BBQGeekess's 30 Gallon UDS Build Thread

Fwismoker said:
Great job....you got a very very very nice smoker/ griller!
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Thanks a lot Fwi ! :) Thanks for all your wonderful help!

I still have more to do with her.. it's really fun actually! I am a geek about it. I am really addicted to BBQ now lol.

I contacted PBC Company and they will sell me their charcoal basket for $55 including shipping in case I ever want to have the option to make my Emma (Latin for "Universal") PBC-like. I'd just have to fashion myself an open grate of rebar with 2 cross bars, that sits on a upper grate supports--1 1/2" from top of my barrel. Their charcoal basket is nice because it has solid sides and sits low. The solid sides redirect airflow from intakes to below it and up and through.

I think I am gonna add the rotisserie tomorrow (I have an extra one laying around I got my PGS K40 gas grill that I am no longer using since the rotisserie burner is rusted out and not worth replacing.. I don't gas at all really and certainly not rotisserie.)

EDIT: I just now checked the temp and it is stuck right at 250F right from the start.. I love how it's so easy to cook with this! I really struggled with my Mini for months! Cooking rib tips.
 
bbqgeekess said:
Thanks a lot Fwi ! :) Thanks for all your wonderful help!

I still have more to do with her.. it's really fun actually! I am a geek about it. I am really addicted to BBQ now lol.

I contacted PBC Company and they will sell me their charcoal basket for $55 including shipping in case I ever want to have the option to make my Emma (Latin for "Universal") PBC-like. I'd just have to fashion myself an open grate of rebar with 2 cross bars, that sits on a upper grate supports--1 1/2" from top of my barrel. Their charcoal basket is nice because it has solid sides and sits low. The solid sides redirect airflow from intakes to below it and up and through.

I think I am gonna add the rotisserie tomorrow (I have an extra one laying around I got my PGS K40 gas grill that I am no longer using since the rotisserie burner is rusted out and not worth replacing.. I don't gas at all really and certainly not rotisserie.)

EDIT: I just now checked the temp and it is stuck right at 250F right from the start.. I love how it's so easy to cook with this! I really struggled with my Mini for months! Cooking rib tips.
Click to expand...
Here's my last rib tips from a couple of nights ago....just Jamaican Jerk dry rub.
 
I would highly recommend putting legs on your charcoal basket. If you don't, your ash buildup will choke your fire out on long cooks.
 
JLStout said:
I would highly recommend putting legs on your charcoal basket. If you don't, your ash buildup will choke your fire out on long cooks.
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Yeah I am going to build a fire basket stand for it and I temporarily used the edges of fire bricks for last night's cook. But I am not putting any legs on the basket itself since I want to be able to put it on the lower grate for grilling.

I just thought about it more and I am gonna put an additional 17" charcoal grate at the very bottom just above the intakes on additional grate supports, and sit my basket on this, criss crossed (since I use lump).
 
bbqgeekess said:
Yeah I am going to build a fire basket stand for it and I temporarily used the edges of fire bricks for last night's cook. But I am not putting any legs on the basket itself since I want to be able to put it on the lower grate for grilling.

I just thought about it more and I am gonna put an additional 17" charcoal grate at the very bottom just above the intakes on additional grate supports, and sit my basket on this, criss crossed (since I use lump).
Click to expand...

The basket stand sounds like a very nice mod.
 
I want the mini weber chimney starter now! Pouring the minion starter coals from my big chimney down into the basket , while inside the drum was difficult as it was hard to turn it inside my 30 gallon drum.
 
bbqgeekess said:
I want the mini weber chimney starter now! Pouring the minion starter coals from my big chimney down into the basket , while inside the drum was difficult as it was hard to turn it inside my 30 gallon drum.
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I'm gonna get one those as well sometime....i do use Weber cubes alot, i just put a Weber cube in my basket under the spot i want lit and the basket fires up pretty quick....this way you don't have to mess with the chimney at all if you don't want to.
 
After my brother and his wife seeing my UDS in action (grilled a burger for them here on it and they also sampled some of my leftover rib tips from the day before), they totally want one. My brother kept asking questions on how much each part would cost etc. I told him (runs about $160 for everything for this).

He wants me to build him one, but little does he know I already am as a gift for Christmas. I am going to bring it in all wrapped up with a huge bow on it -- they'll laugh knowing what it is under the wrapping paper--it'll be totally cute. I am gonna load the drum with all the accessories including a lil weber chimney starter, some homemade rubs of mine, apple wood chunks, a small bag of wood pellets (for grilled stuff/chicken), and a bag of hasty bake lump.
 
bbqgeekess said:
I want the mini weber chimney starter now! Pouring the minion starter coals from my big chimney down into the basket , while inside the drum was difficult as it was hard to turn it inside my 30 gallon drum.
Click to expand...

Poke a lightly oiled paper towel down into the center off the unlit coals and light it like a fuse. Works great every time with no mess or fuss. The total time to sweet blue is about the same as using a chimney.
 
bbqgeekess said:
After my brother and his wife seeing my UDS in action (grilled a burger for them here on it and they also sampled some of my leftover rib tips from the day before), they totally want one. My brother kept asking questions on how much each part would cost etc. I told him (runs about $160 for everything for this).

He wants me to build him one, but little does he know I already am as a gift for Christmas. I am going to bring it in all wrapped up with a huge bow on it -- they'll laugh knowing what it is under the wrapping paper--it'll be totally cute. I am gonna load the drum with all the accessories including a lil weber chimney starter, some homemade rubs of mine, apple wood chunks, a small bag of wood pellets (for grilled stuff/chicken), and a bag of hasty bake lump.
Click to expand...
Just got a call from a friend that wants me to build one for her husband for Christmas also. I suggested the Big Poppa Drum kit so she's ordering it and shipping it to my house. Now i just have to find a drum, get the holes drilled and take to get sand blasted and high heat powder coated.

The dang thing will be better than mine since it will be powder coated lol
 
Nice build and welcome to the addiction. Half the fun of a UDS is building it. Your imagination goes into overdrive. If you didn't already make a stand for your basket, I mounted a cheap pizza pan under the basket, makes for very easy clean up. Make sure you posts some pics of your cooks!

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I am giving this 30 gallon UDS I jsut built to my brother and his wife & family for Christmas--they both fell in love with her (Emma) the first day they laid eyes upon her.

I talked to Emma and she's excited, ready to serve, and has no hard feelings :)

However, I didn't tell Emma I have in my mind to build a larger 55 gallon replacement--that'd just be cruel.

Thanks all *so much* for the help!
 
bbqgeekess said:
I am giving this 30 gallon UDS I jsut built to my brother and his wife & family for Christmas--they both fell in love with her (Emma) the first day they laid eyes upon her.

I talked to Emma and she's excited, ready to serve, and has no hard feelings :)

However, I didn't tell Emma I have in my mind to build a larger 55 gallon replacement--that'd just be cruel.

Thanks all *so much* for the help!
Click to expand...
You'll want at least two size cookers for yourself ...the smaller and the larger. Smaller = better fuel efficiency for those smaller cooks vs the 55 gallon.

Build them either a 30 or 55 brand new?
 
Fwismoker said:
You'll want at least two size cookers for yourself ...the smaller and the larger. Smaller = better fuel efficiency for those smaller cooks vs the 55 gallon.

Build them either a 30 or 55 brand new?
Click to expand...

I'm building me a 55 stainless. That'll do along with the mini. The mini will be for almost everything all the time (2 people here).. whatever wont' fit in the mini that's when I'll use the big guy (which won't be often). E.g. for turkey, brisket packer or full racks of ribs.

30 gallon is perfect for my brother because they can cook everything for their family with just it. They'll save some fuel vs. the 55 gallon, and the mini is just too small for them most of the time.
 
bbqgeekess said:
I'm building me a 55 stainless. That'll do along with the mini. The mini will be for almost everything all the time (2 people here).. whatever wont' fit in the mini that's when I'll use the big guy (which won't be often). E.g. for turkey, brisket packer or full racks of ribs.

30 gallon is perfect for my brother because they can cook everything for their family with just it. They'll save some fuel vs. the 55 gallon, and the mini is just too small for them most of the time.
Click to expand...
Ugh i forgot you had the mini....alzheimers :shocked:
 
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