My buddy is a newbie - is a UDS right for him? - Page 2

flyingbassman5 · 01-08-2013, 11:09 PM

IMO learning on an offset really forces you to learn the basics of fire control.

Yeah sure cheap ones suck at keeping even temps but having to actually build a fire and keep it stoked, whether with charcoal or wood, can go a long way in learning technique. Don't get me wrong, Minion method is great, but there is just something primal about building a fire and having to keep up with it.

A UDS just seems too easy for a beginner. No problem with starting out with one though!!

He just might have trouble if he moves on to something like a Lang 48 or similar with never having actually learning good fire control.

Enkidu · 01-08-2013, 11:18 PM

I am getting pretty excited to make mine.

I have been smoking for the last 10 months mostly with my 22" OTG (although I also made a mini-WSM). I've gotten pretty good with the OTG, but it still takes a bit of babysitting to get and keep the temperature I want, particularly with longer cooks. I can only imagine how much easier it will be to maintain temperatures for a long time with a UDS without the need to babysit it, constantly adjust vents, add water into a water pan, add more charcoal, etc. I bet it will also be far more efficient on fuel too.

JOMANCHU · 01-09-2013, 12:31 AM

X2 what flying bassman said. I started on a cheap offset (which I still have) and man will it drive anyone nuts trying to maintain the desired temp. Got another free offset and is a little better at holding temps. Built a UDS and now have no idea what to do with all my free time. Holds steady temp for long hours. Will be building another soon.

bbqbuff · 01-09-2013, 12:52 AM

My first smoker was a UDS. I do agree with Marty, keep the lid closed.

Pole D · 01-09-2013, 08:25 AM

Yes! You will be fine with a UDS.

smokemaster1 · 01-09-2013, 09:09 AM

Build a UDS!! I wish I would have when I started. My first smoker was an ECB, then a Silver Smoker Offset, then WSM and finally a UDS. Save money. You'll be happy with a UDS!!!

Freddy j · 01-09-2013, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grilling24x7

I've been posting a lot about UDS building b/c I'm researching it heavily. I wanted to get a few of my friends in on it so perhaps we could build 3-4 at a time all together.

sounds like the makings of some great weekend bbq get-togethers.

caliking · 01-09-2013, 02:27 PM

UDS is definitely the way to go. Its not as expensive as a WSM, you know exactly how it works because you built it. Its easy to mod if you think it needs to be tweaked, but honestly you don't need to mess with it unless you are a perpetual tinkerer (like I am) and that won't necessarily work in your favor (see below).

Tips from my own personal experience:
- If you use a remote thermometer like a Maverick et732, then don't bother with grommet type mods. Just cut a small shallow notch in the lip of the drum, so that the probe wire does not get crimped by the lid against the rim.

-Forget foiling. Wastes time and foil.

-Make sure you have 2 racks to cook on, possibly a third rack for a clay saucer or other heat deflector. Make sure the top rack leaves enough head room for turkeys, etc.

- I added 1 pipe valve on a riser (fat man mod) so I wouldn't have to bend down all the time to adjust temp. Then I added risers to the other 3 intakes so I wouldn't have to bend down at all (fat AND lazy mod). That's when my drum stopped being able to make it above 270°F. Lesson learned: don't mess with the UDS design too much. (I added a 5th intake 1.25" without a riser and can easily do higher temp cooks now).

And of course, the big UDS thread is an awesome resource!

jrn · 01-09-2013, 02:47 PM

I agree with what the gentleman above said! There are actually two fat boy mods though. Ones the riser pipe. The other is just using the toe of your boot to adjust the ball valve!

razrbakcrzy · 01-09-2013, 05:10 PM

I built (5) so far and can buy all the stuff to build for about $115-120 and have it built in 2 days (4) hours each day....

and yes its easy to learn on .....

jeffjenkins1 · 01-09-2013, 05:15 PM

No, he will get spoiled! Seriously, my UDS is the easiest cooker to use of all my cookers!

Jeff

grilling24x7 · 01-09-2013, 06:03 PM

Thanks to all! I'm officially excited. Working on collecting information and materials now! I'll keep everyone posted!

vafish · 01-09-2013, 06:34 PM

A uds is what I started on.

rockinshelby · 01-12-2013, 09:46 PM

I'm also fairly new to real BBQ. I've done lots of grilling and smoking on the little chief but I'm really looking forward to building a UDS.

01-08-2013, 11:09 PM	#16
flyingbassman5 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 11-26-12 Location: Saint Louis MO	IMO learning on an offset really forces you to learn the basics of fire control. Yeah sure cheap ones suck at keeping even temps but having to actually build a fire and keep it stoked, whether with charcoal or wood, can go a long way in learning technique. Don't get me wrong, Minion method is great, but there is just something primal about building a fire and having to keep up with it. A UDS just seems too easy for a beginner. No problem with starting out with one though!! He just might have trouble if he moves on to something like a Lang 48 or similar with never having actually learning good fire control. __________________ 18" OTS, 22" OTG, SJ Silver, Cimarron Offset, Coleman Bullet, PBC, UDS, QMaster ATC

01-08-2013, 11:18 PM	#17
Enkidu Take a breath! Join Date: 06-12-12 Location: Los Angeles	I am getting pretty excited to make mine. I have been smoking for the last 10 months mostly with my 22" OTG (although I also made a mini-WSM). I've gotten pretty good with the OTG, but it still takes a bit of babysitting to get and keep the temperature I want, particularly with longer cooks. I can only imagine how much easier it will be to maintain temperatures for a long time with a UDS without the need to babysit it, constantly adjust vents, add water into a water pan, add more charcoal, etc. I bet it will also be far more efficient on fuel too. __________________ 22" OTG; 22" Performer; mini-WSM; Brinkmann gasser; UDS (on the way); Maverick ET-732

01-09-2013, 12:52 AM	#19
bbqbuff Got Wood. Join Date: 05-01-09 Location: Albuquerque, NM	My first smoker was a UDS. I do agree with Marty, keep the lid closed. __________________ Custom insulated upright smoker - UDS - BBQBuff.com

01-09-2013, 09:09 AM	#21
smokemaster1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-11-09 Location: Germany. I'm not German. Just live here.	Build a UDS!! I wish I would have when I started. My first smoker was an ECB, then a Silver Smoker Offset, then WSM and finally a UDS. Save money. You'll be happy with a UDS!!! __________________ KCBS member, CBJ, IMBAS Certified MOINK Baller. WGA, WBS, 3x - UDS & WSM on Wheels, 2x - Performers, Weber Genesis.

01-09-2013, 02:27 PM	#23
caliking is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-13-10 Location: Houston, TX	UDS is definitely the way to go. Its not as expensive as a WSM, you know exactly how it works because you built it. Its easy to mod if you think it needs to be tweaked, but honestly you don't need to mess with it unless you are a perpetual tinkerer (like I am) and that won't necessarily work in your favor (see below). Tips from my own personal experience: - If you use a remote thermometer like a Maverick et732, then don't bother with grommet type mods. Just cut a small shallow notch in the lip of the drum, so that the probe wire does not get crimped by the lid against the rim. -Forget foiling. Wastes time and foil. -Make sure you have 2 racks to cook on, possibly a third rack for a clay saucer or other heat deflector. Make sure the top rack leaves enough head room for turkeys, etc. - I added 1 pipe valve on a riser (fat man mod) so I wouldn't have to bend down all the time to adjust temp. Then I added risers to the other 3 intakes so I wouldn't have to bend down at all (fat AND lazy mod). That's when my drum stopped being able to make it above 270°F. Lesson learned: don't mess with the UDS design too much. (I added a 5th intake 1.25" without a riser and can easily do higher temp cooks now). And of course, the big UDS thread is an awesome resource! __________________ [FONT=Arial Narrow][B]EZ wood handled 3 wheeler \| OTS \| OTS mod to OTG \| [COLOR=red]Ladybug[/COLOR] SS Performer \| UglyDrumTandoor \| UDS v1 \| midi UDS with [COLOR=red]red[/COLOR] [COLOR=black]nipples[/COLOR] \| SJG smoker mod \| Simpsons SJS \| [COLOR=black]Simpsons[/COLOR] OTG \| WGA charcoal \| SJP \| Stacked brick WFO \| Lodge Logic Sportsman's Grill cast iron hibachi/sigri \| [COLOR=green]LBGE \| sbge \| [SIZE="1"]mini bge[/SIZE] [/COLOR] [/B][/FONT]

01-09-2013, 12:31 AM	#18
JOMANCHU Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 03-10-12 Location: Spring, TX	X2 what flying bassman said. I started on a cheap offset (which I still have) and man will it drive anyone nuts trying to maintain the desired temp. Got another free offset and is a little better at holding temps. Built a UDS and now have no idea what to do with all my free time. Holds steady temp for long hours. Will be building another soon.

01-09-2013, 08:25 AM	#20
Pole D is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-06-09 Location: Cary, NC	Yes! You will be fine with a UDS.

01-09-2013, 02:47 PM	#24
jrn Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-30-12 Location: Quitman, Ms	I agree with what the gentleman above said! There are actually two fat boy mods though. Ones the riser pipe. The other is just using the toe of your boot to adjust the ball valve! __________________ UDS, mini wsm, 22.5" weber kettle

01-09-2013, 05:10 PM	#25
razrbakcrzy is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 09-13-11 Location: Fort Smith, Ar.	I built (5) so far and can buy all the stuff to build for about $115-120 and have it built in 2 days (4) hours each day.... and yes its easy to learn on ..... __________________ [SIZE=2][B]Jim Boston[/B][/SIZE] [B][COLOR=black]Current Smoker[/COLOR][/B] [COLOR=red]"The most reliable, easiest to make at home, Smoker [B]"The UDS"[/B] W/ an Auber temp. Controller w/ 20CFM Blower.[/COLOR] [FONT=Arial][B]Future Smoker [/B][/FONT] [FONT=Arial]$5438.25 Total BYC Smoker!![/FONT] [SIZE=2]Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem. [/SIZE] [SIZE=1]Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985 [/SIZE]

01-09-2013, 05:15 PM	#26
jeffjenkins1 Babbling Farker Join Date: 03-01-08 Location: Akron, OH	No, he will get spoiled! Seriously, my UDS is the easiest cooker to use of all my cookers! Jeff __________________ You do what you have to do, so you can do what you want to do! Ole Hickory Ultra Que 2 18" WSM 18" Weber OTS Primo Oval XL NB American Gourmet offset smoker UDS Big Chief Smoker Turkey Fryer

01-09-2013, 06:03 PM	#27
grilling24x7 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 05-17-11 Location: Baltimore, Maryland	Thanks to all! I'm officially excited. Working on collecting information and materials now! I'll keep everyone posted! __________________ Weber Performer, 18.5" WSM, UDS.

01-09-2013, 06:34 PM	#28
vafish Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-19-11 Location: Commonwealth of Virginia	A uds is what I started on. __________________ Silver UDS with weber lid, UDS #2 black with a weber lid, 1995 Treager pellet grill, 22.5 Weber

01-12-2013, 09:46 PM	#29
rockinshelby Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 01-11-13 Location: Surrey, BC	I'm also fairly new to real BBQ. I've done lots of grilling and smoking on the little chief but I'm really looking forward to building a UDS.