UDS XL (85 gallon) build pics

[ChiefOsceola]

Originally Posted by River City Smokehouse

We have a salvage drum at work just like that. I have been hounding the upper management for it. He said NO. I told him that as soon as he retired it was MINE!

Just saw where online these things brand new cost $185!

Thanks for the pics and tips swamprb. What size vent holes on the top are those? They look bigger than 1/2".

[ChiefOsceola]

Originally Posted by smalls65

Sweet!!!! Can't wait to see what you cook on it!!!

You and me both. haha. The question is whether I CAN cook on it. Never smoked a thing in my life so this ought to be an experience!

[Paul B]

Originally Posted by ChiefOsceola

You and me both. haha. The question is whether I CAN cook on it. Never smoked a thing in my life so this ought to be an experience!

Piece of cake......even a caveman can do it!! .

Tips:
catch your target temp on the way up....
start with 8 to 10 lit coals only
don't open lid until done (really hard to do)
when it's don it's done
enjoy your good eats
start simple, a fatty and some chickens and MOINKS

By the way, we go through Douglas on our way to Jacksonville to hunt.

Paul B
SS UDS

[adam12]

ChiefOsceola,
Looking good, I am picking up a couple of drums this weekend and on a side note I will be about 30 miles from you this weekend at an arrowhead show in Homerville.
Adam

[Toploader]

Very nice, gotta love those 85'ers Just wondering if you can get the bottom grill in without trimming one or two of your bolts shorter? I only ran 3 in mine and ended up cutting one just a bit to sneak the lower grate in.
Post up some pron on your maiden voyage.

[ChiefOsceola]

Originally Posted by Paul B

catch your target temp on the way up....
start with 8 to 10 lit coals only
don't open lid until done (really hard to do)
when it's don it's done
enjoy your good eats
start simple, a fatty and some chickens and MOINKS

By the way, we go through Douglas on our way to Jacksonville to hunt.

Paul B
SS UDS

Thanks for the tips Paul. What are MOINKS?

Good hunting up around Jax near the river. Got some buddys in a club up there.

Originally Posted by adam12

ChiefOsceola,
Looking good, I am picking up a couple of drums this weekend and on a side note I will be about 30 miles from you this weekend at an arrowhead show in Homerville.
Adam

I'm kinda wishing I hadn't taken the free shipping route on my 24.5" grates. Ready for them to be here so I can fire this thing up!

Originally Posted by Toploader

Very nice, gotta love those 85'ers Just wondering if you can get the bottom grill in without trimming one or two of your bolts shorter? I only ran 3 in mine and ended up cutting one just a bit to sneak the lower grate in.
Post up some pron on your maiden voyage.

Yeah...the bolts didn't look as long in the store. Figure I might be downsizing. No way I can get the bottom grate in/out with food on it. Figured I might be able to angle it empty. When the grates get here I might be making some adjustments.

We'll see what it looks like. Hopefully I won't be too ashamed to post up some pics!

[Toploader]

I can get my lower grill out with 3 slabs of ribs without a problem on most cooks. Its the pork butts that want to roll away on yah when its fallin apart. I just leave the grill in and grab the grub.
Also, I like the bottom grill for a water/juice pan, but on the 85's you could add a third and keep the upper two for cooks.
Just remember, no bad food comes out of a uds. Trust in the drum gods and you will have happy taste buds.

[Phubar]

Nice looking beginning!
Don't worry about cooking on it,you're gonna do just phine!
Do a search on MOINK balls,enough info and pics around here.

[OcalaScott]

If you want the single exhaust, go to an electrical contractor and talk to them. They have hydraulic knock-outs that they use to punch holes in electrical panels so they can install conduit. I bet you can get somebody to do it for you for a trade. Cook them a couple beer can chickens. That is a good way to season the drum anyway. You both win and you don't spend a bunch of money for a "one time" tool.

Just a thought, Scott

[ChiefOsceola]

The electrical contractor idea is a great thought. One lives right across the street. Good call!

Phubar- Did a search and they look like frozen meatballs wrapped in bacon. What does the MOINK stand for though...it's not on the acronym page.

Toploader- It was basically a guess on the bolts since I didn't have the grates yet (got confirmation from Amazon that they shipped though!)...I was just anxious to get this thing rollin. About the drip pan/water pan, I thought the benefit of the UDS was to have the direct smoke cooking (not to mention it's cheap!)? I have room for a third if I wanted though...my bottom rack right now is 25" above the coal grate.

[Drifter]

Originally Posted by ChiefOsceola

Phubar- Did a search and they look like frozen meatballs wrapped in bacon. What does the MOINK stand for though...it's not on the acronym page.

There is a story on this site somewhere about how it started, but the short story is cows go MOO (frozen beef meatballs) and pigs go OINK (bacon) so MOO + OINK = MOINK

[Toploader]

My bad, I looked at your pics again and re read what grill size you ordered. I thought for a second you had the taller 85 version. You can probly sneak another rack in there just under the lower one. My pan is an old aluminum pizza dish thats only 1-1/2 to 2" tall. Only time I really use it is for longer overnight butt cooks, or MOINK cooks to keep flare ups from happening. Cooks just as good once that "convection heat" builds up in the drum.
Fire that biotch up allready....were waiting!

[caliking]

If you're looking for a step bit, try Harbor Freight... I got a set of 2 (small + big) for $15 after I printed a coupon off the internet.

That's a BIG UDS... I just started cooking with my regular UDS and so far absolutely love it!

[ChiefOsceola]

Originally Posted by Drifter

There is a story on this site somewhere about how it started, but the short story is cows go MOO (frozen beef meatballs) and pigs go OINK (bacon) so MOO + OINK = MOINK

Oooohhhh. Makes sense now. I'll search it some more and try to find a recipe to try.

Originally Posted by Toploader

My bad, I looked at your pics again and re read what grill size you ordered. I thought for a second you had the taller 85 version. You can probly sneak another rack in there just under the lower one. My pan is an old aluminum pizza dish thats only 1-1/2 to 2" tall. Only time I really use it is for longer overnight butt cooks, or MOINK cooks to keep flare ups from happening. Cooks just as good once that "convection heat" builds up in the drum.
Fire that biotch up allready....were waiting!

You & me both! Those grates can't get here quick enough!!!

Originally Posted by caliking

If you're looking for a step bit, try Harbor Freight... I got a set of 2 (small + big) for $15 after I printed a coupon off the internet.

That's a BIG UDS... I just started cooking with my regular UDS and so far absolutely love it!

I'd never even heard of Harbor Freight and certainly didn't think we had them in south Georgia...but I just googled it and sure enough, theres one about an hour away. Saturday plans are taking shape.

[capri man]

there is one in valdosta. is that the one you were talking about?