EUDS - Electric Ugly Drum Smoker

[Marvin]

I've been collecting the parts for this build for a few weeks now. I'm just getting started and will post more as the build progresses.

And the answer to the burning question, why electric, because it will be set and forget ... and that works for me. I know others will claim blasphemy and I'm sure from their viewpoint it is. However, this works for me.

Disclaimer Notice:
In my prior career, I was an electrician, so doing this project does not present issues for me. However, if one follows what I've done, you do so at your own risk. If you do not know about electricity and wiring, please get someone to help you along in your endeavor. The life you save, may be your own.

Here is the barrel I located for $10.



The inside was unlined.



I'm guessing, it was a food barrel based on the label on it.



These are the lines to mark and drill for the stainless steel bolts.



Stainless steel nuts and bolts to hold the grates. Got the grates at Walmart for $12.



Stainless steel nuts and bolts mounted and grate sitting on them.



Took one of the grates, turned upside down so the heating element can be mounted on.



Put two bolts on the sides with no handles to keep the grate balanced when sitting on the bottom of the barrel.



Here is the 220v/3000w oven bake element, similar to what you would find in your house oven, should be more than enough to keep things toasty. Got this off of Amazon for $12. The model information of the element: General Electric WB44X5043 Bake Element



Set the heating element on the grate. I will use high heat wire to wrap around the element ends to keep it affixed to the grate.







That's about it for now. I'll post more pics in the coming days as the build progresses.

[Johnny_Crunch]

Cool build. The UDS is as set and forget as you could hope for already. Either way, if your feeling froggy take a leap. Are you going to use it 220v?

[Mark Warren]

I am just curious how the smoke aspect comes in to play here. Do you put a little smoke wood chip box inside or what?

[oifmarine2003]

Originally Posted by Mark Warren

I am just curious how the smoke aspect comes in to play here. Do you put a little smoke wood chip box inside or what?

I was thinking the same. I am assuming he is going to put a chip box on top of the grate with the heating element?

[Callahan-que]

Originally Posted by Mark Warren

I am just curious how the smoke aspect comes in to play here. Do you put a little smoke wood chip box inside or what?

I was wondering the same also.

[Richard_]

thats pretty cool , not as portable as a UDS , set the thermo and walk away

[Johnny_Crunch]

A smokey oven!

[volfan411]

As a father of 2 boys who play competitve baseball I can respect your need for a set and forget smoker. If not for a WSM and a Digi Q I would never have time to smoke anything.

[Bludawg]

You have entirely to much time on your hands to come up with this. My UDS is naturally aspirated it will run rock steady where I set it until it runs out of Fuel in 20 hrs. Guess what? If my power goes out my cook isn't interrupted or ruined. If this works for ya then I'm happy for you. Different strokes.....

MAKE SURE IT IS WELL GROUNDED and put it on a GFI

[jw177]

I am interested in seeing the final results. I still haven't completed my uds, but have been pondering building an electric version, just because. One problem I see for my use, most campgrounds don't supply 220 volts if I was to take it with me, nor are the campground breakers large enough to handle that wattage at 120 volts. What type controller are you going to use?

[Garrett]

Wow!!!!

[J-Rod]

Would be interesting to see the fuel cost comparison in electricity consumed vs. charcoal cost...

While I applaud your outside the box approach, charcoal-fueled UDS's are already set and forget! And I'm with bluedawg on the power going out issue- Better have a generator handy so you don't ruin a cook!

Interested to see what your smoke producing setup will be. Good luck.

[ChetPunisher]

I understand people's fears about the power going out, but how often do you have that problem? Just wondering.

[FormulatedFire]

This looks like a great idea to me. Using an element like that your basically turning a UDS into an electric oven of sorts. Not sure where the smoking element will come into play here but I'm very interested in seeing this progress. Seems as this could potentially be used indoors as well since electric heat doesn't give off any toxins like charcoal or gas.

[Carbon]

Nice setup!
My first smoker was an electric ECB. The heating element sat in a pan surrounded with lava rocks and wood chunks thrown on the lava rocks closest to the heating element. The setup smoked well, actually.

As for power outages, that was never an issue as we seldom have outages here. But I can see weather related outages occurring in other regions. That could be a concern for some.