Rescued a 40+ year old grill/smoker? Looking for suggestions

Billy_Quizboy · 01-10-2012, 11:52 AM

Story goes like this, my grandfather built this in.. who knows how long ago, he died before I was born. Out of what looks like some old pressure tanks or something, really thick steel. He was a pretty decent welder, and I'm sure this thing made some great food in it's time. Unfortunately it's been sitting in my grandmother's back yard for 30 years.

Now, I lugged this back to my house, yes, it was ridiculously heavy.

Originally what it looked like.

I scrubbed the rust off and painted it with some high-temp paint

I haven't cooked on this yet, the grates are still in good shape though. I did light a fire inside it, and everything worked just fine. But I figured the first thing I grill on it I'd make sure it was plenty greasy to season the grate.

Now, it has a damper on top to regulate the amount of smoke escaping, and a door on the bottom to allow for easier cleanout/ let in air from the bottom.

Seems like a pretty good grill/smoker to me. I should buy a thermometer, but honestly I have no way of cutting into this beast to install one, so I'll probably look for another solution (digital probe with a wire?) Is there anything I'm missing, pretty new to Q.

inv3ctiv3 · 01-10-2012, 01:00 PM

Wow that think is awesome!

gtr · 01-10-2012, 01:09 PM

Heavy Metal = good cooker!

A therm might be good, but for that particular cooker it may be good to just leave it like it is and just get the feel of it. But then again, I'm really lazy.

Terry The Toad · 01-10-2012, 01:24 PM

It looks to be in pretty nice condition considering its age. I think you'll be glad you rescued it.

Full Draw BBQ · 01-10-2012, 01:43 PM

anything made by a grandfather is worth saving!!!! I think it's really cool.....personally I wouldn't mod it, just fire it up and learn to cook on it like he did!!!!!!!

deepsouth · 01-10-2012, 01:50 PM

the original uds.

smokingj · 01-10-2012, 01:55 PM

Agree. Leave it original as far as mods go. I would re-season it really well and give the outside a good coat or 2 of paint and that would be it. I'm sure gramps will be looking down over your shoulder and giving you guidance on how to operate it.

Lake Dogs · 01-10-2012, 02:28 PM

the great grand father to the modern day UDS. great find.

bbqchicken · 01-10-2012, 02:39 PM

Can I have it?

bigabyte · 01-10-2012, 03:38 PM

Looks like a good solid unit to me!

markdtn · 01-10-2012, 04:21 PM

Neat Story

tish · 01-10-2012, 04:22 PM

Anyone who loves bbq would be thrilled to have that rig. But being it was built right there in your own family, wow! What a great legacy from your grandfather! Enjoy it!!

esselle · 01-10-2012, 05:08 PM

Fantastic!

vafish · 01-10-2012, 06:09 PM

A prehistoric UDS!

duelin j · 01-11-2012, 09:08 PM

01-10-2012, 11:52 AM	#1
Billy_Quizboy Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 08-17-11 Location: NE, OK	Rescued a 40+ year old grill/smoker? Looking for suggestions Story goes like this, my grandfather built this in.. who knows how long ago, he died before I was born. Out of what looks like some old pressure tanks or something, really thick steel. He was a pretty decent welder, and I'm sure this thing made some great food in it's time. Unfortunately it's been sitting in my grandmother's back yard for 30 years. Now, I lugged this back to my house, yes, it was ridiculously heavy. Originally what it looked like. I scrubbed the rust off and painted it with some high-temp paint I haven't cooked on this yet, the grates are still in good shape though. I did light a fire inside it, and everything worked just fine. But I figured the first thing I grill on it I'd make sure it was plenty greasy to season the grate. Now, it has a damper on top to regulate the amount of smoke escaping, and a door on the bottom to allow for easier cleanout/ let in air from the bottom. Seems like a pretty good grill/smoker to me. I should buy a thermometer, but honestly I have no way of cutting into this beast to install one, so I'll probably look for another solution (digital probe with a wire?) Is there anything I'm missing, pretty new to Q.

01-10-2012, 01:00 PM	#2
inv3ctiv3 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-05-11 Location: Santa Barbara, CA	Wow that think is awesome! __________________ Jim Bob BBQ - 18.5" WSM - 22.5" Weber Master Touch Green - UDS - RED Thermapen

01-10-2012, 01:09 PM	#3
gtr somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-16-10 Location: Culver City, CA	Heavy Metal = good cooker! A therm might be good, but for that particular cooker it may be good to just leave it like it is and just get the feel of it. But then again, I'm really lazy. __________________ 50" Klose BYC, Spitjack XB85, 22.5 WSM, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, WRK, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Kanka Grill, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. "Relax, it's only BBQ." - Bigmista, 2013 Avatar by my son! WTFWGALD?

01-10-2012, 01:24 PM	#4
Terry The Toad is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-16-11 Location: Saint Cloud, FL	It looks to be in pretty nice condition considering its age. I think you'll be glad you rescued it. __________________ Lang 48 Original Superfast [COLOR=red]RED[/COLOR] ThermaPen "I love animals. I just love to eat them more. Fun to pet; better to chew." - Jim Gaffigan

01-10-2012, 01:43 PM	#5
Full Draw BBQ Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 03-22-11 Location: Frisco, TX	anything made by a grandfather is worth saving!!!! I think it's really cool.....personally I wouldn't mod it, just fire it up and learn to cook on it like he did!!!!!!! __________________ [B]Full Draw BBQ[/B] [B]Frisco, TX[/B] Lang 60D trailer [COLOR=darkorange][B]Orange[/B][/COLOR] Thermapen 22.5 Weber Kettle - retired Gateway 55 gallon Clone X2

01-10-2012, 01:50 PM	#6
deepsouth somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-21-10 Location: Biloxi, MS	the original uds. __________________ Out.

01-10-2012, 01:55 PM	#7
smokingj Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-29-11 Location: Alexandria VA	Agree. Leave it original as far as mods go. I would re-season it really well and give the outside a good coat or 2 of paint and that would be it. I'm sure gramps will be looking down over your shoulder and giving you guidance on how to operate it. __________________ ~Jimmy~ 18.5 redhead, UDS, Smokey Joe, Smokey Joe Smoker

01-10-2012, 02:28 PM	#8
Lake Dogs Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-14-09 Location: Lake Sinclair, GA Name/Nickname : Hance	the great grand father to the modern day UDS. great find. __________________ Hance - MiM/MBN/GBA CBJ and comp cook Lake Sinclair, GA (strategically about an hour from darn near anywhere) My competition daze are probably behind me now; I pretty much cook for family, friends, and frankly the peace and solitude I get from smokin' on an offset... Was Lang 84DX, now Bubba Grills 250R and many Weber grills

01-10-2012, 02:39 PM	#9
bbqchicken is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-23-11 Location: Ontario, Ca	Can I have it? __________________ UDS, Smokey Joe

01-10-2012, 03:38 PM	#10
bigabyte somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 05-10-06 Location: Overland Fark, KS	Looks like a good solid unit to me! __________________ Asshattatron Farkanaut, CGCFO Chief Galactic Crockpot Foil Officer *Certified MOINK Baller & IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball Judge #0003 - Are you MOINK Certified?* *Sole recipient of the Silverfinger and fingerlickin Awards!* Don't forget about the Throwdown Thingies! The Secret Squirrel Society doesn't exist - Zero Club Duh.

01-10-2012, 04:21 PM	#11
markdtn is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 06-03-10 Location: Chattanooga, TN	Neat Story

01-10-2012, 04:22 PM	#12
tish Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-13-11 Location: york, pa	Anyone who loves bbq would be thrilled to have that rig. But being it was built right there in your own family, wow! What a great legacy from your grandfather! Enjoy it!! __________________ When all else fails, just ask yourself ?Quid faceret Gore et Landarc??* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a little pyro at heart! Who's got the hot dogs? Bubba Keg, Weber Genesis E-310 NG Mini WSM, Shhh!!! Michael's surprise Cornflower Blue Thermapen Might not be the fastest, but it sure is the prettiest! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Proud recipient of a certifiably uncertified limited edition MOINK ball certificate!! Last edited by tish; 01-10-2012 at 05:38 PM..

01-10-2012, 05:08 PM	#13
esselle Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-25-10 Location: Leicester UK	Fantastic! __________________ Miss Piggy's BBQ. U.K. European Champions. Jack Daniel's 2012 Top International Team.

01-10-2012, 06:09 PM	#14
vafish Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-19-11 Location: Commonwealth of Virginia	A prehistoric UDS! __________________ Silver UDS with weber lid, UDS #2 black with a weber lid, 1995 Treager pellet grill, 22.5 Weber

01-11-2012, 09:08 PM	#15
duelin j On the road to being a farker Join Date: 12-12-11 Location: Brier, WA	__________________ Jerry - Duelin J's BBQ Assassin 24 & an Assassin Grill + 14(?) more...I may have issues......

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