MattTucker
Found some matches.
I finally bit the bullet and decided to make an attempt at building a few Ugly Drum Smokers (UDS), while waiting for some shop time to build a couple of Gravity Fed Dual Pan Cabinet Smokers off of some SmokeBuilder plans that we purchased. Seems those gravity fed smokers might end up being a winter project at this point due to work in the shop. Plus, the original OzarkSmoke reverse flow smoker is a breeze to use and cook on; but it is really too big for home use. Which led me wanting to do a quick UDS build.
I purchased the drums from a company just outside of St. Louis, Missouri in Venice, IL called Container Distributors. They charged $60 for a brand new open top unlined drum with lid (here is the link http://www.containerdistributors.com/). These drums give me 33" of interior drum height to deal with, and for these we will be using a flat lid.
Here is my initial design (i hope to have some actual cad files / templates done up for the interwebs in a week or two):
Drum Interior Height = 33"
Location of Top Rack from Top of Smoker = 8"
Location of Lower Rack from Top of Smoker = 14"
Charcoal Basket Overall Height (Including 3" Standoff) = 13" (10" Charcoal wall)
Charcoal Basket Inside Diameter = 15" (using 3/4 x #9 Exp Metal)
Quantity of Air Intakes = 2
Size of Air Intakes = 1-1/2 Standard Pipe
Location of Air Intakes From Outside Bottom = 3" to Center of Pipe
Size of Exhaust On Lid = 3" Standard Pipe
Location of Exhaust On Lid = Unknown
We finished 2 of the 4 UDS smokers this week before Jeff Fitter and I took off for the Tri-County BBQ Championship in Festus, Missouri. We didn't cook our competition on the drums, but it gave us something to play with during the down time. I have to say, I am really really impressed with the drums.
Below are some photos from the process.
==================
Photo # 001 (New, Un-Lined Drums)
I bought these drums from Container Distributors in Venice, IL for $60/each.
Photo # 002 (An inside look at the layout)
You can see the layout lines for the 2 shelves, the diffuser shelf, and the hanging racks at the top.
Photo # 003 (Fitting up the lids.)
Time to fit up the exhaust on the lids. A 1ft piece of 3" Standard Pipe fit the bill.
Photo # 004 (The Cook Chamber)
Almost all fitted up and ready for welding.
Photo # 005 (Welding Time)
Time to get it all welded up.
Photo # 006 (Lid and Handle Design)
I did not want a hinged lid, but also didn't want a hook to just hang the lid. Some small tubing and round rod did the trick nicely.
Photo # 007 (Grinding)
Lots and lots of grinding.
Photo # 008 (Charcoal Baskets)
Without a doubt, the Charcoal Baskets took the longest to complete. Cutting 3/4 x #9 Expanded metal with a torch is tedious work.
Photo # 009 (Almost Complete)
Almost complete.
Photo # 010 (Bling)
Exhaust covers and some "bling" are painted up.
Photo # 011 (Phatso's BBQ UDS)
A look at the first one painted up for Phatso's BBQ, a friend of mine. We used Dupli-Color Engine Enamel for the paint in aerosol cans (it took 3 full cans per UDS).
Photo # 011 (OzarkSmoke's UDS)
A look at the first one painted up for OzarkSmoke, this one's mine. We used Dupli-Color Engine Enamel for the paint in aerosol cans (it took 3 full cans per UDS).
Photo # 012 (A look at both smokers.)
Both UDS's together. We have 2 more that are almost done, but weren't quite ready for photos.
Photo # 013 (OzarkSmoke Bling)
I really like the look of the stand-off for the logos, and the alternating colors.
==================
In the end, this build was a really fun project. I plan on building a few more for my own use and family and friends. I really can't believe how easy it was to control the temperature.
Like I said earlier, after only one cook, I am so impressed with them, I plan on making some CAD drawings with templates for use for layout, along with a material / parts list for when I go to make my next one.
A few things I did learn from this build, and looking at a few of them during the competition this weekend:
*Add large rear wheels and 1 front post for maneuverability.
*Add ash pan to bottom of charcoal baskets
*Add a shelf for use with Digital Probes
*Add a port for the addition of a fan controller
I am already looking forward to the next time i cook on this. I think they turned out pretty darn good.
--Matt Tucker
I purchased the drums from a company just outside of St. Louis, Missouri in Venice, IL called Container Distributors. They charged $60 for a brand new open top unlined drum with lid (here is the link http://www.containerdistributors.com/). These drums give me 33" of interior drum height to deal with, and for these we will be using a flat lid.
Here is my initial design (i hope to have some actual cad files / templates done up for the interwebs in a week or two):
Drum Interior Height = 33"
Location of Top Rack from Top of Smoker = 8"
Location of Lower Rack from Top of Smoker = 14"
Charcoal Basket Overall Height (Including 3" Standoff) = 13" (10" Charcoal wall)
Charcoal Basket Inside Diameter = 15" (using 3/4 x #9 Exp Metal)
Quantity of Air Intakes = 2
Size of Air Intakes = 1-1/2 Standard Pipe
Location of Air Intakes From Outside Bottom = 3" to Center of Pipe
Size of Exhaust On Lid = 3" Standard Pipe
Location of Exhaust On Lid = Unknown
We finished 2 of the 4 UDS smokers this week before Jeff Fitter and I took off for the Tri-County BBQ Championship in Festus, Missouri. We didn't cook our competition on the drums, but it gave us something to play with during the down time. I have to say, I am really really impressed with the drums.
Below are some photos from the process.
==================
Photo # 001 (New, Un-Lined Drums)
I bought these drums from Container Distributors in Venice, IL for $60/each.
Photo # 002 (An inside look at the layout)
You can see the layout lines for the 2 shelves, the diffuser shelf, and the hanging racks at the top.
Photo # 003 (Fitting up the lids.)
Time to fit up the exhaust on the lids. A 1ft piece of 3" Standard Pipe fit the bill.
Photo # 004 (The Cook Chamber)
Almost all fitted up and ready for welding.
Photo # 005 (Welding Time)
Time to get it all welded up.
Photo # 006 (Lid and Handle Design)
I did not want a hinged lid, but also didn't want a hook to just hang the lid. Some small tubing and round rod did the trick nicely.
Photo # 007 (Grinding)
Lots and lots of grinding.
Photo # 008 (Charcoal Baskets)
Without a doubt, the Charcoal Baskets took the longest to complete. Cutting 3/4 x #9 Expanded metal with a torch is tedious work.
Photo # 009 (Almost Complete)
Almost complete.
Photo # 010 (Bling)
Exhaust covers and some "bling" are painted up.
Photo # 011 (Phatso's BBQ UDS)
A look at the first one painted up for Phatso's BBQ, a friend of mine. We used Dupli-Color Engine Enamel for the paint in aerosol cans (it took 3 full cans per UDS).
Photo # 011 (OzarkSmoke's UDS)
A look at the first one painted up for OzarkSmoke, this one's mine. We used Dupli-Color Engine Enamel for the paint in aerosol cans (it took 3 full cans per UDS).
Photo # 012 (A look at both smokers.)
Both UDS's together. We have 2 more that are almost done, but weren't quite ready for photos.
Photo # 013 (OzarkSmoke Bling)
I really like the look of the stand-off for the logos, and the alternating colors.
==================
In the end, this build was a really fun project. I plan on building a few more for my own use and family and friends. I really can't believe how easy it was to control the temperature.
Like I said earlier, after only one cook, I am so impressed with them, I plan on making some CAD drawings with templates for use for layout, along with a material / parts list for when I go to make my next one.
A few things I did learn from this build, and looking at a few of them during the competition this weekend:
*Add large rear wheels and 1 front post for maneuverability.
*Add ash pan to bottom of charcoal baskets
*Add a shelf for use with Digital Probes
*Add a port for the addition of a fan controller
I am already looking forward to the next time i cook on this. I think they turned out pretty darn good.
--Matt Tucker
