Ugly Drum Smoker

[Bbq Bubba]

Originally Posted by jcinadr

The interior paint will burn when cooking - burnt paint smoke is probably even less tasty than it is unhealthy.

Removing the exterior paint is mostly a byproduct of removing the interior paint. Initially there was a feeling that the exterior needed to be repainted with high temperature paint - but if you don't run w/o a lid - the outside of the barrel should not get hot enough to cause the regular paint to peal.

Seasoning will smoke a bit - might want to at least give it a chance to set before smoking with pam (that said, the lard might make for a tasty smoke...
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All that said, I skipped most of the steps as I had a barrel that was unlined and was previously used to store coconut oil. I did do a test burn for a few hrs however to get a feel for the barrel before attempting to cook it it.
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First full burn this weekend. Brisket came out fine. I changed to pipe nipples, added the ash pan lifter, and a smoke stack - still running cooler than I would prefer. Open valve and 1 nipple was having trouble maintaining 200. If I shook off the ash every hr or so, could maintain 205. 2 nipples open got it to 225. I think I will modify the ash pan next to get a clearer draft flow.

On the lighter side, Sunday afternoon my neighbor came over (bbq'd Saturday night). He will be competing with his tandom axle custom Klose in Houston this weekend - I think he won 2nd last year. He asked a lot of questions about the UDS, and I think we may have another drum head in the works. (The Klose is a lot of pit for single brisket or a couple of chickens. He has a side pit on it, but was thinking the UDS might work even better for a quick BBQ).

Now he read the whole thread!

[Radical Rick]

here are a few pics of my UDS build.


a tomato paste drum for $20.00

I felt like I had too much uncontrolable intake using the bottom of the bb-q pro bottom, so I removed it.

here is my charcoal basket.

smoking

time to eat.

This has been a very fun build and I want too thank you guys for having such a great forum for guys like me to learn from! I have added a basket and handles on the side to carry it with.

[jocosa]

I love the bathroom caddy... :)

[jaronimo]

Wow. I have never seen a UDS on carpet before.

Hopefully its fire resistant.

[sfbbqguy]

Sweet build Rad Rick but give us some more details...
Intakes?
I like the legs and I liked the concept of having the ash clean out too like the Out Performer and others.
And the bathroom caddy! What did the wife say when she saw it was missing from the shower?

It's always a great day when another Drum-head joins the Corp.

[Radical Rick]

I built this thing while reading a few pages at a time of this thread before I joined.The more I read, the more I realized early mistakes, such as using the bottom piece of the bb-q pro grill. For a grill, it is probably great. There is just too much air gaps where the ash can slides in. NOT a tight fit. When I read about what little air intake was required I knew that the bottom spelled trouble.
I then thought I would re-invent the wheel. I cut a hole in what used to be the lid, which is the bottom now, that the base of my electric brinkman would tightly fit into. now that gave me the choice of electric or charcoal. Plus this give me the capacity of not just 2 but 4 grate levels by placing the body without the lid to the brinkman inside my UDS! This look great, and I had a lot of confidence that it would work like a dream. NO GO! It would not get past 175 degrees. After the failure I just fired up my charcoal starter and poured 1 load on top of a bottom of unlit coals with 2 pecan logs. GO GO GO! This worked perfect and put a smile on my face as I was able to control the temp so easy with quick results.
My legs for the UDS were made from two pieces of scrap flat metal that I had laying in my shop. I just cut them in half which made me 4- 20 inch pieces to use for legs. After I remove the BB-Q pro bottom and installed the brinkman base, I cut 7 inches off of the legs which lowered them to a very likable height. For intake, I am only using the hole that came with the brinkman for the electric eye slides through. I have been plugging it with foil as needed, but will use a refrigerator magnet next time per someone else's idea that I recently read about.

[SCPossum]

I am cooking right now for the second time. Mine is sensitive to the air inflow and I had to start using a regrigerator magnet over the intake holes to get down to the correct gap. Full open was too much and closed was too little. Glad I read about the magnets.

[Norcoredneck]

Radical Rick I just push 2 1/4" bolts between BBq pro ash pan and stamped "L"'s in base. I plugged the slide doors and use typical uds ball valve/nipple set up on my 85 gallon build. Works fine.

[Radical Rick]

Originally Posted by Norcoredneck

Radical Rick I just push 2 1/4" bolts between BBq pro ash pan and stamped "L"'s in base. I plugged the slide doors and use typical uds ball valve/nipple set up on my 85 gallon build. Works fine.

where exactly did you install the ball valves?

[Norcoredneck]

At base. Let me see if I can find a pic.

[Norcoredneck]

Here is the first 'Big belly Mod" I made for the people who were complaining about bending over and adjusting. I also have 3 capped 3/4" nipples.

[Weiser]

Do you need three 3/4" nipples plus the valve with a 85?
Just curious as to what the difference is regarding the intakes
with an 85 VS a 55.

Prolly stupid but... what about the standard eight hole exhaust?
Do the number of holes need to be increased or, perhaps opened up to 5/8"

Weiser

[Norcoredneck]

Originally Posted by Weiser

Do you need three 3/4" nipples plus the valve with a 85?
Just curious as to what the difference is regarding the intakes
with an 85 VS a 55.

Prolly stupid but... what about the standard eight hole exhaust?
Do the number of holes need to be increased or, perhaps opened up to 5/8"

Weiser

I actually use my "Redneck Guru" on this. I open one, valve open, start fire. Build temp, cap one, go 1/2 valve and turn on redneck guru and it controls nicely. I have a weber type lid so don't know on lid holes. i woyld go standard 8 1/2" to start. Easier to open up than replace material if not enough exhaust.

[capri man]

i like the headman stickers!! you a racer??

[Radical Rick]

Originally Posted by capri man

i like the headman stickers!! you a racer??

no, just know I guy named Mike that works for them. I do like racing. I sat in the Crown Royal suite at Talladega this past fall. Have been to more than 30 Nascar races there!