Mini UDS/WSM Throw together

I have a WSM at home I have put some hours on, and had the urge to have something smoked here at the family's place while on vacation.

I found a new in box Smokey Joe on CL for .50 on the dollar, and then found an old oil barrel out on the farm filled with used oil and buried up to the first rib for who knows how long!

Here are some pics of the on the road project...I did what I could with what I had. :wink:

Looking forward to the pork shoulder in the brine!


I will leave it here so when I come back to visit we can enjoy some good eats!

Figuring out the pic thing...I think I got them up now.

Bludawg had the thermo right. Its what the hardware store had handy and I like the large face.

I didnt paint the inside. After I burned it out, I oiled it up for the first smoke. :grin:

I just did my pork shoulder tonight with lump coal. I wrapped the shoulder at 4 hours, 155 degrees and pulled it off at the 7.5 hour mark at 200 degrees. I let it rest for an hour and a half and was fantastic. The temp held steady at 250 for 7.5 hours without stoking/adding more fuel. That was impressive to me. I did place a deep tuna can over the lower vent to keep the ash from suffocating the air flow. The top sides of the can was vented.

I did want to add at least one more rack to the build, but I didn't want to drive 45 minutes to the nearest town to get another rack. The local hardware store in this little po-dunk of 700 population didn't have a replacement grate I could buy. There is ample room though, even enough for three racks.

If I do this again, I will change a few things:
Yes, add at least one more rack, possibly two.
Access holes at each grate level to insert a thermometer into the meat at the corresponding level.
Handles. (couldn't find anything at the hardware store)
Extended vent adjustment handles. They are too hot to adjust after it comes to temp. (DUH)
Possibly finding a different solution for the legs to add stability.

This however, again, did a great job for an impromptu smoker without a big box store to shop at.

Thanks for all the comments. Any tips or criticisms welcome! :-D