New UDS is coming in a few days

DC_BBQ said:

Hey ColTrain

How did you clean up the easyoff way down at the bottom? That is some toxic stuff.

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The first day when I was cleaning the bottom, I literally just held my breath. The liner came out super easy - I could almost just grab and peal the liner off with just my (gloved) hand. I have pretty long arms and could reach the top 2/3 of the barrel without sticking my head in there.

Yesterday I took the lid off and let it sit for about 4 hours and by the time I started working on it there was almost no odor. I then took the wire wheel to it (only took about 5 minutes with the wire wheel) and mopped up as much of the junk in the barrel as I could with paper towels. I wasn't too concerned with exposure by that time, but I still alternated working on the bottom and top so my head wasn't stuck in the barrel too long.

If you have a pressure washer, that would be the way to go. The liner came out so easy I think I could have just used a garden hose with a nozzle, but I didn't want the barrel to sit too long and rust up.

I am happy I saw this thread. I was thinking about calling him.

I just got mine back from the sand blast guy. I had arranged with the guy before reading about how well Easy Off worked. But he did a great job and now the drum is down to bare mettle.

I will season it tonight and hopefully try something next week. We are going out of town to see the in-laws this weekend. I miss getting to use my new UDS and going down to the Capitol BBQ challenge. All the good BBQ in walking distance and I’m out of town.

For seasoning I just spray it with Pam and light a fire with some smoke right?

DC_BBQ said:

I just got mine back from the sand blast guy. I had arranged with the guy before reading about how well Easy Off worked. But he did a great job and now the drum is down to bare mettle.

I will season it tonight and hopefully try something next week. We are going out of town to see the in-laws this weekend. I miss getting to use my new UDS and going down to the Capitol BBQ challenge. All the good BBQ in walking distance and I’m out of town.

For seasoning I just spray it with Pam and light a fire with some smoke right?

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And cook a fatty. Its mandatory :thumb:

gaspipe1 said:

Hey DC_BBQ I am glad to hear that you where able to get it sandblasted.. 2 quick Q's did the paint peal from the outside? And what did he charge you? I just got the new drum and it looks good. I will post some pics here and let the pro's be the judge ray:

Regarding seasoning.. I rubbed crisco all over the inside and had the fire rip for 2 hours at 400*.

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It was $50 and the inside came back as silver as the Tin Man. The outside paint was mostly fine. A little was worn off at the top. I am thinking about doing a custom paint job. Maybe Redskins because I am a gluten for punishment.

Last night I seasoned it with some old duck fat I had in the freezer. Got it going the way described in this post using mesquite.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=109339


Had it dialed in at 225 in 20 minutes and it held that temp for four hours. The last two with some chicken leg qtrs in a simple rub. Sorry didn’t have any sausage to make the required first fatty. They came out wonderfully moist with the meat falling off the bone.

One question do you long time drum users have much of a problem with fat at the bottom of the barrel. There was a little in mine this morning. I’m not sure if it was the chicken or I put too much duck fat on the sides for the seasoning. But I know if I do a lot of ribs not all the fat will drip on the fire grate. I am wondering how to keep that part clean.

I use Kingsford blue. I have tried some others and can't really taste much difference. Hope you have fun with your cook.