Weber Drum Smoker (or Redneck WSM or UDS Hybrid)

Wh1skey6 · 03-09-2013, 03:09 PM

Seriously, I think we need a name for one of these. I've been calling it my WDS for Weber Drum Smoker. It started life as your average UDS.

Normal stock UDS:

One night, after drinking, I drilled way too many holes in the bottom because I couldn't get it to temp. After that ,I was going through sheet magnets like water to close those holes. After more beer, I thought about making a hybrid WSM/UDS. So I started cutting up my UDS. Mind you, I had a bi metal hacksaw. It took me another three beers and two shots of whiskey (for a total of 1.5 hours). I put the drum on the base and what do you know, math failed me. Or rather, I failed math. The drum was too big for the base.

The next day, I brought the base and the drum to my BIL's shop. I'll spare you the boring details (unless you want it), but he ended up cutting the drum right on the bottom rib. Of course, he had access to a plasma cutter and did it in about 60 seconds. What do you know, it fits! It actually sits on the outside of the Weber kettle base just fine, but it was wobbly. So my BIL used his trusty plasma cutter and cut another ring from the barrel.

He tacked it on to the bottom of the drum to sandwich the kettle lip in. I can take pics if you care to see that. We test fitted and it looked good. I brought it back to my garage and put it all together. It was freakin tall!

I chopped the legs down 10" and this is what we end up with. Forgive the paint job, it was all I had.

Close up of the seam:

This is my franken-UDS. I will fire it up tomorrow to see how it performs.

HankB · 03-09-2013, 03:13 PM

I like it!

I have a 55 gallon drum that I have been planning to use to make a rotisserie ring that will fit a Weber kettle. Maybe I need to make it a little taller so it can serve as a sort of WDS as well.

Carbon · 03-09-2013, 03:37 PM

Here's my Smokey Joe UDS

Wh1skey6 · 03-14-2013, 10:10 AM

I finally fired it up. I've been using the mini WSM since its only three of us but I decided to do a test run anyways.

I threw in some freezer burnt ground pork that was seasoned for egg rolls. Cranked the sucker up and wow! Temp control was infinitely easier using the stock dampers on the Weber kettle than with sheet magnets.

Being able to separate the sections also makes cleaning up the ash easier. Although I do need handles for the body.

What i love the best about it is I still can use it as a weber kettle, should I ever choose to do so. I have a Ducane gasser for grilling so I think this will stay the way it is.

Buried In Smoke · 03-14-2013, 10:20 AM

I did a full size, sitting in the back there. Holds a lot of grub!

savageford · 03-14-2013, 11:03 AM

that's a nice family photo!!

HeSmellsLikeSmoke · 03-14-2013, 03:19 PM

Looks like a Stretch Kettle to me.

Johnny_Crunch · 03-14-2013, 05:12 PM

I like it!

superlazy · 03-14-2013, 05:16 PM

^^^^^Same here!!

Happy Hapgood · 03-14-2013, 06:40 PM

What kind of whiskey shots? I could use some good inspiration like that. Mighty Fine!

Wh1skey6 · 03-15-2013, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HeSmellsLikeSmoke

Looks like a Stretch Kettle to me.

Stretch base? My BIL was trying to convince me that was the way to go. I didn't want to touch the Weber (outside of the legs) so I could keep it stock.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toast

What kind of whiskey shots? I could use some good inspiration like that. Mighty Fine!

LOL, shots is Jameson. Sippin' is a fine Kentucky bourbon. Lately that has been some Basil Hayden's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buried In Smoke

I did a full size, sitting in the back there. Holds a lot of grub!

I like it! I wish I would have known you did something like that so I could have picked your brain! How many racks do you have? Are you using a fire ring/basket at all?

My only worry now is my fire basket is going to be too close to my bottom rack.

03-09-2013, 03:09 PM	#1
Wh1skey6 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 10-31-12 Location: Spokane, WA	Weber Drum Smoker (or Redneck WSM or UDS Hybrid) Seriously, I think we need a name for one of these. I've been calling it my WDS for Weber Drum Smoker. It started life as your average UDS. Normal stock UDS: One night, after drinking, I drilled way too many holes in the bottom because I couldn't get it to temp. After that ,I was going through sheet magnets like water to close those holes. After more beer, I thought about making a hybrid WSM/UDS. So I started cutting up my UDS. Mind you, I had a bi metal hacksaw. It took me another three beers and two shots of whiskey (for a total of 1.5 hours). I put the drum on the base and what do you know, math failed me. Or rather, I failed math. The drum was too big for the base. The next day, I brought the base and the drum to my BIL's shop. I'll spare you the boring details (unless you want it), but he ended up cutting the drum right on the bottom rib. Of course, he had access to a plasma cutter and did it in about 60 seconds. What do you know, it fits! It actually sits on the outside of the Weber kettle base just fine, but it was wobbly. So my BIL used his trusty plasma cutter and cut another ring from the barrel. He tacked it on to the bottom of the drum to sandwich the kettle lip in. I can take pics if you care to see that. We test fitted and it looked good. I brought it back to my garage and put it all together. It was freakin tall! I chopped the legs down 10" and this is what we end up with. Forgive the paint job, it was all I had. Close up of the seam: This is my franken-UDS. I will fire it up tomorrow to see how it performs. __________________ Whiskey makes everything better.

03-09-2013, 03:13 PM	#2
HankB is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-16-12 Location: Winfield, IL	I like it! I have a 55 gallon drum that I have been planning to use to make a rotisserie ring that will fit a Weber kettle. Maybe I need to make it a little taller so it can serve as a sort of WDS as well. __________________ Weber Crazy

03-09-2013, 03:37 PM	#3
Carbon is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-24-08 Location: Los Angeles	Weber Drum Smoker (or Redneck WSM or UDS Hybrid) Here's my Smokey Joe UDS __________________ ....UDS....Mini-WSM....Midi-WSM....Mod-ECB....22.5-OTG....34"wood fired pizza oven....

03-14-2013, 10:10 AM	#4
Wh1skey6 Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 10-31-12 Location: Spokane, WA	I finally fired it up. I've been using the mini WSM since its only three of us but I decided to do a test run anyways. I threw in some freezer burnt ground pork that was seasoned for egg rolls. Cranked the sucker up and wow! Temp control was infinitely easier using the stock dampers on the Weber kettle than with sheet magnets. Being able to separate the sections also makes cleaning up the ash easier. Although I do need handles for the body. What i love the best about it is I still can use it as a weber kettle, should I ever choose to do so. I have a Ducane gasser for grilling so I think this will stay the way it is. __________________ Whiskey makes everything better.

03-14-2013, 10:20 AM	#5
Buried In Smoke Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-07-12 Location: Dearborn, MI	I did a full size, sitting in the back there. Holds a lot of grub! __________________ UDS, UDS/Weber hybrid a.k.a.- "[I][B]The Meat Silo[/B][/I]", Large BGE, Homemade 30# tank grill, 22.5" Weber Kettle. 80 gallon air tank RF has begun!

03-14-2013, 11:03 AM	#6
savageford is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-24-13 Location: Westfield, MA	that's a nice family photo!!

03-14-2013, 03:19 PM	#7
HeSmellsLikeSmoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-07 Location: Warren, Vermont	Looks like a Stretch Kettle to me. __________________ Jim - Another transplanted Texan Former KCBS CBJ Large and Medium Big Green Eggs , Black 18.5" WSM, Blue Weber Performer - Stainless, Green Weber OTG Kettle , Brinkmann SnP Pro, and a Stainless UDS. One retired Portable Kitchen grill. Red Thermapen, Maverick ET-732, EdgePro Apex Sharpener. Avatar is the original 1951 Weber Kettle

03-14-2013, 05:12 PM	#8
Johnny_Crunch Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-10 Location: Cypress TX	I like it! __________________ J Crunch

03-14-2013, 05:16 PM	#9
superlazy is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-16-12 Location: Trevor,wi	^^^^^Same here!! __________________ 18.5 WSM, Weber genesis,little pig grill,Pit Boss Memphis Ultimate,Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050

03-14-2013, 06:40 PM	#10
Happy Hapgood somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 03-17-12 Location: Shreveport, Louisiana Name/Nickname : Mike	What kind of whiskey shots? I could use some good inspiration like that. Mighty Fine! __________________ Cooking Equipment: Weber WSM, Weber GA, Weber Spirit E-310, Weber 22" OTG Charbroil Oilless Turkey Fryer Wife LuzziAnn 1956 model. Ink Bird IBBQ 4T Wi-Fi Temp Monitor, Superfast LSU Purple Thermapen & ThermaPop, Party Q Ink Bird Sous Vide, HF Flame Thower My Motto these days is "Low Stress, Low Drag". The Artist Formally Known as Toast