers... they more or less just throw up a hand and yell 'hey, what's up today?'

If we have to grind out the liner in a drum, it'll just be "another day in the neighborhood." :)
 
I was talking to my buddy last night and when I mentioned that I needed to pick up a few new knotted wire brushes for my grinder he produced a new in package 40 grit 4.5" 'Norton Zirconia Abrasive Flap Disc'.

Looks like it's made of resin backed fiber and some sort of glue binding the zirconia abrasive media to the flaps.

Anybody think it'd be a hazard to use this inside a smoker?
 
Nahh I would just get aftr it ad see what happens.
 
Dr_KY said:
Nahh I would just get aftr it ad see what happens.
Click to expand...

Damn, that thing is worth it's weight in gold. 40 grit at a few thousand RPM will get /something/ done in a hurry.

I'm 95% done with the drum liner, just need to pick up one of those wire wheels that's made up of the single strands of wire so I can get into the tight cracks around the bottom rim.

Then all I've got to do is clean the drum lid, double check the inside of the drum for missed spots and I'm ready to make a charcoal ring, ash pan and mount the grates and thermometer.

You guys have been a huge help to me, thanks a lot!
 
Thanks

I've just completed my first UDS build. Pics to follow. I have to admit, I read the first 50 pages of the thread, took copious notes and then read the redneck UDS thread too. I had enough information and measurements floating around in my head that I almost overthought how simple this really is to put together.

Unlike many Brothers out there, I had none of the required materials and invested in new stainless hardware, casters, grills, wire mesh, barrel, handles, ball cock valve, spiced wine thermometer, and step drill.

Having said that, for the $160 I spent, I could not be more proud, nor could I have bought a new BBQ pit, of the quality for anywhere close to that price. I am very particular and have the satisfaction in knowing that this thing is well built and will no doubt outlast me.....

I built a "twin" for my golfing buddy who is thinking of getting into BBQing. I've had a NB Bandera, Custom offset and a WSM and this UDS has the best qualities of each. Ease of use, quality of result and it's a great conversaton piece!

Thanks to all the Brothers out there who added to the UDS thread and especially for the detailed information and priceless pictures.

Many Thanks!
 
I am building a new UDS and have a question. The one I built last year I built a new lid for and did not mess with cleaning out the foam seal around the inside lip of the drum lid. So what is the best way to get that sticky stuff outta there?
 
Barbarian said:
I am building a new UDS and have a question. The one I built last year I built a new lid for and did not mess with cleaning out the foam seal around the inside lip of the drum lid. So what is the best way to get that sticky stuff outta there?
Click to expand...

I suggest you go back and read this entire thread, your answer is there. :twisted:
 
Thanks bubba, did that last year but gettin' old and cannot recall everything or the stuff I did not use.
 
Thanks bubba, was worried about using the weed burner and warping the lid.
 
This lid left quite a bit of the sticky chit behind when I scraped out the foam seal.
 
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