Ugly Drum Smoker

Awesome UDS paint job Bro' I love the Eagle

I had to add to this thread.Wow,382 pages!
After much reading on this site and others,I decided I just had to make a UDS.I thought I'd do mine a little differently though,I made it in two pieces.I wanted easy access to the charcoal basket and I wanted easy clean out.Some people were convinced that it wouldn't work,but I'm very happy to report that it works like a charm.

I would like to thank everyone on this site for their invaluable information.It made this build so much easier and so much more enjoyable!

I put a chop blade on my skilsaw and cut the lip of the drum off.It came out better than I thought it would.


The original drum with the intakes installed




I used the skilsaw again to cut it in half.Nice clean cut but a LOT of noise.Gotta use earplugs when you do this.


I used 1/8" x 1 1/2" aluminum for the insert.Lots of high tech bending across the knee to get it to the proper shape.


My charcoal basket is 13 x 9 and mounted on a 16" aluminum pizza pan.


Here's why I wanted to cut it in half.Easy access to the charcoal and easy cleanout.


as opposed to bending over into this


I test fitted everything before I put on the stove gasket.I couldn't wait and just had to fire it up to see how it would work without the gaskets.The temp control wasn't bad,but not as good as I wanted.Smoke was coming out between the 2 halves and the lid.


I used 3/8" rope gasket and HT siliconed it around the inside of my old kettle lid.I had to use a crescent wrench to bend the lip out so it would fit on the drum.


3/8" rope gasket siliconed around the bottom half of the drum.


I used 2 draw latches to snug the top and bottom halves together.


Here's the finished drum.I built it for 2 grates and there are access openings 1" under each grate for therms.All that's left to do is the fun task of wire brushing off the old paint and repainting it.


Finally,the first cook! Back ribs low and slow after a couple of hours.


The flavor that comes from the UDS is truly fantastic! I know it was more work than needed,but doing it this way was something that I wanted to try.I'm really pleased how it does work.I see no difference in temp control between this one and one that hasn't been cut in half.

I haven't figured out the total cost yet,but it's probably around $125 total so far without paint,but that's a guess.I could have spent more time scrounging for parts and pieces,but I wanted to get it done and fired up.

I put a chop blade on my skilsaw and cut the lip of the drum off.It came out better than I thought it would.


The original drum with the intakes installed




I used the skilsaw again to cut it in half.Nice clean cut but a LOT of noise.Gotta use earplugs when you do this.


I used 1/8" x 1 1/2" aluminum for the insert.Lots of high tech bending across the knee to get it to the proper shape.


My charcoal basket is 13 x 9 and mounted on a 16" aluminum pizza pan.


Here's why I wanted to cut it in half.Easy access to the charcoal and easy cleanout.


as opposed to bending over into this


I test fitted everything before I put on the stove gasket.I couldn't wait and just had to fire it up to see how it would work without the gaskets.The temp control wasn't bad,but not as good as I wanted.Smoke was coming out between the 2 halves and the lid.


I used 3/8" rope gasket and HT siliconed it around the inside of my old kettle lid.I had to use a crescent wrench to bend the lip out so it would fit on the drum.


3/8" rope gasket siliconed around the bottom half of the drum.


I used 2 draw latches to snug the top and bottom halves together.


Here's the finished drum.I built it for 2 grates and there are access openings 1" under each grate for therms.All that's left to do is the fun task of wire brushing off the old paint and repainting it.


Finally,the first cook! Back ribs low and slow after a couple of hours.


The flavor that comes from the UDS is truly fantastic! I know it was more work than needed,but doing it this way was something that I wanted to try.I'm really pleased how it does work.I see no difference in temp control between this one and one that hasn't been cut in half.

I haven't figured out the total cost yet,but it's probably around $125 total so far without paint,but that's a guess.I could have spent more time scrounging for parts and pieces,but I wanted to get it done and fired up.

Nice lookin split drum!!!!!

that eagle paint job makes my drum look Ugly again.

woodbutcher1 said:

This is one heck of an Awesome site for "Q". been lurking in the background and reading everything that was posted from page #1 to page#340 in the last 3 weeks. Finaly decided to register.

Starting to get some material together. I will build me a UDS.

leonard

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There is an event in Michigan in a couple of weeks on 4/23 - 4/24 you should check out. Will be a few of us cooking on drums and maybe you could get some ideas.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79556

Well, I finally found a drum today. It's new with an open head and it's unlined which is good news. I do have one concern though. The inside has a rust inhibitor. Does anybody know what to do with that? Do I burn it out? Scrub it out? Any ideas?

Hyper said:

Well, I finally found a drum today. It's new with an open head and it's unlined which is good news. I do have one concern though. The inside has a rust inhibitor. Does anybody know what to do with that? Do I burn it out? Scrub it out? Any ideas?

Click to expand...

Burn baby burn!

sjm845 said:

Is the Eagle a magnet or did you paint it on?

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magnet, i was a little worried about it falling off but it held just fine.

Ya know, a UDS is undoubtedly the most kid-safe piece of outdoor cooking equipment I have ever seen. It's VERY tough to tip over, and you can't get burned on the outside of the drum when it's running at anything below 300 (I haven't installed a handle yet, and I remove the lid with bare hands at 300, by the edges). I can let my 3 and 5-year-old kids run around outside without worrying! Just another added benefit... :thumb:

drum

Here's mine. It's ugly. Or so I've been told.




Jason

I just finished my first UDS. I was very surprised on how easy it was to make, especially with out access to a welder.

My next build, I might add a 2nd rack and a weber lid.

All my build pictures are on my blog @

http://projects.id26.com/2010/03/24/ugly-drum-smoker-uds/

I scored 2 55 gallon drums they had epoxy in them what would be a way to get them clean, it advises against using water they are unlined. Still lookiing for food grade barrels

food grade barrels could have epoxy linings.

I assume that a food grade drum with a tan linning is a bad thing too. It had pineapple juice in it.

Should I keep looking or use this one

Hckynt, can you start a fire in it and burn it out in Oakville without attracting too much attention?

expatpig said:

Hckynt, can you start a fire in it and burn it out in Oakville without attracting too much attention?

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Yah as long as it doesnt have to be a big giant fire, eveyone around here has fire pits in there backyards, and I even have a old drum that I burn brush in often. I am on my way to my uncles to get a propane torch and try it that way.

I got a brand new drum from work, but after reading about the "red liner" I left it there, and picked up a food grade one on the way home.


BTW

This is an awesome place

John

I have a friend that burned his out just fine with a weed burner. Don't know how long it took him, but he got it done.

-Rodney

I just finished mine and will burn it in this weekend. I ready to try this baby out!

How long should I season it? I was thinking of doing a couple of season/test runs.

Big Money Grip said:

How long should I season it? I was thinking of doing a couple of season/test runs.

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Needs to season at least the time it takes to consume a 12 pack. :thumb::thumb: