Ugly Drum Smoker

Outboard Racer said:
I have built several UDS and have tried different heights as well. They all have had Weber dome lids and the flat ones that came with the barrels. I wish I would have built them like Smokerking did and used shelving racks so you can put your racks whatever height you choose and not stuck with the set you put in with bolts, u -clamps etc.

Todd
Click to expand...

Hello. I have seen that concept also, and I think it looks pretty ingenius. My concern is that you have to remove the support brackets if you need access lower than the top rack. So it seems like it would be tough to add coals or water, or switch racks, etc.
 
Pasmadj said:
Hello. I have seen that concept also, and I think it looks pretty ingenius. My concern is that you have to remove the support brackets if you need access lower than the top rack. So it seems like it would be tough to add coals or water, or switch racks, etc.
Click to expand...

I've been using the closet rack system in my BUFORDs for a couple years now. One advantage I have is that I never have to access a water pan or coals as I don't use a water pan and my coal basket is accessible from the bottom side.

Whenever I do multiple grates of meats, I usually rotate the ribs, chicken or butts half way through the smoke. It's quite easy to remove the top 3 brackets. Just wear some welders gloves, lift the top grate, remove the top brackets, pull the second grate up, set the top grate down to the lower brackets, install the three top brackets, set the top grate, takes all of about 30 seconds with probe relocations.

How does the lower racks come out on a regular UDS bolted grate system? Do you have to tilt the grate to get them past the bolts or u-bolts?. No tilting required with the closet rack system.

The closet rack system can be bolted to the drum in case you don't have a welder. Plus, I have cut the bracket lengths down to just a couple inches one one drum.
 
I have to be honest I have never cooked two butts at the same time. But I also have a weber kettle cover that I would use IF my flat top was not good enough.

I too was stubborn at first, and wanted to use a water pan. It was always a chit show. I moved the smoker one time and water fell into my fire. Trying to fill the pan was always a pain to remove all your racks since i have to tilt my racks to have them slide past my bolts. Then I try'd pouring water into the pan from a picture and spill some into fire. At the end I wud just give up and let the pan go dry. Then like I said, one time I was smoking 3 racks of BB ribs and I saw water drip out of the air intake. And that was when I said this dam smoker don't need any more moister. But don't tkae my word for it, learn the hard way like the rest of us ;)

BTW you also burn through more fuel w/ a water pan.

Pasmadj said:
Thank-you very much for the detailed response.

So, you have 5" above your middle rack, and 5 1/4" above your top rack (minus the lid?). Is that enough space for butts on both racks?

I am struggling with the "no water pan or diverter" concept. I am telling myself to just try it out and see for myself. But, indirect heat is so engrained in me, and I can't believe that having coals directly below the meat, doesn't violate the "indirect" concept. Also, many people talk about how the meat cooks faster in a UDS. Does that mean it is more of a high-heat cook, and not low-and-slow?

Have you ever tried just a diverter - instead of the water pan?
Click to expand...
 
Pasmadj said:
Hello. I have seen that concept also, and I think it looks pretty ingenius. My concern is that you have to remove the support brackets if you need access lower than the top rack. So it seems like it would be tough to add coals or water, or switch racks, etc.
Click to expand...

If I did mine with the shelve rack I would see about using bolts or something cut down to fit in the slots not sure yet. Of course it helps that I can have items made at work in our shop.

For adding coal or water if needed I cut a door on the side and bought the brinkman small latch door. Big mistake as I dont need it. Something I didnt think out to well as I have yet to add coals or use the water pan. But its there if I ever need or want but I wont and can add to each with ease.

Just about home from the last 2 weeks of racing and I will be contacting smokerking on a couple diffsuer plates though.

Todd
 
Outboard Racer said:
If I did mine with the shelve rack I would see about using bolts or something cut down to fit in the slots not sure yet. Of course it helps that I can have items made at work in our shop.

For adding coal or water if needed I cut a door on the side and bought the brinkman small latch door. Big mistake as I dont need it. Something I didnt think out to well as I have yet to add coals or use the water pan. But its there if I ever need or want but I wont and can add to each with ease.

Just about home from the last 2 weeks of racing and I will be contacting smokerking on a couple diffsuer plates though.

Todd
Click to expand...

The closet rack guides have pre-drilled and countersunk holes in the rack guides. If you decide to use them, you may have to cut them down, maybe not, depending upon the length you get. Make sure each of the three guides have the same starting point and the slots are at the same spot on each rack or your brackets and grates won't be level.
 
For you guys wanting multiple racks this is easy-peasy....

Use big stainless eye-bolts at the lowest rack position...see 'em down there?
picture.php


Then use 8 inch stainless bolts and fender washers and nuts to make legs on the cooking grates, like this....
picture.php


Then depending on the height of your DrumPit, you can have as many levels
of cooking racks you want....easy access for pulling racks as you cook...
I can fit 6 racks in mine comfortably...but I usually just use 3-4 at a time...
picture.php
 
N8man said:
For you guys wanting multiple racks this is easy-peasy....

Use big stainless eye-bolts at the lowest rack position...see 'em down there?
picture.php


Then use 8 inch stainless bolts and fender washers and nuts to make legs on the cooking grates, like this....
picture.php


Then depending on the height of your DrumPit, you can have as many levels
of cooking racks you want....easy access for pulling racks as you cook...
I can fit 6 racks in mine comfortably...but I usually just use 3-4 at a time...
picture.php
Click to expand...



How do you change the heights between racks if you need too? Adjust the four legs attached to the grate?

If so, that would be a PIA, the closet rack guide height can be changed any time before or during the cook in a matter of seconds.

Couple different ways of skinnin the cat I guess.
 
SmokerKing said:
How do you change the heights between racks if you need too? Adjust the four legs attached to the grate?
Click to expand...

I don't and never had the need. Every thing I cook fits well between the racks...whole pork shoulders, beef clods, chuck roasts, spatchcocked chickens, whole turkeys, ribs....fits well, cooks well...
 
N8man said:
I don't and never had the need. Every thing I cook fits well between the racks...whole pork shoulders, beef clods, chuck roasts, spatchcocked chickens, whole turkeys, ribs....fits well, cooks well...
Click to expand...

Well, you do have the "extended version". Most of the UDS'ers in here have the flat lid or at best the WSM lid which limits space and number of racks and clearances.

I swear I've seen some fire baskets half the height of the drum on here. Doesn't leave a lot of space for grates.

Personally, I don't know why anyone would build a new UDS with bolts for fixed grate heights. That was one of the first things I knew I had to change when I started building BUFORD's. Sure, I wanted a cheap, simple smoker that could put out some good BBQ but I also wanted the grate height adjustability dealing with the limited smoking space of the UDS.

I'm not saying the closet rack design I use is the best, I've seen some others, but it is functional and easily adjusts and rotates on the fly between racks of wings, butts, briskets, etc.
 
Yeppers, I started with the basic DrumPit...
picture.php


Then it evolved over time as my cooking needs changed..
picture.php


The bottom is still the original barrel, by the way...
picture.php


picture.php
 
OK. I made it through 125 pages of this thread before I started getting the parts for my UDS build. I WILL Finish this thread later!!!

Two days ago, I burned out my new drum just to "season" it.


Then today I went for a test run. I took yall's advice and throwed a fatty and a stick of ring bologna on for good measure.


The food turned out good.


I had to watch it because my temps fluctuated by 50-60 degrees if I left it too long. I think I didn't pack my charcoal well enough because it burned to one side. Anyway, hell of a lot better watchin this than the Chargriller! Next on the list next week, RIBS! That'll tell the story!

Oh, when I read this thread again I'm gonna make some damn notes! Still ain't found the right answer for drillin the holes in the lid. I got 6 5/8" holes and it seemed to be alright. If I pack good next run and still see temps fluctuate, I may make some more holes. At least till I can find me a WEBER Lid!

Thanks to all for this great CHEAP smoker.

One other thing, when the bride got home and took a look at it this afternoon she said ain't no way it's stayin on the back patio. Guess I'm gonna have ta dress it up some!
 
Uds

N8 man I like your 3 rack system you have. I have to agree my smokers went from simple to more additions after reading here from all the people that post lol.

Smokerking - Thanks for the advice on the racks. Didnt know they were countersunk. And yes I found out in a hurry about a level rack the hard way. In a hurry on my 1st drum and put 4 bolts to hold the grates HUGE MISTAKE.Then drilled the hole for the therm and put it literally right at grate level lol. All has been fixed. Just in a hurry to complete and start smoking but my other drums no issues as I took my time.

Todd
 
What part

What part of KY you call home? Just east of Lexington myself.

STUMP52 said:
OK. I made it through 125 pages of this thread before I started getting the parts for my UDS build. I WILL Finish this thread later!!!

Two days ago, I burned out my new drum just to "season" it.


Then today I went for a test run. I took yall's advice and throwed a fatty and a stick of ring bologna on for good measure.


The food turned out good.


I had to watch it because my temps fluctuated by 50-60 degrees if I left it too long. I think I didn't pack my charcoal well enough because it burned to one side. Anyway, hell of a lot better watchin this than the Chargriller! Next on the list next week, RIBS! That'll tell the story!

Oh, when I read this thread again I'm gonna make some damn notes! Still ain't found the right answer for drillin the holes in the lid. I got 6 5/8" holes and it seemed to be alright. If I pack good next run and still see temps fluctuate, I may make some more holes. At least till I can find me a WEBER Lid!

Thanks to all for this great CHEAP smoker.

One other thing, when the bride got home and took a look at it this afternoon she said ain't no way it's stayin on the back patio. Guess I'm gonna have ta dress it up some!
Click to expand...
 
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