First dance with MaryJane (UDS)

CajunSmoker · 01-13-2008, 08:16 AM

I did my first cook on my new UDS yesterday and it was interesting to say the least

I loaded my smoker up with a brisket, a rack of BB's and some homemade cajun sausage that was farking nuclear hot

. Everything was looking good. I pulled the sausage off after about 2 hours for breakfast.

When I sauced the ribs at 3.5 hours, I noticed that the temps didn't seem to be responing on my thermostats to the opening and closing of the lid or the adjustments I made to my ball valves.

After 4 hours the temps bottomed out at 150* and I knew the ECB pan was not going to cut it.

I looked inside and sure enough the ashes had damn near choked the fire out. I tried to shake the pan around and clear the ashes but to no avail. So I had to make a decision. I still had a brisket that I was determined to cook in my new smoker.

So I pulled and sliced the ribs and made a quick trip to Home Depot to get the stuff to make a basket like NorcoRedneck has posted on the UDS thread.(like I should have done in the first place

)

So I got the new basket made out of 8" wide 3/4" expanded metal and wrapped it around a charcoal grate from an 18" weber kettle. I didn't want to waste a lot of time with trying to get the coals out of the ECB pan so I loaded up with 10# of new charcoal (8#unlit 2# lit) and some pecan chunks.

This picture shows the brisket at 4 hours when I pulled it out to change the charcoal basket out.

The brisket finished up in only 8 hours.

All I can say to describe it is farking awesome. Deep smoke ring and the perfect texture. Put some slices on a bun with some of my sweet sauce and it was wonderful.

I decided to leave the coals burning in the new basket to see what kind of burn time I was going to get out of it. The following picture was taken down into the barrel after 6 hours of burn time. You can see that there is lots of charcoal left and even some wood chunks.

I checked it up until 10 hours and it was still holding 240* at 10 hours burn time. I think this is the perfect basket for the UDS

I love my new UDS and I already have 4 other people that are wanting to build one.

Bbq Bubba · 01-13-2008, 08:24 AM

Aren't they awesome Rodger, new basket look's good, same design i'm putting in mine!!

Smokin Gator · 01-13-2008, 08:35 AM

I was really curious about the ECB pan. It did seem like there wasn't going to be enough space for the ashes to fall through. I'm glad you tried it and when it didn't work still recovered the cook. That was impressive.

Talk about impressive... the smoke ring on that brisket is awesome!!!

smooookin · 01-13-2008, 08:39 AM

The grub looks awesome. Be careful, these things are like Lay's potato chips, nobody can make just one.

redy2smoke · 01-13-2008, 08:46 AM

MARYJANE looks awesome and sounds like you got her dialed in. Good looking eats!! It doesn't take long for friends and buddies to hop on the UDS band wagon especial after they sample some of the pron they are capable of producing.

Crüe-B-Cüe · 01-13-2008, 09:13 AM

Great job Cajun! I've been reading all the threads on the UDS. I've been wanting to build one for quite a while, and I think it's about time I bite the bullet. Luckily I have a drum remanufacturer about 10 miles from me. I can get open head reman drums for 30 bucks. I'll have to start scrounging for a weber lid though.

Ron_L · 01-13-2008, 09:27 AM

Great looking food! Congrats on the maiden voyage for Mary Jane!

All of these UDS threads are getting to me. I may have to build one just to do it...

Norcoredneck · 01-13-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron_L

All of these UDS threads are getting to me. I may have to build one just to do it...

Half the fun in owning one is bragging that you made it. The other half is split between napping while it chugs along and eating the great food that comes off it. Break out them tools Ron.

DaChief · 01-13-2008, 10:37 AM

Great looking spread and congrats on the maiden cook.

SmokeWatcher · 01-13-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron_L

All of these UDS threads are getting to me. I may have to build one just to do it...

Once you have one, you'll wonder how you did without it. They are so easy and don't need a lot of attention. It quickly became my favorite cooker.

keale · 01-13-2008, 11:37 AM

Good Job Rodger! Nice recovery too! With 10lbs of charcoal you can easily get 15 hrs or more at 230*... Wait till you do a Pork Butt, "easy peasy" LOL!

ModelMaker · 01-13-2008, 11:43 AM

The biggest thing you'll have to et used to are 3.5hr ribs, 1hr fatties, and 6-8hr butts.
It's just a fact of life these drums are like microwaves.
Not a complaint mind you just different.
ModelMaker

biffleg · 01-13-2008, 01:11 PM

Looks like a great first ride - welcome to the UDS club!

Ron_L · 01-13-2008, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norcoredneck

Half the fun in owning one is bragging that you made it. The other half is split between napping while it chugs along and eating the great food that comes off it. Break out them tools Ron.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeWatcher

Once you have one, you'll wonder how you did without it. They are so easy and don't need a lot of attention. It quickly became my favorite cooker.

The part that you guys are missing is just how inept I am with tools! I can screw up the simplest project without trying

txschutte · 01-13-2008, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron_L

The part that you guys are missing is just how inept I am with tools! I can screw up the simplest project without trying

C'mon, man! I'm getting a drum for Wyatt this week. I will help with layout, and a bit of supervision, but it will be all his! I f a 9yo is ready, so are you!

01-13-2008, 08:16 AM	#1
CajunSmoker is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-06-07 Location: Rolling down the river between St Louis and New Orleans	First dance with MaryJane (UDS) I did my first cook on my new UDS yesterday and it was interesting to say the least I loaded my smoker up with a brisket, a rack of BB's and some homemade cajun sausage that was farking nuclear hot. Everything was looking good. I pulled the sausage off after about 2 hours for breakfast. When I sauced the ribs at 3.5 hours, I noticed that the temps didn't seem to be responing on my thermostats to the opening and closing of the lid or the adjustments I made to my ball valves. After 4 hours the temps bottomed out at 150* and I knew the ECB pan was not going to cut it. I looked inside and sure enough the ashes had damn near choked the fire out. I tried to shake the pan around and clear the ashes but to no avail. So I had to make a decision. I still had a brisket that I was determined to cook in my new smoker. So I pulled and sliced the ribs and made a quick trip to Home Depot to get the stuff to make a basket like NorcoRedneck has posted on the UDS thread.(like I should have done in the first place) So I got the new basket made out of 8" wide 3/4" expanded metal and wrapped it around a charcoal grate from an 18" weber kettle. I didn't want to waste a lot of time with trying to get the coals out of the ECB pan so I loaded up with 10# of new charcoal (8#unlit 2# lit) and some pecan chunks. This picture shows the brisket at 4 hours when I pulled it out to change the charcoal basket out. The brisket finished up in only 8 hours. All I can say to describe it is farking awesome. Deep smoke ring and the perfect texture. Put some slices on a bun with some of my sweet sauce and it was wonderful. I decided to leave the coals burning in the new basket to see what kind of burn time I was going to get out of it. The following picture was taken down into the barrel after 6 hours of burn time. You can see that there is lots of charcoal left and even some wood chunks. I checked it up until 10 hours and it was still holding 240* at 10 hours burn time. I think this is the perfect basket for the UDS I love my new UDS and I already have 4 other people that are wanting to build one. __________________ Rodger How y'all are? I'm glad you got to see me I guarontee Justin Wilson 4/24/1914 - 09/05/2001 CAJUN QUE KREWE Proud ARKLAFO KCBS member & CBJ#24398 Twin Ugly Drum Smokers Brinkman Smoke King Deluxe Brinkman Gourmet ECB with super chicken mods Weber OTS kettle

01-13-2008, 08:24 AM	#2
Bbq Bubba somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-03-07 Location: New Baltimore, Mi.	Aren't they awesome Rodger, new basket look's good, same design i'm putting in mine!! __________________ Owner of Bubba's BBQ & Catering L.L.C. Beer Snob I cook the #bestbrisketnorthoftexas. Get over it. #detroitporkmafia BBQ Person of the Year 2013

01-13-2008, 08:35 AM	#3
Smokin Gator Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-01-06 Location: Fernandina Beach FL	I was really curious about the ECB pan. It did seem like there wasn't going to be enough space for the ashes to fall through. I'm glad you tried it and when it didn't work still recovered the cook. That was impressive. Talk about impressive... the smoke ring on that brisket is awesome!!! __________________ [SIZE="2"][FONT="Comic Sans MS"]Food! It's the second most important thing to a young man, and the most important to an old one.[/FONT][/SIZE] ______________________________________________ -Brent Smokin Gators BBQ Team Medium Amazin' Blue Spicewine - It's a Swamp Thing UDS Large BGE - Adopted Medium BGE - Adopted Weber 22 inch w/mods Weber SJP Stoker Weber Genesis Silver C Gasser Constant wood lurker FBA CBJ

01-13-2008, 08:39 AM	#4
smooookin is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-04-07 Location: KC Mo.	The grub looks awesome. Be careful, these things are like Lay's potato chips, nobody can make just one. __________________ "Foil is a BBQ mans duct tape" my wife.

01-13-2008, 08:46 AM	#5
redy2smoke Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 11-04-07 Location: Valley Head, Alabama	MARYJANE looks awesome and sounds like you got her dialed in. Good looking eats!! It doesn't take long for friends and buddies to hop on the UDS band wagon especial after they sample some of the pron they are capable of producing. __________________ Jim Brinkman SNP Pro Holland Tradition Gas (retired in place) UDS, Weber Kettle __________________________________________

01-13-2008, 09:13 AM	#6
Crüe-B-Cüe is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 09-25-07 Location: Mobile, AL	Great job Cajun! I've been reading all the threads on the UDS. I've been wanting to build one for quite a while, and I think it's about time I bite the bullet. Luckily I have a drum remanufacturer about 10 miles from me. I can get open head reman drums for 30 bucks. I'll have to start scrounging for a weber lid though. __________________ Wes - Mobile, AL - Large Big Green Egg, MES 40

01-13-2008, 09:27 AM	#7
Ron_L Moderator Join Date: 12-09-04 Location: Wandering, but not lost Name/Nickname : Captain Ron	Great looking food! Congrats on the maiden voyage for Mary Jane! All of these UDS threads are getting to me. I may have to build one just to do it... __________________ "Ron Rico, Boss. You can call me Captain Ron..." Naked Fatties Rock! PKGo X 2/PK360/Weber Q1000/Blackstone Camping Griddle/Pit Boss Pro Series 850

01-13-2008, 10:37 AM	#9
DaChief Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-28-07 Location: Melbourne, FL	Great looking spread and congrats on the maiden cook. __________________ DaChief BGE Large WSM Weber One-Touch Gold Weber Go-Anywhere Turkey Fryer "Go on! Shoot me again! I enjoy it! I love the smell of burnt feathers and gunpowder and cordite!" -- Daffy Duck

01-13-2008, 11:37 AM	#11
keale Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-17-07 Location: Kauai, HI	Good Job Rodger! Nice recovery too! With 10lbs of charcoal you can easily get 15 hrs or more at 230... Wait till you do a Pork Butt, "easy peasy" LOL! __________________ To Eternity and Beyond! HE>i* BBQ Brethren 22.5" WSM (1,000,000 post mod.) Weber Performer (169.00/brand new mod.) Weber Handles from www.amlwoodart.com UDS 22.5" Weber kettle, (refuse collector mod.) 18" Weber kettle (almost new craigslist $20 mod) "crest of a breaking wave" thats my name...

01-13-2008, 11:43 AM	#12
ModelMaker Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 04-21-06 Location: Lake Ponderosa-Montezuma, IA	The biggest thing you'll have to et used to are 3.5hr ribs, 1hr fatties, and 6-8hr butts. It's just a fact of life these drums are like microwaves. Not a complaint mind you just different. ModelMaker __________________ Designer of a custom drum smoker Customized Aussie gas passer Turkey fryer Extremely seasoned hand hammered Wok Pit Boss-HART BURN Competition BBQ Team KCBS certified judge And Your not the boss of me either!!

01-13-2008, 01:11 PM	#13
biffleg is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-16-05 Location: North Carolina	Looks like a great first ride - welcome to the UDS club! __________________ Transplanted Texan now living in North Cakalacky GOSM w/ SFB mod UDS Smoker 22.5" Weber Kettle /usr/bbq