Ugly Drum Smoker

SmokinCoyote · Jun 5, 2008

Bbq Bubba said:
BTW....install a handle so you can lift that bad boy outta there!!
(basket on ground)

Oh yea. That definitely is in the plans. I got a steel rod for that but dinner was ready so I stopped working on it for today.

I was wandering about the holes also. I was going to see how it did first (I'm tired of drilling) and then add some more if needed but I think I will take your advice and go ahead and drill more. The biggest drill bit I have is 1/2" but I am going to get a 1" hole saw for the intake nipple's so I will use that.

chinesebob · Jun 5, 2008

Norcoredneck said:
That ain't all that looks familiar

HEY - I resemble that comment!

Norcoredneck · Jun 5, 2008

SmokinCoyote said:
Another coal box question. I have read probably every post about UDS but am curious to know if my coal box might be too big. I was trying to figure out what I wanted to build a coal box out of without spending too much $$$ so I went to a local scrap metal yard to get some stuff and noticed a 30 gal drum in a scrap pile. I asked what they would sell it for and he said $4.00. I couldn't pass that up. I cut the bottom off for an ash pan and 9 inches off the top for the box. It is 18" diameter and 9" deep. It seems that the common size is 15 to 16 inches. Has anyone who built a big basket wished they would have made it smaller for some reason?

My thinking is I can make a smaller ring for shorter cooks and for long cooks I will have the capacity I need.

Mistas first drum had one sorta like that. I would insure you can maintain 24" from expanded metal to lower grate. Most important measurment in my opinion.

Bbq Bubba · Jun 5, 2008

I need a new hat!!

BBQ Enthusiast · Jun 5, 2008

:lol:who needs x-mas lights when you have muti color UDS's:lol:

sorry had to say it.:icon_blush:

HB-BBQ · Jun 6, 2008

Bbq Bubba said:
BTW....install a handle so you can lift that bad boy outta there!!
(basket on ground)

I am curious about your basket, I like the design but have a couple of questions. What did you use as a base for the expanded metal to fasten to? I also was wondering how long the bolts were that you used for the legs or feet.

chinesebob · Jun 6, 2008

Does anyone think 12 inch fire basket for the uds is too small?

Norcoredneck · Jun 6, 2008

If you are looking for ideas try this thread also. Work in progress so keep checking.
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43943

Dr_KY · Jun 6, 2008

chinesebob said:
Does anyone think 12 inch fire basket for the uds is too small?

I started with one that size and it worked.

Bbq Bubba · Jun 6, 2008

HB-BBQ said:
I am curious about your basket, I like the design but have a couple of questions. What did you use as a base for the expanded metal to fasten to? I also was wondering how long the bolts were that you used for the legs or feet.

The base is a grill from a Smokey Joe, expanded metal is made into a circle and bolted together them wir tied to the grate.
Bolts are 3 1/2" long with double nuts and washers sandwiched around the grate.

SmokinCoyote · Jun 6, 2008

Norcoredneck said:
Mistas first drum had one sorta like that. I would insure you can maintain 24" from expanded metal to lower grate. Most important measurment in my opinion.

His was the one I thought of when I saw that small drum. I wouldn't have thought about making a charcoal box out of a smaller drum if I hadn't seen the picture of his.

I am only going to have one cooking grate in this one. To keep it at 24" I have to keep the grate at 5" below the top of the drum. That is one reason I didn't weld the box together. I still haven't made my mind up on it yet. I left a 2" gap between the ash pan and the grate so the coal grate is 4 1/2 " from the bottom of the drum. I am still thinking of not using an ash pan to get more room at the top for the cooking grate. I don't mind scooping or dumping the ashes out.

SmokinCoyote · Jun 6, 2008

HB-BBQ said:
I am curious about your basket, I like the design but have a couple of questions. What did you use as a base for the expanded metal to fasten to? I also was wondering how long the bolts were that you used for the legs or feet.

I just used 4 pieces of angle iron and 4 bolts to hold the expanded metal in.

the legs are 1/2" square tubing cut 10 1/2 inches long. I bolted the bottom of each leg in the ash pan with 1 bolt and the top of the leg to the box with 2 bolts each. It would have been easier to weld it together but I still might change some stuff and with it bolted together if I ever need to replace the grate I can just unbolt it and replace it.

chinesebob · Jun 6, 2008

So I'm working on the class stuff and I'm thinking - if we go with 12 inch firebaskets I can cut the cost down a little bit, but now I'm wondering - valves on the air flow or nipples? What makes sense? I've used valves for me personally, but I don't always use them. Would a nipple cap work just as well? Loosen and tighten? I think I've got some experimenting to do today.....

Mark · Jun 6, 2008

Well Bob: the simplest/cheapest route is to drill holes (3/4 - 1") and attach little tabs that pivot with a short stove bolt to cover the holes.

HB-BBQ · Jun 6, 2008

Bbq Bubba said:
The base is a grill from a Smokey Joe, expanded metal is made into a circle and bolted together them wir tied to the grate.
Bolts are 3 1/2" long with double nuts and washers sandwiched around the grate.

Thanks for the info, I am tossing around a couple of ideas may integrate your design. I will post a pic of mine when it is done.

HB-BBQ · Jun 6, 2008

SmokinCoyote said:
I just used 4 pieces of angle iron and 4 bolts to hold the expanded metal in.

the legs are 1/2" square tubing cut 10 1/2 inches long. I bolted the bottom of each leg in the ash pan with 1 bolt and the top of the leg to the box with 2 bolts each. It would have been easier to weld it together but I still might change some stuff and with it bolted together if I ever need to replace the grate I can just unbolt it and replace it.

Thanks brother.

Wulfie · Jun 6, 2008

Bbq Bubba said:
The base is a grill from a Smokey Joe, expanded metal is made into a circle and bolted together them wir tied to the grate.
Bolts are 3 1/2" long with double nuts and washers sandwiched around the grate.

Was wondering if a cooking grate would be sturdy enough... was planning to use the two from my H20 smoker, but they seemed rather flimsy compared to the Weber coal grate.

-------------

Wulfie

Newest member of the Smokin' Scotsmen BBQ Team

2 UDS in construction
1 Charbroil Electric Deluxe H20 smoker (soon to be scrapped for parts)

chinesebob · Jun 6, 2008

Mark said:
Well Bob: the simplest/cheapest route is to drill holes (3/4 - 1") and attach little tabs that pivot with a short stove bolt to cover the holes.

Stove bolt?

Norcoredneck · Jun 6, 2008

Wulfie said:
Was wondering if a cooking grate would be sturdy enough... was planning to use the two from my H20 smoker, but they seemed rather flimsy compared to the Weber coal grate.

I made one for Single Fin with 2 ECB grates.

Bbq Bubba · Jun 6, 2008

Norcoredneck said:
I made one for Single Fin with 2 ECB grates.

Hoe tall is that bowl??
Do you maintain 24" to the grate?

Ugly Drum Smoker

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is Blowin Smoke!

somebody shut me the fark up.

somebody shut me the fark up.

Got Wood.

is One Chatty Farker

is Blowin Smoke!

somebody shut me the fark up.

Quintessential Chatty Farker

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Knows what a fatty is.

Knows what a fatty is.

is Blowin Smoke!

somebody shut me the fark up.

is One Chatty Farker

is One Chatty Farker

Knows what a fatty is.

is Blowin Smoke!

somebody shut me the fark up.

somebody shut me the fark up.

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