Ugly Drum Smoker

SmokinJohn · Sep 5, 2013

Pasmadj said:
Hello SmokinJohn.

Thanks for the very quick response!

I will find and read N8Man's post about lighting.

The next time I light it, I am going to target higher temps - maybe up to 300 deg to bake off any final undesireables.

Do you think that my temp control struggles were because I was trying to stabilize at 200? Do you think most UDSs stabilize better at 225 or higher?

How tightly are others able to control the temps? How often do you usually have to tweak the valve during a cook?

I think they were caused by not enough charcoal to start and then playing with too many switches at one time.

The old adage here is that is is better to catch the temps on the way up than to force them down.

UDS are an interesting thing. My "Bat UDS" will cook at any temp you want, if I have no wind and little humidity. It goes as low as 200 and as high as 400 (from leaving the lid open too long on a foil job).

This last weekend, (100 degrees with humidity) it wouldn't settle in until it hit 275, which means I was cooking in the low end of the "Hot and Fast" range. Ordinarily, it will hold at 225-245, and will do so for over 12 hours.

I have yet to have to fiddle with the valves, unless I have wind.

This lets me do an overnight cook while I sleep.

Each cook will teach you more about your UDS.

boaz65 · Sep 5, 2013

Weber lid for UDS question

I've been reading that the 22.5 in weber grill cover fits a 55 gal drum perfectly for a UDS. I had been looking for a while to score a 22.5 lid and actually scored an entire 22.5 silver touch weber grill (2 yr old) + accessories for $40 from my local craigslist. The lid doesn't fit my UDS!!! My drum is/was a 55 gal. food grade barrel. Do you guys modify your weber lids to make them fit? Any suggestions?
Thanks!!!

RT · Sep 5, 2013

boaz65, Not all of the drums are the same size, I used an angle grinder to grind the lip on the drum until the lid fit. It took some time but I have a good fit now.

SmokinJohn · Sep 5, 2013

boaz65 said:
I've been reading that the 22.5 in weber grill cover fits a 55 gal drum perfectly for a UDS. I had been looking for a while to score a 22.5 lid and actually scored an entire 22.5 silver touch weber grill (2 yr old) + accessories for $40 from my local craigslist. The lid doesn't fit my UDS!!! My drum is/was a 55 gal. food grade barrel. Do you guys modify your weber lids to make them fit? Any suggestions?
Thanks!!!

You can bend the rim of the drum in, or pull the lip of the lid out....either way, go slow. I recommend working the drum, in case you need the lid to put back on the OTS.

Very few drums accept the OTS/OTG lid unmodified. I was lucky enough to buy one from a guy who tested it.

FiremanVinny · Sep 5, 2013

I bent the lid out, placed it on the drum and tapped it back it in. Works for me with no leaks.

Nuco59 · Sep 6, 2013

Question re: lids and their "fit"

Ok, first post- be gentle with me. I have been from one end of this thread to the other and I have a question. There seems to be a general consensus that it's hard to have too much exhaust using 8 holes or standard 2" bungs. But you have folk hammering, adjusting, clamping and using oven proof gasket to seal the lid.

I made my drum(s) both with flat lids- one fits so tightly I have to use a chunk of 2x4 to loosen it- does not show any smoke from around the edges. The other has wispies of smoke from the edges but is really easy to take on and off. They both seem to cook equally well- and I don't have issues holding temps.

Am I missing something about the need /benefit of having a super well fitting lid?

thanks all.

Cue-Ball · Sep 6, 2013

Nuco59 said:
Ok, first post- be gentle with me. I have been from one end of this thread to the other and I have a question. There seems to be a general consensus that it's hard to have too much exhaust using 8 holes or standard 2" bungs. But you have folk hammering, adjusting, clamping and using oven proof gasket to seal the lid.

I made my drum(s) both with flat lids- one fits so tightly I have to use a chunk of 2x4 to loosen it- does not show any smoke from around the edges. The other has wispies of smoke from the edges but is really easy to take on and off. They both seem to cook equally well- and I don't have issues holding temps.

Am I missing something about the need /benefit of having a super well fitting lid?

thanks all.

I've thought the same thing. Unless your temp is hard to control, who cares if it doesn't fit *just* right.

SmokerKing · Sep 6, 2013

Every drum is going to have its own characteristics when it comes to cooking, holding temp, etc.

I prefer to seal my drums as tightly as possible and eliminate the " air leak" variable in case I do have problems with holding temp, high temps, etc.

It's so much easier to add air then to eliminate or chase air leaks IMO.

Gethenet · Sep 6, 2013

Heavy or standard?

I found a local company that sells reconditioned drums, they have " heavy "steel and thin ( regular).....I'm thinking the heavy the steel, the better it will hold heat?

cjs27410 · Sep 6, 2013

Today's mods

Because of all the rain I added a patio umbrella to my drum. 1" conduit hangers fit the pole perfectly.

cjs27410 · Sep 6, 2013

I cut a slit in the side, with a dremel, for my probe wires. Screen spline slit open to cover the sharp edges. 1/4" wide

RT · Sep 6, 2013

I like both of your mods cjs27410. :thumb:

Exocet · Sep 6, 2013

SmokinJohn said:
Each cook will teach you more about your UDS.

That's definitely the truth. I'm 2 cooks in and each was very different. First cook, it wanted to run 275-300 deg. Had a 6 lb Boston Butt and enough charcoal for 8-9 hours. Second cook was more like 225-250 deg. Second cook had two racks of meat (ribs) and a smaller charcoal load since I was only planning to cook for 6 hours. First cook was a windier.

I've also found that cooking in direct sunlight adds about 10 deg versus cooking in the shade with the same settings.

I suspect my lid is a bit leaky. I can have my air intake completely closed off, and it'll still hold 225-250 deg quite well.

So, I'm still pretty early into the learning curve.

Toadly_Smoked · Sep 8, 2013

Doing some homework to build the "Ultimate UDS". This is what I am thinking now, what do you "UDS Masters" think.

Starting with a 55 gal drum and do the normal, burn, wire wheel and paint.

Now instead of using bolts to support the rack, use 4 Ubolts. Then make a second rack with legs that will sit into the Ubolts.

Anythoughts?

oifmarine2003 · Sep 8, 2013

Toadly_Smoked said:
Doing some homework to build the "Ultimate UDS". This is what I am thinking now, what do you "UDS Masters" think.

Starting with a 55 gal drum and do the normal, burn, wire wheel and paint.

Now instead of using bolts to support the rack, use 4 Ubolts. Then make a second rack with legs that will sit into the Ubolts.

Anythoughts?

Believe it or not, it is easier to level your cooking rack with 3 bolts instead of 4. I used 3 U bolts.

Toadly_Smoked · Sep 8, 2013

oifmarine2003 said:
Believe it or not, it is easier to level your cooking rack with 3 bolts instead of 4. I used 3 U bolts.

I knew that.:doh:

jeffturnerjr · Sep 9, 2013

My wack at building a UDS... Working on it piece by piece.

bvbull200 · Sep 9, 2013

I'm only on page #58, but I'm trying to get through this entire thread before I start bugging everyone too much with build questions.

That said, I need to ask this now while I can. How do these drums look for building an UDS? I've been trying to find something with a removable lid and that wouldn't require much work to be ready to cook on (not having to remove liners and such). Think one good burn inside one of these could do the trick and I could start building?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/for/4005434921.html

It is the only step that I'm really hesitant about. Any help finding a good drum source in Dallas/Fort Worth is appreciated! Hopefully I'll get one built in the next month or so.

Fwismoker · Sep 9, 2013

bvbull200 said:
I'm only on page #58, but I'm trying to get through this entire thread before I start bugging everyone too much with build questions.

That said, I need to ask this now while I can. How do these drums look for building an UDS? I've been trying to find something with a removable lid and that wouldn't require much work to be ready to cook on (not having to remove liners and such). Think one good burn inside one of these could do the trick and I could start building?

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/for/4005434921.html

It is the only step that I'm really hesitant about. Any help finding a good drum source in Dallas/Fort Worth is appreciated! Hopefully I'll get one built in the next month or so.

It's perfect, get to building!

bvbull200 · Sep 9, 2013

Thanks. I sent a note to the seller and will pick up two if they are available.

Probably worth doing a burn in them anyways, I suppose, but they look good!

Ugly Drum Smoker

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