Very odd Drum Smoker UDS idea

ChrisChaos · 02-23-2010, 12:37 AM

Ok i'm working on something A Earth Smoker. It was a stainless 55 drum, with a box made of treated lumber around the drum and as tall. about 8 in. between the drum and the box. Inside the box I was going to pack with dirt around the drum. the vent will come out of the sides just like a reg UDS just through the dirt and outside of the the box.

Has anyone tried this or heard of this before?

OO yea 1 side of the box ( side with the vent) you could slide the boards, I guess to get the dirt and barrel out if needed.

I always have strange Ideas..hope someone has something to add, I'm hoping for less fuel and better heat retention with this idea.

MoGreen · 02-23-2010, 01:26 AM

Please don't bury a SS drum in dirt! It's just too darn pretty for that! My father-in-law owns a Bubba Keg, and he's always concerned that my UDS would work better with some sort of insulation around it. Personally, I think it works just fine as is.

Papa Payne · 02-23-2010, 02:08 AM

I don't know, but I think the heat load from heating the cold dirt around the drum could consume way more fuel than an open air drum. Granted, once heated, the fuel consumption would be minimal.

Some form of insulation would be the way to go if you're after fuel efficiency.

Papa

countyliner · 02-23-2010, 04:40 AM

Seems like dirt would be a very good insulator. Think about all the pig roasts in pits dug into the ground, Cowgirl had a post not long ago about one.

My concern would be that the dirt would hold moisture and rust your drum more quickly.

imfree2q · 02-23-2010, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by countyliner

Seems like dirt would be a very good insulator. Think about all the pig roasts in pits dug into the ground, Cowgirl had a post not long ago about one.

My concern would be that the dirt would hold moisture and rust your drum more quickly.

Dirt is a really good insulator and has been used time and time again for that reason.. Another good reason to use dirt would be to hide that uds!! Just sayin!

J_Don · 02-23-2010, 06:52 AM

IMHO I have to agree with MoGreen about SS being to pretty to surround/hide with dirt and for countryliner worring about rust, I have never seen SS rust before. I vote to take it out of the box.

Drifter · 02-23-2010, 07:05 AM

the drums are already very fuel effecient. I get 12-14 hour burns on 12 -15 pounds of charcoal just like it is. Building a box to bury it in dirt seems like a lot of work for very little gain.

jeffjenkins1 · 02-23-2010, 07:07 AM

Some stainless will rust, like 409 ss, however, most drums are 300 series stainless and have very little ferrous in them so they probably would not rust.

That being said, I cooked a brisket and two pork butts in 14 degree weather, no problem with temps.

Experimenting is fun, but I don't think I would want to get more usable burn time than 14 hours on 10-12lbs of charcoal. I would rather just build another UDS and cook simultaneously.

Jeff

CajunSmoker · 02-23-2010, 07:15 AM

I don't know if you've used a UDS before or not, but mine don't lose a lot of heat. I take the flat lids on and off with my bare hands and the sides don't get hot enough to melt plastic stick on decals.

Not sure your gonna gain much by insulating and like the others said it sure seems wrong to bury a ss drum

1FUNVET · 02-23-2010, 08:35 AM

Sounds like a waste of a good ss drum and time to me. Just my opinion.

ChrisChaos · 02-23-2010, 08:48 PM

thanks for the ideas...you know how it goes with the wives..don't like the UDS sittin by the goldfish pond lol. so the box idea was born...Maybe the box no dirt lol
Thanks guys

landarc · 02-23-2010, 09:01 PM

I would say if the box is a WAF issue, go ahead and insulate with something lighter, say high temp fiberglass batts. How are you going to hide the lid. Otherwise it is gonna look like a park trash can with a steel dome lid and a wood box below.

armor · 02-23-2010, 09:26 PM

Keep it simple. Standard UDS. Drums cooks great in the cold, and burn times are more than you need. Seems like a lot of time building that could be spent cooking.

sdb25 · 02-23-2010, 09:39 PM

Just dig a farking hole in the ground and smoke it that! The drum isn't gonna add anything to it. Oh, and send me your drum.

BBQ Grail · 02-23-2010, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by landarc

i would say if the box is a waf issue, go ahead and insulate with something lighter, say high temp fiberglass batts. How are you going to hide the lid. Otherwise it is gonna look like a park trash can with a steel dome lid and a wood box below.

waf?

02-23-2010, 12:37 AM	#1
ChrisChaos Got Wood. Join Date: 01-25-10 Location: Martin, tn	Very odd Drum Smoker UDS idea Ok i'm working on something A Earth Smoker. It was a stainless 55 drum, with a box made of treated lumber around the drum and as tall. about 8 in. between the drum and the box. Inside the box I was going to pack with dirt around the drum. the vent will come out of the sides just like a reg UDS just through the dirt and outside of the the box. Has anyone tried this or heard of this before? OO yea 1 side of the box ( side with the vent) you could slide the boards, I guess to get the dirt and barrel out if needed. I always have strange Ideas..hope someone has something to add, I'm hoping for less fuel and better heat retention with this idea.

02-23-2010, 02:08 AM	#3
Papa Payne is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-23-09 Location: Taylorsville, NC	I don't know, but I think the heat load from heating the cold dirt around the drum could consume way more fuel than an open air drum. Granted, once heated, the fuel consumption would be minimal. Some form of insulation would be the way to go if you're after fuel efficiency. Papa __________________ [COLOR=white]Chargriller Offset[/COLOR]

02-23-2010, 06:52 AM	#6
J_Don is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-02-09 Location: Hattiesburg, MS	IMHO I have to agree with MoGreen about SS being to pretty to surround/hide with dirt and for countryliner worring about rust, I have never seen SS rust before. I vote to take it out of the box. __________________ Weber 22.5 Silver, Weber 22.5 Gold Weber 22.5 Performer, Weber 22.5 WSM Weber Smokey Joe & Weber Smokey Joe Mini WSM Kenmore Elite Gasser w/ Rotisserie Cajun Cooker (3) UDS In Progress [COLOR=#0000ff]BLUESMAN[/COLOR] Splashproof [COLOR=#0000ff]BLUE [/COLOR][COLOR=black]Thermapen :bow:[/COLOR] H D FXSTD

02-23-2010, 07:05 AM	#7
Drifter is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-02-09 Location: Brookland, AR	the drums are already very fuel effecient. I get 12-14 hour burns on 12 -15 pounds of charcoal just like it is. Building a box to bury it in dirt seems like a lot of work for very little gain. __________________ Weber 22.5 OTG; UDS; knockoff Char-Griller sidebox smoker; Char-Broil RED gasser

02-23-2010, 07:07 AM	#8
jeffjenkins1 Babbling Farker Join Date: 03-01-08 Location: Akron, OH	Some stainless will rust, like 409 ss, however, most drums are 300 series stainless and have very little ferrous in them so they probably would not rust. That being said, I cooked a brisket and two pork butts in 14 degree weather, no problem with temps. Experimenting is fun, but I don't think I would want to get more usable burn time than 14 hours on 10-12lbs of charcoal. I would rather just build another UDS and cook simultaneously. Jeff __________________ You do what you have to do, so you can do what you want to do! Ole Hickory Ultra Que 2 18" WSM 18" Weber OTS Primo Oval XL NB American Gourmet offset smoker UDS Big Chief Smoker Turkey Fryer

02-23-2010, 01:26 AM	#2
MoGreen On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-10-09 Location: Whitfield Estates, TN	Please don't bury a SS drum in dirt! It's just too darn pretty for that! My father-in-law owns a Bubba Keg, and he's always concerned that my UDS would work better with some sort of insulation around it. Personally, I think it works just fine as is.

02-23-2010, 04:40 AM	#4
countyliner Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-02-09 Location: DeSoto County, MS	Seems like dirt would be a very good insulator. Think about all the pig roasts in pits dug into the ground, Cowgirl had a post not long ago about one. My concern would be that the dirt would hold moisture and rust your drum more quickly.

02-23-2010, 07:15 AM	#9
CajunSmoker is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-06-07 Location: Rolling down the river between St Louis and New Orleans	I don't know if you've used a UDS before or not, but mine don't lose a lot of heat. I take the flat lids on and off with my bare hands and the sides don't get hot enough to melt plastic stick on decals. Not sure your gonna gain much by insulating and like the others said it sure seems wrong to bury a ss drum __________________ Rodger How y'all are? I'm glad you got to see me I guarontee Justin Wilson 4/24/1914 - 09/05/2001 CAJUN QUE KREWE Proud ARKLAFO KCBS member & CBJ#24398 Twin Ugly Drum Smokers Brinkman Smoke King Deluxe Brinkman Gourmet ECB with super chicken mods Weber OTS kettle

02-23-2010, 08:35 AM	#10
1FUNVET Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-16-09 Location: Lake Charles La	Sounds like a waste of a good ss drum and time to me. Just my opinion.

02-23-2010, 08:48 PM	#11
ChrisChaos Got Wood. Join Date: 01-25-10 Location: Martin, tn	thanks for the ideas...you know how it goes with the wives..don't like the UDS sittin by the goldfish pond lol. so the box idea was born...Maybe the box no dirt lol Thanks guys

02-23-2010, 09:01 PM	#12
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA	I would say if the box is a WAF issue, go ahead and insulate with something lighter, say high temp fiberglass batts. How are you going to hide the lid. Otherwise it is gonna look like a park trash can with a steel dome lid and a wood box below. __________________ [COLOR=DarkGreen][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]me: I don't drink anymore Yelonutz: me either, but, then again, I don't drink any less [/SIZE][/COLOR][/COLOR][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed] [COLOR=Pink]SSS[/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE]

02-23-2010, 09:26 PM	#13
armor is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 03-26-08 Location: Virginia	Keep it simple. Standard UDS. Drums cooks great in the cold, and burn times are more than you need. Seems like a lot of time building that could be spent cooking. __________________ Mike Risk is the price you pay for opportunity. SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

02-23-2010, 09:39 PM	#14
sdb25 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 12-03-09 Location: Long Beach, CA	Just dig a farking hole in the ground and smoke it that! The drum isn't gonna add anything to it. Oh, and send me your drum. __________________ -elbows deep in someone else's misery.

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