Ugly Drum Smoker

[smokeyw]

Where did you find the 20" ash pan? I haven't seen any larger than 16".

[daninnewjersey]

Originally Posted by smokeyw

Where did you find the 20" ash pan? I haven't seen any larger than 16".

Here's an 18" pizza pan on Amazon.com for $9.99.....

Amazon.com: Winware Coupe Style Aluminum 18 Inch Pizza Tray: Kitchen & Dining@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41N-L3Uu3-L.@@AMEPARAM@@41N-L3Uu3-L

The also have a 20" for a couple bucks more....
Amazon.com: Winware 20-Inch Aluminum Pizza Tray with Wide Rim: Kitchen & Dining@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/317vyVAjH3L.@@AMEPARAM@@317vyVAjH3L

[Downtown Smokeout]

Originally Posted by locodrvr

My first UDS. I completed this past weekend. Thanks to everyone who has posted on this forum, it helped me along tremendously. The only problem I have is my cooking distance. I can't get it much more than 20 inches from my fire. right now it's sitting at 18in. Any suggestions? help?

It looks like your grate is sitting WAY lower than it needs to be, unless your doing chickens upright, even then it looks low. Put a kettle lid on it if it will fit, then mount your grate at the top of the barrel. If it won't fit, do the kettle cut and drop in mod, cut off the rolled top mod.....several other suggestions throughout the thread. Take a tape measure to a large butt and a chicken, you probably don't need as much clearance as you think.

[chobint]

Finally found the right parts in the store. Here's my new baby with some modifications. Added a second intake/valve and extended the pipe above waist level. I'm gonna leave it as ugly as possible for now, to deter my fellow city dwellers from eying it.

Just after adding the pipes

Bound the pipes to keep them stable.

And look at these massive logs of lump that came out of my bag.... wtf mate (sorry this one is blurry)

[inv3ctiv3]

Almost done with my first build! Its burning out right now. How long do you guys usually let them burn for?

[inv3ctiv3]

It's burning really hot but the paint on the outside isn't flaking off....should it?

[Anchors Smokeshop]

Yes, the majority of the paint should burn off.
While mine was burning, I sprayed the exterior of the drum with the garden hose and it helped with the removal of the paint.
What ever didn't burn off, I took wet sandpaper and sanded off by hand.
Here are some before, during and after photo's of my UDS.

[inv3ctiv3]

Here are some in progress shots, been burning about 2 hours now....



The inside is really black now

[righteousdog]

Originally Posted by smokeyw

Where did you find the 20" ash pan? I haven't seen any larger than 16".

Originally Posted by daninnewjersey

The also have a 20" for a couple bucks more....

yeah i got mine off amazon also, but when i bought them they were only $6.42 and if you bought 4 shipping was free. apparently the gig is up on uds builders...

i'd still go with the 20's again even tho the 16's are more readily available (at wally for like $3) the easier cleanup is worth it to me.

[Stig]

I scored an unlined drum for free, and I am doing the upside-down mod with a lid and locking ring as the bottom. I burned out the drum today after cutting the bottom out and setting it on blocks, raging fire! The lid that will be the bottom of the UDS has a foam-rubber type gasket, I think it won't get hot enough to cause a problem but what does the brethren think? The lid is convex so without the gasket I may get some grease seeping out from the bottom, but then I could replace it with fire rope or something similar.

[brewman114]

I know it already has its own thread but I just had to show it off a little more. Especially after usint it a few times. This thing works great for anything. Ive done butts, brisket, ribs, burgers and dogs/brats. I also have used it for a Crab/crawdad boil. Awesome!!!

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/at...1&d=1299976131

[vhram]

Originally Posted by brewman114

I know it already has its own thread but I just had to show it off a little more. Especially after usint it a few times. This thing works great for anything. Ive done butts, brisket, ribs, burgers and dogs/brats. I also have used it for a Crab/crawdad boil. Awesome!!!

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/at...1&d=1299976131

Now thats a drum setup , very nice.

[inv3ctiv3]

So here is my first official build post!

This is how it looked yesterday:



This chisel I used ($13)



During the chisel process:





Chiseling can leave a razor sharp and jagged edge (I hammered then ground this down later)



My weber lid seriously fits perfectly:





What I bought at Home Depot last night:



Building my charcoal basket:





So we found a dog tie down that we thought would make a perfect handle but I have a concern about it maybe being toxic? It's magnetic and sparked so it's definitely not aluminum but is there anything else I should worry about?





Starting the burn out, it burned for 2 hours (is that enough?)





















A shot of my friends shop:




So I took it back home and coated the entire inside with vegetable oil and am going to season it tomorrow after I paint it (any tips for this?)

I guess I am a little concerned with how safe is it to cook in this? I washed it out with soap really well, burned it out for over two hours then washed it out again and then coated with oil. How should I season it tomorrow?

Thanks!

[inv3ctiv3]

So is there a way for me to tell if the charcoal basket handle is galvanized? I really don't wanna season/burn this again if it is, I'll cut it off if so. I'm sick now so I can't paint/finish this today

[NCDave]

I picked up this drum back in November. Didn't work on it much due to the cold weather, but finally got it done last week. Picked up a kettle grill at Big Lots, which provided the lid, charcoal grate and cooking grate. Painted the outside with Rust-Oleum.

Here's the finished product:



Since I'm in NC, it's only fitting to smoke some pork, so here's the Boston butt before and after:



Had a bit of trouble getting the temp down, it wanted to stay at 325 the first 4 hours, so I'll try adding fewer lit coals to the basket next time. That was some tasty pulled pork!

Much thanks to all on this board, almost all the research was done here.