Ugly Drum Smoker - Page 824

Friction33 · 01-24-2015, 12:47 PM

Looks like your build was a success. You may have to package up those ribs and send them to me just to make sure they turn out ok. LOL
What are you using for heat/smoke?
Everything looks great. Be sure to let us know how it all turns out.

65BAJA · 01-24-2015, 12:52 PM

Kingsford blue bag and hickory chips. Memphis rub.

ebijack · 01-25-2015, 09:45 AM

Thought I put this up here for those that like me can not get enough exhaust flow out of the Weber knock off lid vent ( I did not want to add a second wheel vent). If the wind blows any where the opening, my temps drop fast and 250 degrees is about the max I can get using that vent. So, I made a 3 5/8 hole nearest the center as I could ( the handle is in the way to be in the center and not get REAL hot) I made one of my aluminum flashing exhaust covers like my other flat lid UDS. But again when it is windy ( almost always), it really needs an exhaust chimney or the wind will affect how the coals burns/air flow. I also required an easy way to add/remove the chimney as I keep a tarp over the UDS when not in use and use a clip over the handle to keep the tarp on. Also I needed to be able to lift the lid as required during cooks with the chimney on. So I bought a soft spring at the hardware store, used 2 tye wraps, tweaked a coffee can, the spring easily stretches around the can and holds the can even in 30+ MPH cross winds. It doesn't look great, but it works like a charm and is very functional. And yes, you can peek down thru the hole to view your cook without removing the lid when required. I haven't come up with anything better as of yet, but I'm workin on it. I've used this now for over 1 full year.

This is when I first added the hole to the lid. I can reach over 700 degrees with my intakes and this 3 5/8 hole for exhaust when required.

65BAJA · 01-25-2015, 04:01 PM

So after I was pulled the ribs off the UDS yesterday I shut all the vents and made sure the lid was seated. I was hoping the coals would go out. Nope. I went out today at just after noon and it was still going at 160* 28 HOURS after I started the coals they were STILL going.

So i decided to take advantage of the situation and threw some foil wrapped leftovers on the top grill and opened all the vents back up.

It's up to 325* now and I'm about to go pull the left overs off.

BaronVonOttomatic · 01-25-2015, 07:28 PM

I am dirty and tired but tomorrow I'll be giving he new drum I constructed a seasoning burn. Even managed to get two coats of flat black grill paint applied. My welding-fu is weak - the welds are ugly but strong. But at least I managed to get everything secure without burning through the drum.

Since it's made to run off a Guru I've been kicking around ideas on the easiest way to run the probes inside without snaking them through the top vent. I'm considering using a sabre saw or cut-off wheel to make a small slit 1/8" - 1/4" in past the curved lip of the lid. Thoughts?

TXLX · 01-25-2015, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BaronVonOttomatic

I am dirty and tired but tomorrow I'll be giving he new drum I constructed a seasoning burn. Even managed to get two coats of flat black grill paint applied. My welding-fu is weak - the welds are ugly but strong. But at least I managed to get everything secure without burning through the drum.

Since it's made to run off a Guru I've been kicking around ideas on the easiest way to run the probes inside without snaking them through the top vent. I'm considering using a sabre saw or cut-off wheel to make a small slit 1/8" - 1/4" in past the curved lip of the lid. Thoughts?

I don't have a guru, but drilled the smallest hole possible in the side of my drum to fit two probes. Works great.

AussieMatt · 01-26-2015, 07:06 AM

I use two of these:

starsman · 01-26-2015, 08:12 AM

[QUOTE=BaronVonOttomatic;3145210Z
There's a local guy who's selling nice 55 gallon drums for smokers. [/QUOTE]

Can you tell us who this local guy is?

BaronVonOttomatic · 01-26-2015, 03:41 PM

Well, he's local as heck to me but a bit of a haul from Justin.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/for/4850932900.html

This cat will put an ad on CL a couple of days before he's going to show up at the uHaul self storage place (Walnut and Glenbrook in Garland) where he keeps the drums.

The drums I got are nice - smooth sided, unlined and heavier gauge than the trash barrels he sells too. They had some sort of chemical in them, there was some dried up crud that looked kind of like polyurethane around the bottom. I used a weed torch to burn it out three times to be on the safe side, scrubbed with a wire brush, then washed then sanded the inside. Since I welded everything and am an amateur welder at best the heavier gauge was nice and saved me from burning through on a couple of the welds. I expect it to hold heat well also.

BaronVonOttomatic · 01-26-2015, 03:44 PM

The pit temp probe for the Guru has an alligator clip on one end and would need at least a 1/2" hole, which is why I'm thinking a slit in the lid is the ticket.

BaronVonOttomatic · 01-26-2015, 06:42 PM

Woot! Got the inside wiped down with cooking oil and a fire in the hole. Took about 25 minutes to get up to 350° and she's holding steady with the Guru working at ~30%. After a good seasoning burn tonight it'll be go time.

bstomper · 01-26-2015, 07:32 PM

Whipper up a mini and hopefully be seasoning tomorrow.

BaronVonOttomatic · 01-27-2015, 06:42 PM

The downside to doing a test/seasoning burn after work is that I wasn't able to keep tabs on the drum all night so I'm not sure exactly how long the charcoal lasted. Dumped about half a chimney of lump into a 3/4 full basket at ~5:15 and had the temp up to 350° by ~5:40. When I went to bed around 11:00 it was holding at 350° with the Guru working at about 20%. When I went out and checked it at 5:00 a.m. it was ambient temperature. So I figure a full load of charcoal lasted somewhere between seven and nine hours at 350°.

The basket/firebox is the bottom 12" of a sixteen gallon drum (14" diameter) with a 16" diameter piece of 1/4" plate on top. Depending on how long the temp holds at smoking temperature (i.e. 250°) this weekend I may scrounge up another grease drum and cut it at 15" for more charcoal capacity. I've also got a 30 gallon drum (18" diameter) I can cut up to use as a diffuser so more heat radiates straight up vs. the 1/4" plate diffuser.

While I was watching the temp stayed rock steady at 350° - it hadn't moved up or down even one degree whenever I checked on it and never moved while I was outside eyeballing it. Again, I've got to think using a heavy hunk of steel plate to absorb/diffuse heat has to contribute to that. Perhaps at the expense of burn time.

Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the results after one burn. Got a brisket on tap for Saturday and a couple of racks of short ribs planned for Sunday. To be continued...

ebijack · 01-28-2015, 04:54 AM

The more you block the heat, the more coal your going to use. That 1/4 plate is sucking up ALOT of heat. Your coal basket of 14X12 inches high should get you at least 17hrs at 250 deg. Not sure how you turned the bottom part of a drum into a basket. If you do not have enough area/air flow for the ash to drop from the coals, you could have choked out your fire due to the ash. See how much coal you have left. Most UDS's are very steady with temps and do not require mass to stabilize temps.

BaronVonOttomatic · 01-28-2015, 06:18 PM

It's more of a firebox than a basket, drilled a 1 1/8" hole near the bottom on one side for the air inlet then welded a couple of tabs at about the same height as the top of the inlet pipe so the grate sits on the inlet pipe and the two tabs. Then drilled three 1 1/8" holes opposite the inlet centered about 7" up. There was zero charcoal left after the seasoning burn, nothing but ash.

I cut off the bottom of a 30 gallon drum to try as a diffuser instead of the 1/4" plate and have it in the cooker now with a 7lb butt for an overnight cook at 260°. I need to find someplace to download some pictures so I can share my insanity.

01-24-2015, 12:47 PM	#12346
Friction33 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-14-13 Location: Winder,Ga	Looks like your build was a success. You may have to package up those ribs and send them to me just to make sure they turn out ok. LOL What are you using for heat/smoke? Everything looks great. Be sure to let us know how it all turns out. __________________ COS.... 22.5 Kettle....2 UDS and another in the works. This hobby is getting too additive

01-25-2015, 09:45 AM	#12348
ebijack Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-23-13 Location: Detroit Mi Name/Nickname : tom	Kind of hillbilly but works Thought I put this up here for those that like me can not get enough exhaust flow out of the Weber knock off lid vent ( I did not want to add a second wheel vent). If the wind blows any where the opening, my temps drop fast and 250 degrees is about the max I can get using that vent. So, I made a 3 5/8 hole nearest the center as I could ( the handle is in the way to be in the center and not get REAL hot) I made one of my aluminum flashing exhaust covers like my other flat lid UDS. But again when it is windy ( almost always), it really needs an exhaust chimney or the wind will affect how the coals burns/air flow. I also required an easy way to add/remove the chimney as I keep a tarp over the UDS when not in use and use a clip over the handle to keep the tarp on. Also I needed to be able to lift the lid as required during cooks with the chimney on. So I bought a soft spring at the hardware store, used 2 tye wraps, tweaked a coffee can, the spring easily stretches around the can and holds the can even in 30+ MPH cross winds. It doesn't look great, but it works like a charm and is very functional. And yes, you can peek down thru the hole to view your cook without removing the lid when required. I haven't come up with anything better as of yet, but I'm workin on it. I've used this now for over 1 full year. This is when I first added the hole to the lid. I can reach over 700 degrees with my intakes and this 3 5/8 hole for exhaust when required.

01-26-2015, 07:06 AM	#12352
AussieMatt Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-23-14 Location: Tallmadge, OH Name/Nickname : Matt	I use two of these: __________________ God save the Queen, God bless America, God defend New Zealand and thank Christ for Australia! Weber Original 22" - RIP UDS Fiskgriddle Weber Kettle Premium - Copper

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01-24-2015, 12:52 PM	#12347
65BAJA Found some matches. Join Date: 05-12-13 Location: Bethel Island,CA	Kingsford blue bag and hickory chips. Memphis rub.

01-25-2015, 04:01 PM	#12349
65BAJA Found some matches. Join Date: 05-12-13 Location: Bethel Island,CA	So after I was pulled the ribs off the UDS yesterday I shut all the vents and made sure the lid was seated. I was hoping the coals would go out. Nope. I went out today at just after noon and it was still going at 160* 28 HOURS after I started the coals they were STILL going. So i decided to take advantage of the situation and threw some foil wrapped leftovers on the top grill and opened all the vents back up. It's up to 325* now and I'm about to go pull the left overs off.

01-25-2015, 07:28 PM	#12350
BaronVonOttomatic On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-15-15 Location: Dallas, TX	I am dirty and tired but tomorrow I'll be giving he new drum I constructed a seasoning burn. Even managed to get two coats of flat black grill paint applied. My welding-fu is weak - the welds are ugly but strong. But at least I managed to get everything secure without burning through the drum. Since it's made to run off a Guru I've been kicking around ideas on the easiest way to run the probes inside without snaking them through the top vent. I'm considering using a sabre saw or cut-off wheel to make a small slit 1/8" - 1/4" in past the curved lip of the lid. Thoughts?

01-26-2015, 08:12 AM	#12353
starsman Got rid of the matchlight. Join Date: 05-06-11 Location: Justin Texas	[QUOTE=BaronVonOttomatic;3145210Z There's a local guy who's selling nice 55 gallon drums for smokers. [/QUOTE] Can you tell us who this local guy is?

01-26-2015, 03:41 PM	#12354
BaronVonOttomatic On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-15-15 Location: Dallas, TX	Well, he's local as heck to me but a bit of a haul from Justin. http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/for/4850932900.html This cat will put an ad on CL a couple of days before he's going to show up at the uHaul self storage place (Walnut and Glenbrook in Garland) where he keeps the drums. The drums I got are nice - smooth sided, unlined and heavier gauge than the trash barrels he sells too. They had some sort of chemical in them, there was some dried up crud that looked kind of like polyurethane around the bottom. I used a weed torch to burn it out three times to be on the safe side, scrubbed with a wire brush, then washed then sanded the inside. Since I welded everything and am an amateur welder at best the heavier gauge was nice and saved me from burning through on a couple of the welds. I expect it to hold heat well also.

01-26-2015, 03:44 PM	#12355
BaronVonOttomatic On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-15-15 Location: Dallas, TX	The pit temp probe for the Guru has an alligator clip on one end and would need at least a 1/2" hole, which is why I'm thinking a slit in the lid is the ticket.

01-26-2015, 06:42 PM	#12356
BaronVonOttomatic On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-15-15 Location: Dallas, TX	Woot! Got the inside wiped down with cooking oil and a fire in the hole. Took about 25 minutes to get up to 350° and she's holding steady with the Guru working at ~30%. After a good seasoning burn tonight it'll be go time.

01-26-2015, 07:32 PM	#12357
bstomper Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-22-14 Location: Denare Beach, Canada	Whipper up a mini and hopefully be seasoning tomorrow.

01-27-2015, 06:42 PM	#12358
BaronVonOttomatic On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-15-15 Location: Dallas, TX	The downside to doing a test/seasoning burn after work is that I wasn't able to keep tabs on the drum all night so I'm not sure exactly how long the charcoal lasted. Dumped about half a chimney of lump into a 3/4 full basket at ~5:15 and had the temp up to 350° by ~5:40. When I went to bed around 11:00 it was holding at 350° with the Guru working at about 20%. When I went out and checked it at 5:00 a.m. it was ambient temperature. So I figure a full load of charcoal lasted somewhere between seven and nine hours at 350°. The basket/firebox is the bottom 12" of a sixteen gallon drum (14" diameter) with a 16" diameter piece of 1/4" plate on top. Depending on how long the temp holds at smoking temperature (i.e. 250°) this weekend I may scrounge up another grease drum and cut it at 15" for more charcoal capacity. I've also got a 30 gallon drum (18" diameter) I can cut up to use as a diffuser so more heat radiates straight up vs. the 1/4" plate diffuser. While I was watching the temp stayed rock steady at 350° - it hadn't moved up or down even one degree whenever I checked on it and never moved while I was outside eyeballing it. Again, I've got to think using a heavy hunk of steel plate to absorb/diffuse heat has to contribute to that. Perhaps at the expense of burn time. Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the results after one burn. Got a brisket on tap for Saturday and a couple of racks of short ribs planned for Sunday. To be continued...

01-28-2015, 04:54 AM	#12359
ebijack Babbling Farker Join Date: 08-23-13 Location: Detroit Mi Name/Nickname : tom	The more you block the heat, the more coal your going to use. That 1/4 plate is sucking up ALOT of heat. Your coal basket of 14X12 inches high should get you at least 17hrs at 250 deg. Not sure how you turned the bottom part of a drum into a basket. If you do not have enough area/air flow for the ash to drop from the coals, you could have choked out your fire due to the ash. See how much coal you have left. Most UDS's are very steady with temps and do not require mass to stabilize temps.

01-28-2015, 06:18 PM	#12360
BaronVonOttomatic On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-15-15 Location: Dallas, TX	It's more of a firebox than a basket, drilled a 1 1/8" hole near the bottom on one side for the air inlet then welded a couple of tabs at about the same height as the top of the inlet pipe so the grate sits on the inlet pipe and the two tabs. Then drilled three 1 1/8" holes opposite the inlet centered about 7" up. There was zero charcoal left after the seasoning burn, nothing but ash. I cut off the bottom of a 30 gallon drum to try as a diffuser instead of the 1/4" plate and have it in the cooker now with a 7lb butt for an overnight cook at 260°. I need to find someplace to download some pictures so I can share my insanity.