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Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking. |
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08-12-2008, 09:18 AM | #1 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 08-11-08
Location: DC Metro
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UDS - First Attempt
Greetings All,
I am looking to construct my first UDS and have a few novice builder questions... 1. What method do you all find to be the most accurate at taking at the grate temps? I have heard of the probe in the potato trick but are there others. 2. I have seen a couple of design for the UDS but none seem to have legs, does the bottom of the barrel not char the ground? (yeah, real novice questions but I am a Brinkmann Vertical Smoker guy, and that things has legs) 3. Due to the rigid/airtight confines, these rigs hold the temps real well and for hours, however I have noticed most people cook with standard charcoal and not lumps or wood chunks. Is it because the latter burns too hot and/or fast? And I have read the several hundred posts on this forum and a couple of other and did not see the answers to these questions. Thanks in advance for your help. And once the barrel arrives, there will be "construction porn". Hmmm, new term, maybe I should coin it. LOL |
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08-12-2008, 10:16 AM | #2 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-22-07
Location: Springfield, MO
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va, all good questions.
1. Potato works great. You can also buy some inexpensive stove temp gauges at most hardward stores that work fine. ($4-5 range) Maverick makes a nice one for about $15. 2. Bottom does not real real hot because the charcoal basket should be about 3" from the bottom. That allows the ash to collect under the fire and airflow under the fuel to burn properly. 3. Fuel is your choice. Any combination will work. If you have a preference, use that and put a 2-4 wood chunks in for flavor. That is all the wood you really need even in a 10-12 hour burn with about 1--12 lbs of fuel. I mix about half and half with lump and charcoal, and I know it will be consistant. That just comes from practice. Hope this helps and good luck with the build. You will not be sorry!!!!!!!!!!!
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my avatar swiped fatties from the plate....look how sorry he is. ________ Meat. NB Bandera with mods Weber 22 .5" x 2, 26.75" x 1 UDS x 3 KCBS CBJ Created "The Great Spam Revelation of 2011." www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111155 |
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08-12-2008, 10:31 AM | #3 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 08-11-08
Location: DC Metro
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Thanks for the reply. Also, the plans I have seen online seem to only use simple tools. Is it a safe bet that I will not need a welder or anything? LOL
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08-12-2008, 10:48 AM | #4 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 10-28-07
Location: North Logan, UT
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I've built three now and haven't needed a welder. The only specialty tool I needed was a step bit or unibit, which now I don't know how I lived without this long. When making my charcoal baskets, I went to a local metal supply place and had them cut the 3/4" round bottoms out of expanded metal for me and then used 1/2 expanded metal to form the vertical part of the ring. I used 1/2" cuz it's much easier to form into the circle.
I'm a briquet guy myself in the drums, in fact I just use Kingsford () and then chunks of hickory and/or cherry. And I use the minion method on that charcoal...
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[FONT=Microsoft Sans Serif]Two Big Fat 22.5" WSM's[/FONT] [FONT=Microsoft Sans Serif]Two Well Worn UDS's[/FONT] [FONT=Microsoft Sans Serif]Great Outdoors Smokey Mountain Gasser[/FONT] [FONT=Microsoft Sans Serif]KCBS Member and CBJ[/FONT] |
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08-12-2008, 11:54 AM | #5 | |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 11-07-07
Location: Middletown California
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Quote:
2. I built mine a bit differently. I cut the bottom out and set the drum on a stand. I did not want to reach into the drum for cleaning out the ashes so now I just lift the drum over the charcoal basket and the cleanup is easy to get to. The legs are 8" and I am thinking about changing them to 6", They just screw into the flanges welded to the bottom of the stand so will be easy to change out. So my design did involve some welding and I don't have a welder so I paid to get this done. But I like the design and how it works. 3. The only trouble I have is occasionally I have to much intake and I have trouble keeping the temps down. I adjust the amount of exhaust and that helps me out. I use strictly briquettes with 4 or 5 wood chunks or wine barrel pieces for the smoke and I get plenty. The thing I would worry about using only wood is keeping the temps down in such a small area. But I have never had a wood burner so I am not sure on this subject. The drum on the right is my UDG (ugly drum grill) in case your wondering. I don't think mine is as consistant tempwise as those with airtight bottoms but I like mine and will try another build this winter and I cannot say for sure knowing myself, but it will probably be a KISS UDS this time.
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Cheers, Jerry aka Barbarian Drumhead - UDS x 2 & UDG Thermopen Keep on Smokin' KC native missin' KC IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller 2009 I also support PETA - People Eating Tasty Animals Last edited by Barbarian; 11-19-2009 at 07:34 PM.. |
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08-12-2008, 11:59 AM | #6 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 08-11-03
Location: Rocklin, CA
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These are all great answers from some of our UDS experts. Have you read the Ugly Drum Smoker thread. I know it's long, might even take a day or two, but it is well worth the time.
You'll learn more about the UDS and it's builders and it will keep you on track.
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Larry Soon to be a Texafornian. For a limited time I will be issuing Moink Ball Certificates. I'm working on a special COVID 19 Verson. Email me for details. |
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08-12-2008, 12:02 PM | #7 |
Take a breath!
Join Date: 04-28-08
Location: Carvel, AB Canada
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Make sure you read the UDS thread. Its a wealth of information if not a bit scattered. Its entertaining at the very least.
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UDS Stumps Clone |
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08-12-2008, 12:07 PM | #8 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 08-13-03
Location: St. Peters MO: 38.786730,-90.642551
Name/Nickname : Mark
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As for UDS fuel; I think I'm alone in just using wood chunks. I don't need no long/unattended burn times. Norcoredneck and I have also made powerpoint presentations. Send us an email if you want these.
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Dr. Mark (STL) Ph.D. (honorary) Bovine $hitology A thin line separates paranoia from an acute understanding of reality. |
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08-12-2008, 12:29 PM | #9 | |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 08-11-08
Location: DC Metro
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Quote:
My screen name is at yahoo <hint>. As I start constructing my experiment I will keep you all posted. |
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08-12-2008, 12:36 PM | #10 | |
is Blowin Smoke!
Join Date: 02-06-07
Location: Rolling down the river between St Louis and New Orleans
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Quote:
I have had a couple of times cooking hot and fast that I burned some pretty nice rings on the ground. The briquettes are up off the floor of the drum about 3"'s but the coals fall through the grates and when your cooking fast it can warm up pretty quick. I set mine on thin cinder blocks now when I'm cooking at contests where the barrell would be setting on grass.
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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 |
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08-12-2008, 12:51 PM | #11 | |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 04-27-07
Location: Mattoon, IL
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Quote:
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Chris Crankin out Q on my ECB since 2005 UDS born September, 2007 22" Weber Kettle 18" Weber Kettle |
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08-12-2008, 02:44 PM | #12 |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 04-18-08
Location: Ohio
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I'm thinking about putting casters on mine so I can roll it around. What would you recommend?
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08-12-2008, 02:57 PM | #13 | |
is Blowin Smoke!
Join Date: 03-17-08
Location: Fort Mill, SC
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Quote:
I use this steel deck cart, works fine. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38137
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Butts-N-Gutts BBQ Team UDS (born on July 2008 ) Custom Brick BBQ grill Weber 22.5 Blue Kettle (CL rescue) Turkey Fryer Superbly accurate, ferociously fast, RED THERMAPEN "Certified MOINK Ball Maker" 2008 www.southerntreats.blogspot.com |
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08-12-2008, 09:10 PM | #14 | |
Full Fledged Farker
Join Date: 07-07-08
Location: FARMERSVILLE, TX
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Quote:
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EZ-Corer - The fastset and EZ-est Jalapeno corer/de-seeder around!!! www.wyldmanspice.com |
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08-12-2008, 09:38 PM | #15 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 02-22-07
Location: Springfield, MO
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VA, I also have my drums on 2" blocks most of the time. My cooks are on hard surfaces so burning underneath has not been a problem of staining anything. Lots of good advise from the brethren here. Don't get too hung up on the little things at first, just build that super smoker, cook on it, enjoy the great product, shock your friends and yourself with a great taste, and then tweek the small stuff. ENJOY!!!
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my avatar swiped fatties from the plate....look how sorry he is. ________ Meat. NB Bandera with mods Weber 22 .5" x 2, 26.75" x 1 UDS x 3 KCBS CBJ Created "The Great Spam Revelation of 2011." www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=111155 |
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Tags |
uds, ugly drum grill, ugly drum smoker |
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