New guy need help

LostSoul · 11-19-2012, 01:43 PM

First off I'd like to thank everyone, I have enjoyed reading and learned so much from these threads! New guy here, found a drum for my first UDS and fired up the initial burn. I waited a couple of days and emptied out the ashes only to find a hole burned out of the bottom of the drum! I'm pretty bummed out. Can I still use the drum? I don't have a welder so I can't weld down a new bottom but I was thinking of bolting down some sheet metal. Has this happened to anyone else? What do y'all think?

Wampus · 11-19-2012, 01:45 PM

Maybe if you put high temp silicone around the outside edge it would seal well enough?

Swamp Donkeyz BBQ · 11-19-2012, 02:08 PM

+1 on the silicone. I would think as long as you got it sealed up good you should be fine.

chicagokp · 11-19-2012, 02:20 PM

Is it am open head drum? Some folks cut the bottom out and put the locking end at the bottom. Makes for easy cleaning. Then you could used a kettle top from a donor? I suppose you'd have to drill new intakes and plug up the ones that would now be on the top but that would be pretty easy.

Hook_Line_and_Sinker · 11-19-2012, 09:04 PM

Use a lid for the bottom works just fine

LostSoul · 11-20-2012, 10:21 PM

Well I called the company I bought this drum from and told them what happened. They were super cool and gave me a replacement at no charge! Ditty in El Monte. built the smoker today and its out back with its initial seasoning smoke as I type! Thanks all who responded. I will be smoking a brisket tomorrow morning. Any tips for a newb are welcome!

chicagokp · 11-21-2012, 06:24 AM

I would break a uds with something other than brisket. Try a naked fattie (a jimmy dean sausage tube) and then cook a pork butt. They are more forgiving especially if you have problems with the uds.

IamMadMan · 11-21-2012, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LostSoul

Well I called the company I bought this drum from and told them what happened. They were super cool and gave me a replacement at no charge! Ditty in El Monte. built the smoker today and its out back with its initial seasoning smoke as I type! Thanks all who responded. I will be smoking a brisket tomorrow morning. Any tips for a newb are welcome!

Great... It's refreshing when someone stand behind their sale of an item..

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagokp

I would break a uds with something other than brisket. Try a naked fattie (a jimmy dean sausage tube) and then cook a pork butt. They are more forgiving especially if you have problems with the uds.

^+1 - I agree, a brisket first time around in a new UDS can wrong quickly even if you have cooked them before on other types of cookers.
.

HeSmellsLikeSmoke · 11-21-2012, 06:39 AM

Why was a hole burned into the bottom in the first place? Do you have a charcoal basket with enough air space below? Is the drum up off the ground on something like three bricks?

11-19-2012, 01:43 PM	#1
LostSoul Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 11-14-12 Location: Ca	New guy need help First off I'd like to thank everyone, I have enjoyed reading and learned so much from these threads! New guy here, found a drum for my first UDS and fired up the initial burn. I waited a couple of days and emptied out the ashes only to find a hole burned out of the bottom of the drum! I'm pretty bummed out. Can I still use the drum? I don't have a welder so I can't weld down a new bottom but I was thinking of bolting down some sheet metal. Has this happened to anyone else? What do y'all think?

11-19-2012, 01:45 PM	#2
Wampus somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-05-09 Location: Mooresville, IN	Maybe if you put high temp silicone around the outside edge it would seal well enough? __________________ [COLOR="Blue"][B]"Oh, I don’t reject Christ. I love Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike Christ." -Mahatma Gandhi[/B][/COLOR]

11-19-2012, 02:20 PM	#4
chicagokp Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-17-11 Location: Chicago north 'burbs IL	Is it am open head drum? Some folks cut the bottom out and put the locking end at the bottom. Makes for easy cleaning. Then you could used a kettle top from a donor? I suppose you'd have to drill new intakes and plug up the ones that would now be on the top but that would be pretty easy. __________________ Shirley Fabrication 24x60 staightback cabinet + warmer Battle Box Midi UDS Weber Performer 22.5 Weber OTG WGA Charcoal Weber Genesis

11-19-2012, 09:04 PM	#5
Hook_Line_and_Sinker is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 03-28-08 Location: Downey, California	Use a lid for the bottom works just fine __________________ Hook Line and Sinker Viking 30 inch Gravity Fed Charcoal Smoker Brinkmann 5 burner gas grill with sear & rotisserie UDS's 3 and growing Char Griller w/SFB w/mods Orion Cooker Charbroil 7000 Gas Grill

11-21-2012, 06:24 AM	#7
chicagokp Babbling Farker Join Date: 02-17-11 Location: Chicago north 'burbs IL	I would break a uds with something other than brisket. Try a naked fattie (a jimmy dean sausage tube) and then cook a pork butt. They are more forgiving especially if you have problems with the uds. __________________ Shirley Fabrication 24x60 staightback cabinet + warmer Battle Box Midi UDS Weber Performer 22.5 Weber OTG WGA Charcoal Weber Genesis

11-19-2012, 02:08 PM	#3
Swamp Donkeyz BBQ is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-25-12 Location: Huntsville, Tx	+1 on the silicone. I would think as long as you got it sealed up good you should be fine.

11-20-2012, 10:21 PM	#6
LostSoul Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 11-14-12 Location: Ca	Well I called the company I bought this drum from and told them what happened. They were super cool and gave me a replacement at no charge! Ditty in El Monte. built the smoker today and its out back with its initial seasoning smoke as I type! Thanks all who responded. I will be smoking a brisket tomorrow morning. Any tips for a newb are welcome!

11-21-2012, 06:39 AM	#9
HeSmellsLikeSmoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-07 Location: Warren, Vermont	Why was a hole burned into the bottom in the first place? Do you have a charcoal basket with enough air space below? Is the drum up off the ground on something like three bricks? __________________ Jim - Another transplanted Texan Former KCBS CBJ Large and Medium Big Green Eggs , Black 18.5" WSM, Blue Weber Performer - Stainless, Green Weber OTG Kettle , Brinkmann SnP Pro, and a Stainless UDS. One retired Portable Kitchen grill. Red Thermapen, Maverick ET-732, EdgePro Apex Sharpener. Avatar is the original 1951 Weber Kettle