UDS Intake question or Idea...

Are you talking about running the intakes up higher on the inside of the drum and then exiting near the top?

I have not tried that or seen anyone try that, but I initially built my first UDS with one intake with a pipe valve on a length of pipe (fat man mod) and thought wow this is great, why don't I bring the rest of them higher? So I attached pipe risers and elbows to the other 3 intakes, so i wouldn't have to bend down to open or close the intakes.

Well, that was not such a great idea. I think the elbows on all the intakes resulted in decreased air flow going in to the coals and i struggled to get higher temps for things like chicken or hot and fast cooks. I had to add a fifth intake (about 1") down by the bottom of the cooker, without any riser, to be able to get higher temps. Without it, my temps would only come up to about 200-225 with all 4 intakes open. Some would consider that perfect, but i'm also impatient and don't want to hang around all day waiting for some ribs to smoke - i prefer 280-300 nowadays for my cooks.

I can see what you're trying to do. If you're after a cleaner, simple looking drum why not install a sliding draft door?

Nothing a good crack on the Behind and a scolding wont fix, As to running the intakes on the inside I think that once the temp rises the hot air will dampen the draft and here will be to much restriction to get clean fire. The cooler the intake air the hotter the temps you can get.

tld0550 said:

...Carbon my welding skills are ahhh well nil so I like the threaded pipe method....

Click to expand...

There's no welding required to attach a sliding draft door. They're usually screwed or riveted in place, whether you buy one of the Kamado/BGE draft doors or fabricate one yourself.