Ugly Drum Smoker

[OferL]

On Friday I loaded my UDS with two rib racks





2.5 hours later. Foiled them and laid on the grate.



4 hours total.



In the time they were on the grate I cooked some chicken breasts, corn and mushrooms on the lower grate.



The table



The ribs





Clean bones. Not fall off but I like it not so tender.

[jermoQ]

Every bit of that looks great! I am really wanting my corn to be ready now.

[el luchador]

Wow that looks so great

[Czarbecue]

I see you are using the Vortex without the deflector plate?

[Peter V]

Does the Lavalock or such gasket (1/2" x 1/8") do a good job sealing the lid on a UDS? I'm trying to get a no leak seal on the lid.

[OferL]

Originally Posted by Czarbecue

I see you are using the Vortex without the deflector plate?

I use it on and off.
Ribs tend to drip a lot of liquid which builds up on the deflector and turns to hard burnt gunk.
With the deflector off it reaches the coal and turns to vapor which goes back to moist the meat on the outside.

If I'm making lean meat like chicken I use the deflector as it helps a lot with stabilizing the heat and distributing more evenly it in the barrel.
It actually gets hotter on the top grate then the lower one which is closer to the fire.

In this cook it was off during the hanging period and back on when I foiled and left the ribs on the grate, adding the chicken and vegetables.

[OferL]

Originally Posted by Peter V

Does the Lavalock or such gasket (1/2" x 1/8") do a good job sealing the lid on a UDS? I'm trying to get a no leak seal on the lid.

I use it. Attached to the lid. Works great.

[dgaddis1]

OKAY. I've spent way too much time browsing this thread, and now I simply have to build myself an UDS. I do have a question tho, that I don't think has been answered exactly.

Has anyone purchased a new drum from either U-Line or McMaster-Carr? If so, does a Weber kettle lid fit it, and what type did you get (open top, closed top, with or without the 2" drain in the bottom, etc)?

I know all drums are slightly different. On some the lid fits perfect, some it takes some work, and some it actually fits the 'bottom' perfect but not the top.

I may be able to pick up a lightly used Kettle for cheap to use as an organ donor for a UDS build. For the drum itself, I'm leaning towards just buying a new one, hence the question. Both McMaster Carr and U-Line are local-ish to me so I could pick it up and save on shipping, but I doubt either of them want me wandering their warehouse checking the fit of the kettle lid...

[bschoen]

Just explain your need to the floor manager, most are sympathetic to a good cause. And what better cause than BBQ? Easier yet, call the shop and explain, maybe they know the answer you seek.

[ebijack]

I've found most drums that are open top (and some closed top). If you cut the top ring off. Most every Weber and knock off lid fits as long as you do a straight cut.

[Nuco59]

Was me, I'd go with an open top and use the flat lid that it comes with. Having a "weber" dome so you can have 2 grates sounds good but in practice - not so much. I got a "freebie" stainless closed head drum and had no choice but to adapt a weber lid to it. I did set it up to use 2 grates- but I won't cook on the lower grate. I use it for a catch pan...when I use it at all.

I'd pay good money (but not retail) to have the same SS 55 gallon drum with a removable flat lid

[rinasek]

First time posting here, read through 1/4 of this thread and here is the first result of my build:



Thanks, everyone! So far I have been only reading here but I hope that in future I can contribute.

[foam2]

I have a stainless open head drum with the weber lid. I use the hunsaker vortex basket and have no issues cooking on both grates for ribs pork butts or anything else. I am not typically cooking that much food where I need both grates but when I'm cooking more than 3 slabs of ribs the second grate is great to have.

[fuzzytxt]

I just completed MY First UDS!
Weeks of planning and gathering what i needed and it payed off big time! Reading this tread helped alot!



I had a tiny little water smoker and it was great $50 from Home Depot! It worked, but i wanted to step up and looking at the intermediate smokers, whew thats $500 on up and When i saw Drum Smokers I was sold!

Here is a build log if anyone is interested (just on IMGUR)

Cant wait to get Ribs, Brisket, Pork Butt, and wings on there, Just dont know what to do first LOL!

[OferL]

Originally Posted by fuzzytxt

I just completed MY First UDS!
Weeks of planning and gathering what i needed and it payed off big time! Reading this tread helped alot!



I had a tiny little water smoker and it was great $50 from Home Depot! It worked, but i wanted to step up and looking at the intermediate smokers, whew thats $500 on up and When i saw Drum Smokers I was sold!

Here is a build log if anyone is interested (just on IMGUR)

Cant wait to get Ribs, Brisket, Pork Butt, and wings on there, Just dont know what to do first LOL!

Looks beautiful. Welcome to the dark side