coewar
Knows what a fatty is.
Yes, that's basically it.. but the angle iron is thicker and less expensive because they are not labeled as "flavorizers"
Ugly Drum Smoker
- Thread starter jgh1204
- Start date
Yes, that's basically it.. but the angle iron is thicker and less expensive because they are not labeled as "flavorizers"
coewar
Knows what a fatty is.
Hey Carbon.. try this for corn.. it works great.
Leave the corn IN THE HUSK. Soak the corn in water for a few minutes, making sure to get that corn "hair" all wet. Then place it on a grill but low heat, or in the smoker. It should take 30-45 mins. The corn will come out very moist. Then just husk it right before eating. It also makes the husk stuff very easy to remove.
Or you can put the corn onto a sheet of aluminum foil, to help further the steaming action. Comes out really good.
coewar
Knows what a fatty is.
I have tried putting coals in the middle.. I actually made a smaller "fire basket" to put inside my larger one and I'd put the lit coals in it. But what I have found, is that the best way, is simply fill the big firebasket with un-lit coals, and just pour the lit coals on top, and just mix them around, all over the top. This creates a nice even burn without worrying about any of the coffee can stuff or whatever to focus on doing something special in the middle.
coewar
Knows what a fatty is.
Overkill in my opinion. I never welded anything on my UDS. The electric conduit nuts worked totally fine. And say after a year or so if they loosen up, just get another one. The nuts that I found were not exactly identical on both sides. One side the "teeth" kind of bent in one direction. So I "aimed" those teeth into the metal from inside the drum and the one on the outside. Then I just tightened really well and it stuck just fine. Most of them actually don't even touch the metal yet because the whole was tight enough.
coewar
Knows what a fatty is.
Rondini... what is your exhaust looking like? Do you have a like a chimney pipe? or do you have some holes drilled in the lid? The good temp control depends on the right air flow. My UDS has three 3/4 inlets and I actually used to have 1 ball valve but I replaced that with 3 magnets so I can have all vents open like half way to let coals burn from all sides more. Temp control is good in mine but it depends on how I exhaust. I actually have multiple exhaust methods built into my UDS from the different variations I've put it through.
Disconnect
Knows what a fatty is.
Did my first cook on it (couple of random chicken thighs I found in the freezer) and it worked out ok. (Overcooked a bit, but still food and -beautiful- smoke ring.) No pics yet.
I think I've got some air leaks. I closed it down around 1:45am, and now (11:15) its still at 205/175. (Vent is still open, bottom is all closed.)
I didn't put in 'flavorizer bars' yet, but fyi it looks like the $5 adujstable-length ones will work if you get 2-3 sets. For anyone who hasn't got a good source of angle iron.
No idea why it woke back up this morning, maybe it was just napping.. (Since its hard to read, the time markers are 9:30, 12:48, 4:00, 7:12, 10:24. Looks like it woke up at 4am and again at 9..)
I think I've got some air leaks. I closed it down around 1:45am, and now (11:15) its still at 205/175. (Vent is still open, bottom is all closed.)
I didn't put in 'flavorizer bars' yet, but fyi it looks like the $5 adujstable-length ones will work if you get 2-3 sets. For anyone who hasn't got a good source of angle iron.
No idea why it woke back up this morning, maybe it was just napping.. (Since its hard to read, the time markers are 9:30, 12:48, 4:00, 7:12, 10:24. Looks like it woke up at 4am and again at 9..)
Disconnect
Knows what a fatty is.
I'm undecided today between caulking up the intakes (to kill off the airflow problems) or ignoring that and getting the stoker bolted in. I closed off all the intakes at 1:45am and it was still running 175F at 2pm today. (I dumped the remaining fuel into the fire pit and it lit back up. So maybe I'll have a campfire tonight )
I originally put in 1" nipples, but they were way too big - control was either valve wide open and not quite enough, or valve closed/one nipple open and it was too much.. I put 3/4 reducers on them but I think its leaking air. The problem is, I can't imagine where - the nipples are all tightly threaded into the holes and the electricians nuts (inside & outside) are super tight all around.
I'm thinking that I'll do the baffles/flavorizors and the stoker, see if the airflow problem goes away. Got ribs to cook tonight and caulking seems like it'll take half of forever. (Got 400 degree kitchen/bath/plumbing silicone - if its kitchen-safe, it should be food-safe in the unlikely event it comes in contact with food. I hope. And the 4" nipples should keep the temp below 400 - they seem to get warm but not excessively hot.)
)I originally put in 1" nipples, but they were way too big - control was either valve wide open and not quite enough, or valve closed/one nipple open and it was too much.. I put 3/4 reducers on them but I think its leaking air. The problem is, I can't imagine where - the nipples are all tightly threaded into the holes and the electricians nuts (inside & outside) are super tight all around.
I'm thinking that I'll do the baffles/flavorizors and the stoker, see if the airflow problem goes away. Got ribs to cook tonight and caulking seems like it'll take half of forever. (Got 400 degree kitchen/bath/plumbing silicone - if its kitchen-safe, it should be food-safe in the unlikely event it comes in contact with food. I hope. And the 4" nipples should keep the temp below 400 - they seem to get warm but not excessively hot.)
Chopjaw
Knows what a fatty is.
this one has to do with losing stuff
What valve is this? Did you make it or what?
Inquiring minds want to know...LOL
Chopjaw
Knows what a fatty is.
R
righteousdog
Guest
yes that is made from a bunch of loose hardware - 2 of which are just fender washer and EMT set-screw connector.
R
righteousdog
Guest
i close everything when shutting down
Disconnect
Knows what a fatty is.
I had a thermometer wingnutted into the vent - its out now, it wasn't telling me much that I didn't already know. So when I shut it down tonight I'll close the vent also and see what happens.
Chopjaw
Knows what a fatty is.
Hey guess what, I have finished the ENTIRE THREAD From Post 1 to this post!!!
SO, how do I start a UDS? Just kidding.
There are so many options of builds and so many of you have built some nice smokers. I'll be starting on mine soon. THe only thing that is for sure, I have yet to make up my mind. Thanks to everybody who has posted here with an idea or solution. This place is the best.
After 5 days of reading this thread. I really farking hate it!!!! LOL
SO, how do I start a UDS? Just kidding.
There are so many options of builds and so many of you have built some nice smokers. I'll be starting on mine soon. THe only thing that is for sure, I have yet to make up my mind. Thanks to everybody who has posted here with an idea or solution. This place is the best.
After 5 days of reading this thread. I really farking hate it!!!! LOL
traderbbc
Found some matches.
Paint
I got a question for those of you who have painted your barrels. Mine is in really goog shape with nice paint, gonna do a small burn this weekend as the only thing inside my barrel is the rust proof coating and its already starting to rust so will like I said a small burn. Can I just sand rough up the original paint then use a primer and a high heat paint or will the original with sanding peel.
I got a question for those of you who have painted your barrels. Mine is in really goog shape with nice paint, gonna do a small burn this weekend as the only thing inside my barrel is the rust proof coating and its already starting to rust so will like I said a small burn. Can I just sand rough up the original paint then use a primer and a high heat paint or will the original with sanding peel.
H
hankll
Guest
Ok, good to know.....I will try the top down minion method and forget the coffee can in the middle to start a minion from the center out. I kinda think it will stay lit better, going top down.
This was my first time to try this with my smoker and my smoker wasn't done. I still want to add the ball valve on a stand pipe at least half way up the side of the barrel. So temp control is an issue for me simply from a experience level.
I'll check around for the Stubbs, I don't recall seeing it in any stores I frequent. I'll do a search and see if I can see if any stores might be listed as carrying it in my area.
L
lrh
Guest
Unless existing paint is high temp paint, even a small burn will scorch/peel it in at least some places. You just as well count on removing it all and then repaint according to the high temps mfg directions. The kind I used recommended against using any primer.
rondini
Full Fledged Farker
Seach
Seachaser
Seachaser
I open everything at start up. I use sheet magnets and 1 ball valve. I have 2 short stem thermometers just below my 2 upper grates. Depending on the temp I want, about 15 min after start up I start closing the magnet holes to get to and hold the temp I want. When I'm close to the temp I adjust the ball valve. This hole process takes roughly 30 min. After each adjustment I wait 5 min. REMEMBER, it's easier to raise the temp than it is to lower it. My thermometers are app. 50* cooler than center of my grills. If you haven't gotten yourself a note book yet I recommend you do and use it to track what u do on each cook. Every UDS is a little different on how it cooks. It took me awile to get a feel for how closing up 1 hole affected the temp, how 2 holes closed did it.
I hope this helps, if you want to pm me feel free.:idea:
I hope this helps, if you want to pm me feel free.:idea:
rondini
Full Fledged Farker
coewar
I just use the large Bung hole that was in the lid when I got it.
I have a pc sheet metal with a bolt, nuts and a spring, for closing off the chimney when I shut down after the cook.
I have smoked at 200* all the way up to 450* using just 1/2 of the diameter of my basket app. 1/2 full. I add app. 1/2 chimney to that half when I smoke. In my UDS having only 1 hole open still gives me an even burn. Also, I dump my lit coals on top of the old dead coals and have no problem getting my temps or with the taste. I don't have any other exhaust method. I did set up my UDS to smoke and grill. I don't remember when I set the basket up that way, and I've added no other coals than what is in my chimney starter.:idea:
I hope this helps. pm me if u feel a need.
I have a pc sheet metal with a bolt, nuts and a spring, for closing off the chimney when I shut down after the cook.
I have smoked at 200* all the way up to 450* using just 1/2 of the diameter of my basket app. 1/2 full. I add app. 1/2 chimney to that half when I smoke. In my UDS having only 1 hole open still gives me an even burn. Also, I dump my lit coals on top of the old dead coals and have no problem getting my temps or with the taste. I don't have any other exhaust method. I did set up my UDS to smoke and grill. I don't remember when I set the basket up that way, and I've added no other coals than what is in my chimney starter.:idea:
I hope this helps. pm me if u feel a need.
rondini
Full Fledged Farker
hankll
I found Stubbs in a Lowes. May be someone else will chime in on a location.
I found Stubbs in a Lowes. May be someone else will chime in on a location.
Disconnect
Knows what a fatty is.
Another option is royal oak - most walmarts have it, and it seems popular with the competitors out here. I grabbed a bag for the seasoning burn and it worked really nicely - more even sizes than most bags of cowboy and it burned forever.
I've used Stubbs but all I remember about it was that it seemed expensive. (Although now that I look online.. pound for pound, its cheaper than RO by just a bit.)
On a side note, anyone use a rocks stoker on a UDS? Seems like it overshoots really badly whenever it runs the fan. I had it set to 230 (green dots) and it'd come on around 210 but by the time it cut off the UDS peaked around 280. Thats .. thats just not good.
I've used Stubbs but all I remember about it was that it seemed expensive. (Although now that I look online.. pound for pound, its cheaper than RO by just a bit.)
On a side note, anyone use a rocks stoker on a UDS? Seems like it overshoots really badly whenever it runs the fan. I had it set to 230 (green dots) and it'd come on around 210 but by the time it cut off the UDS peaked around 280. Thats .. thats just not good.
