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Help! My first UDS attempt

Z

Zed

Is lookin for wood to cook with.
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Greenville SC
Ok guys and girls I'm going to attempt a UDS. Today I got a larger than normal steel drum from a company next door to my shop. The i.d of the drum is 25 3/4 inches!!! and the height is 38.5 inches. Now I can get a normal size drum but that would cost me some cash and this was free. So my first question is where could a I get a cooking grate for this big boy? I believe Weber has a grate that measures 25 3/8 which would be perfect if I can find one on the cheap. Any idea's?

I think every thing else will be about the same for a normal size drum but if anyone knows different please speak up. I plan on doing this all from parts that are free or real close and or from the junk yard. The idea is to make my own UDS and not a kit smoker. Not that there is anything wrong with kits but for my first I want cheap and me all over it. I'm open to any and all advise you people are willing to give. Thanks in advance and I look forward to being part of this bbq crazy group. Cheers!
 
I was thinking this was a hard to come by drum. I called weber after your post and they sell it for 79.00 plus shipping. So if you where me you would spend the money on this drum and push forward? I
 
hi, congrats on getting a big drum.

do you have a steel shop around you? a 4x8 sheet of expanded metal is like $70 and should give you enough for for two grates and a charcoal basket!

or, if you dont want to fab something like that and dont want to spend a lot of money you can put some long bolts in there and use the cheap $10 grates that fit the wsm . you'll lose real estate but you wont spend that much and wont have to cut expanded metal( which is really easy to do actually.)
 
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Seems like this free drum is going to cost you in the long run with the added expense of odd-sized grates. I'd see if you can't find somebody with a more standardized size drum to swap with.
 
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I'd like to have 2 levels in the smoker and I was concerned about the size also. But if I can find some expanded steel with a thickness that will hold up would that not be about the same cost as 2 smaller grates?
 
kwas68 said:
Seems like this free drum is going to cost you in the long run with the added expense of odd-sized grates. I'd see if you can't find somebody with a more standardized size drum to swap with.
Click to expand...

Agreed, I just bought 4 drums with lids that were stored inside for $40. You will waste a lot of money trying to make this one work, IMO.

Chris
 
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Thanks for the input. But so that I can say I thought this through, what other than the grates would be a bigger expense compared to ta normal sized drum?
 
Grates and a cover are the 2 big things, everything else would be the same or similar. If it were me, I'd say: Love the one you're with.
 
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The drum has a removable cover and a strap that locks it closed.
 
Zed said:
The drum has a removable cover and a strap that locks it closed.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'd soldier on. May as well just do the big one first.

(My wife made me do that with my motorcycle - get the 1800 now so I don't have to hear you bitch while you're riding the 1300 that you need the bigger one. I love her. :-D)
 
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Sounds like a recovery drum? I have one, made my own grates (3) out of expanded metal, made the same sized charcoal basket that i use in a 55 gallon drum, works great. Good Luck.
 
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4dueces said:
Sounds like a recovery drum? I have one, made my own grates (3) out of expanded metal, made the same sized charcoal basket that i use in a 55 gallon drum, works great. Good Luck.
Click to expand...

That is exactly what it is, once you said it that rung a bell. I may have found a grate on Craigs list for 15 bucks. Waiting to hear back from the guy on the exact size. In his post it's described as 25 inches, which is perfect. If I could find or make another I'll be in good shape. Also good to know the basket would work in it thank you.

Any good ideas on a hinge for the lid or is that a stupid idea? Also, do you have any pics of your grates and the thickness and size of the expanded metal. It seems there are lots of choices out there.
 
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I'd keep it, use it and love it. The grates (however/where ever) you get them are going to be more pricey than the 22.5 inchers- no getting around it. Buy one /have one made and get it built -fire it up. You can always add a second grate at a later time. (I find a 2nd grate on a UDS style cooker to be a huge PITA- but some folks love them)

good luck!
 
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Nuco59 said:
I'd keep it, use it and love it. The grates (however/where ever) you get them are going to be more pricey than the 22.5 inchers- no getting around it. Buy one /have one made and get it built -fire it up. You can always add a second grate at a later time. (I find a 2nd grate on a UDS style cooker to be a huge PITA- but some folks love them)

good luck!
Click to expand...

Do you know if a lower side door for getting to the charcoal would be practical?
 
If you're looking to place hinges on your drum you can check out this site: http://udsparts.com/hinges-latches.html
The down side is that if you're going as cheap as possible these wreck that idea. However you can get a simple stainless hook at any hardware or big box store for less than $2.
 
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el luchador said:
it would be practical, but could also introduce air leaks unless you seal it well.
Click to expand...

Ok fair enough. I assume a basket full of charcoal can go a full 12 or more hours? If not I guess you have to pull the meat, grate and basket to refill.
 
As for a side door...I have 3 UDS which I made, each has a coal basket that is made from the Weber Kettle coal grate with 2x4 expanded metal rolled and bolted to make it round. These hold a full bag of lump Charcoal and I can run them for at least 12 hours before I even have to think about adding any fuel.

In the 14 years I've been using my original UDS I've only ran out of fuel on one cook and that was on a HUGE Ham that I got at a butcher shop, had to finish in the oven as it was really too big for my UDS.

This is even running them in -15, so don't over think the UDS, the reason they work, if built right is that they are pretty dummy proof, light the fire in a chimney, pour on your basket, put in your drum, put the cooking grate on, put the meat on, let it cook.

As for the parts, your most expensive part is going to be your thermometer unless you go really cheap, which you can do, I chose to put Tel Tru's on mine though. Enjoy the UDS once you get some Que off of it you will looking at an offset, and then you will be looking at a stick burner. Which this forum and these guys and gals will definitely help you spend some money. This is not the place to come for any type of BBQ addiction treatment, it's the exact opposite! :heh:
 
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You could use a 22.5" grate as the 2nd one by putting it on legs. Here is one that fits on my kettle, but 7" bolts would raise it up to the normal UDS level.
picture.php
 
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