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Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking. |
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09-19-2009, 10:27 AM | #1 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 07-01-09
Location: South Riding, VA
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Converting ECB into a mini UDS
I have done the standard mods that everyone suggests for the ECB and find it still needs fuel added every 30-45 minutes, which is a major pain in the arse. I added a charcoal basket to try and fix that (see pic below) but because there is so much air flow in these beasts, I couldn't get below 350 and even broke 415 once!!! Useless!
Now I am considering removing the legs altogether and converting this thing into a mini UDS. Has anyone ever done that? Can't find a thread for it on here. Update: For some reason the pic didn't come through. here is a link to it. http://twitpic.com/ib0ql Last edited by Burk504; 09-19-2009 at 11:50 AM.. Reason: bad pic link |
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09-19-2009, 11:07 AM | #2 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-22-07
Location: Springfield, MO
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Don't know of a thread about that conversion. It would take a lot of work to seal all the air, IMO. The pic here is a little box with a red x in it.
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my avatar swiped fatties from the plate....look how sorry he is. ________ Meat. NB Bandera with mods Weber 22 .5" x 2, 26.75" x 1 UDS x 3 KCBS CBJ Created "The Great Spam Revelation of 2011." www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111155 |
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09-19-2009, 11:54 AM | #3 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 07-01-09
Location: South Riding, VA
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If I took the legs off and the 'barrel' sat flat on the ground, wouldn't that seal it? I may need to raise the water pan up a bit, but that is easy.
Also, is it feasible to use a few small air holes in the side to control the air flow? I could block up holes until there was just the right amount coming in. |
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09-19-2009, 12:00 PM | #4 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 08-11-03
Location: Rocklin, CA
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I'm not sure the effort would be worth the results. The ECB with the mods can turn out some decent bbq. If you want a small UDS, you could just get yourself a 30 gallon drum and build one. The results might be a little more to your liking.
Or in Pirate Talk: I be nay sure th' effort would be worth th' results. Th' ECB wi' th' mods can turn ou' some decent bbq. If ye want a wee UDS, ye could jus' get yersef a 30 gallon drum an' build one. Th' results might be a wee more t' yer likin'.
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Larry Soon to be a Texafornian. For a limited time I will be issuing Moink Ball Certificates. I'm working on a special COVID 19 Verson. Email me for details. |
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09-19-2009, 12:01 PM | #5 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-22-07
Location: Springfield, MO
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Burk, a few brethren on here have build mini drums from actual drums. You might do a search and get some input from there. Just my opinion, but I think setting it on the ground without somehow sealing it better would allow too much air. The door, the top, are all going to create air leaks I am sure it can be done and would be a whole lot better that what you have now. I am just thinking a mini would be real air intake critical. Keep after it, you can get it done!!
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my avatar swiped fatties from the plate....look how sorry he is. ________ Meat. NB Bandera with mods Weber 22 .5" x 2, 26.75" x 1 UDS x 3 KCBS CBJ Created "The Great Spam Revelation of 2011." www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111155 |
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09-19-2009, 12:06 PM | #6 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-22-07
Location: Springfield, MO
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MOS, I tend to agree with Larry but around here we all like a real challenge. Just a thought, if you could fine something to use as a lit, could you possible take the legs off and somehow attach to the lid for a base for the the barrel part to fit in and create a seal with some mods. It would have to be an air tight fit. Just throwing that out.
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my avatar swiped fatties from the plate....look how sorry he is. ________ Meat. NB Bandera with mods Weber 22 .5" x 2, 26.75" x 1 UDS x 3 KCBS CBJ Created "The Great Spam Revelation of 2011." www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111155 |
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09-19-2009, 12:30 PM | #7 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 04-27-07
Location: Mattoon, IL
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Are you using the minion method on your burn? I can get 4 hours out of a pan on mine. And have pretty good results on temp with a full water pan. I start with only 6 lit briquettes in a full load of K.
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Chris Crankin out Q on my ECB since 2005 UDS born September, 2007 22" Weber Kettle 18" Weber Kettle |
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09-19-2009, 12:37 PM | #8 | |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 07-01-09
Location: South Riding, VA
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Quote:
I have taken the legs off already, so I am going for a test run. The only airflow in from the bottom will be through the 6 holes that were used to originally mount the legs. Lets see what sort of burn length and temp control I can get out of that. Wish me luck. |
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09-19-2009, 12:44 PM | #9 | |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 04-27-07
Location: Mattoon, IL
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Quote:
Here are the mods I made to my ECB.
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Chris Crankin out Q on my ECB since 2005 UDS born September, 2007 22" Weber Kettle 18" Weber Kettle |
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09-19-2009, 06:36 PM | #10 | |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 08-03-09
Location: Highland, CA
Name/Nickname : Dave
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Quote:
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09-19-2009, 07:07 PM | #11 |
Take a breath!
Join Date: 06-03-07
Location: Cloverdale, Ca
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one question. WHY??.. time wise you could have probably built a UDS using many parts from your ECB... go get a weber from Freecycle or Craigs and do it.. I was in the same dillema, stuck in ECB mode and I finally went for it and havent looked back since
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"Assumption is the Mother of all F___ups!" |
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09-19-2009, 08:54 PM | #12 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 06-24-07
Location: visalia, ca
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you can just use a weber smokey joe as the coal burner. need to make the legs a little longer on the ecb. i used a weber vent wheel on the lid and you need to use foil made into a rope to seal the lid. works fine after that.
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george spam, can't live without it |
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09-20-2009, 09:17 AM | #13 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 07-01-09
Location: South Riding, VA
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I ran a test last night with a full basket unlit and 8 lit coals to get the party started. I still had some high temp issues (260-280) but this baby burned for 6 hours. The bottom is sealed pretty well, so only a little air is coming in through the side door. My lid has a very poor seal, so if I seal that up well with gasket or foil, would that help keep the temp down? I still don't fully understand all of the physics behind this concept.
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09-20-2009, 09:24 PM | #14 |
Knows what a fatty is.
Join Date: 07-01-09
Location: South Riding, VA
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I did another test today and got 7 hours of 200-250. The trick to keeping the temp lower was stuffing rolled up aluminum foil around the lid to seal it a little better (thanks George!) I also put a brick in the charcoal basket to control the burn a bit. Those 2 changes were all it took to turn this into a much better smoker!
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www.facebook.com/smokisporkis - UDS, Bandera, ECB |
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09-21-2009, 02:33 AM | #15 |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 07-15-09
Location: Mangilao, Guam
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We used an old fryer basket and put some legs on it for a fire basket. I cut some bigger holes in the bottom for ask to fall. With a little aluminum magic wrap we were able to keep it between 220-280 for about 4 hours Attachment 31496
Attachment 31497 Attachment 31498 The second time we used half as much charcoal and it worked alot better. I have some additional mods for the bottom air vent that should help consistency also.
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Let the smoke roll, I've got all day........ Last edited by Kickback BBQ on Guam; 03-22-2015 at 11:03 PM.. |
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Tags |
ecb, mod, uds |
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