UDS advise

Friction33 · 01-01-2014, 07:06 PM

Bringing home 2 55 gallon drums tomorrow to get started on my 1st UDS. Need a little advise please. 1. I like the looks of the intake pipes going up the side of the drum. Some say it restricts the air flow. Is there a certain height that is better or just not use them at all and keep the valves at the bottom?
2. The drums I am getting or sealed. Is there a way to cut the top to reuse it or just go with the weber replacement lid?
3. Heat diffusers Or no?
Thanks for any input you guys have.

Fwismoker · 01-01-2014, 07:19 PM

Yea I'm a big fan of the heat diffuser because it blends direct heat with indirect, also lets drippings still reach the coals for flavor...get a pizza pan, drill 1/2" holes in it and set it on a rack above the basket.

I don't think it's worth it having pipe up the sides... a better running UDS is more important than cosmetics imo.

c farmer · 01-01-2014, 07:22 PM

^^^^^^^^^ listen to this guy.

pbj · 01-01-2014, 07:23 PM

Take an angle grinder to the outside edge of the top. You will be able to use the top from the barrel with about 15 minute grinding

leanza · 01-01-2014, 07:27 PM

I'll chime in on the defuser. It really made a great positive difference in my cooking. I use a pan with water. It presents some issues though as compared to a straight up draft that you have without the defuser.

Budman1 · 01-01-2014, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fwismoker

Yea I'm a big fan of the heat diffuser because it blends direct heat with indirect, also lets drippings still reach the coals for flavor...get a pizza pan, drill 1/2" holes in it and set it on a rack above the basket.

I don't think it's worth it having pipe up the sides... a better running UDS is more important than cosmetics imo.

^^^ my thoughts also. I think you get a better air flow without risers. I'm still looking for a weber lid, it'll give you more room for sure.

I did the handle thing on a ball valve to keep from bending over all the time. Works well.

Friction33 · 01-01-2014, 09:31 PM

Thanks everyone. I will go with no intake risers and incorporate a diffuser for different cooks. I am going to start on them tomorrow night and hopefully by the weekend it will up and running with smoke.

ChickenWang · 01-01-2014, 09:35 PM

I cant speak for others, but I have risers on my UDS and I have no problem with air flow. I use a diffuser and It holds temp like a charm and I have very few flare ups

farmerman · 01-01-2014, 10:22 PM

I also have risers but only 2 cooks under my belt. I can say that i think my riser is too tall and at only 3/4" it seems quite restrictive. I would suggest a 1" id pipe for the riser but thats just my .02

J-Rod · 01-01-2014, 10:27 PM

I'll second the notion of using intake risers. And its not about looking cool- think itd look better without it honestly, but...
Intakes which are perpendicular to high winds are far less affected by it than intakes facing wind. I know because I have cookers with both. The cooker with low, side intakes gets its a$$ kicked on windy days and the one with risers laughs at the wind and keeps on truckin. Jm2c.

Friction33 · 01-01-2014, 10:49 PM

Well with all the different opinions and results I think I will do a couple of test runs with and without the risers and see what works best for me. Can't wait to get started building and I will post pics of the build.

Beef · 01-01-2014, 10:51 PM

There is a UDS thread here somewhere that will blow your mind. It will take two weeks to read through

J-Rod · 01-01-2014, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Friction33

Well with all the different opinions and results I think I will do a couple of test runs with and without the risers and see what works best for me. Can't wait to get started building and I will post pics of the build.

That's the best thing to do. I happened to start off with risers, it worked, so I left it. Plus, no bending

Friction33 · 01-01-2014, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beef

There is a UDS thread here somewhere that will blow your mind. It will take two weeks to read through

I read through that thread. Didn't read every single post but did read lots of them. Took me a couple of evenings to get through it. That is an amazing thread. That is what gave me the final push to build one. Off to a good start with 2 free drums. So here I go. LOL

farmerman · 01-01-2014, 11:43 PM

Yeah a free drum is a perfect drum! I have a riser like i said but now wonder if either its too tall or too small

01-01-2014, 07:06 PM	#1
Friction33 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-14-13 Location: Winder,Ga	UDS advise Bringing home 2 55 gallon drums tomorrow to get started on my 1st UDS. Need a little advise please. 1. I like the looks of the intake pipes going up the side of the drum. Some say it restricts the air flow. Is there a certain height that is better or just not use them at all and keep the valves at the bottom? 2. The drums I am getting or sealed. Is there a way to cut the top to reuse it or just go with the weber replacement lid? 3. Heat diffusers Or no? Thanks for any input you guys have.

01-01-2014, 07:19 PM	#2
Fwismoker somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-22-13 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana	Yea I'm a big fan of the heat diffuser because it blends direct heat with indirect, also lets drippings still reach the coals for flavor...get a pizza pan, drill 1/2" holes in it and set it on a rack above the basket. I don't think it's worth it having pipe up the sides... a better running UDS is more important than cosmetics imo. __________________ Change the way you rotisserie for the BETTER![COLOR="Red"][B]Cajun Bandit Kits for your WSM or Weber Kettle Now Available![/B][/COLOR] Visit [COLOR="Red"]OctoForks[/COLOR] in Sales & Ventures Website & Blog: [url]www.octoforks.com[/url]

01-01-2014, 07:22 PM	#3
c farmer Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-13-13 Location: pa	^^^^^^^^^ listen to this guy. __________________ Adam Gold mini wsm 1st gen mes, amazin dust and pellet smoker, and the uds. Double O' Seven == Rotisserie/Grill/Smoker Hybrid and offset.

01-01-2014, 07:23 PM	#4
pbj Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-03-12 Location: Hopkins, MN Name/Nickname : Curly	Take an angle grinder to the outside edge of the top. You will be able to use the top from the barrel with about 15 minute grinding __________________ Chargriller Pro w/SFB [COLOR="Magenta"]retired[/COLOR] Brinkmann TrailMaster 1 generic digital thermometer Maverick 732 UDS [COLOR="Red"]Thermapen Mk4[/COLOR]

01-01-2014, 07:27 PM	#5
leanza Babbling Farker Join Date: 05-26-07 Location: Southern California	I'll chime in on the defuser. It really made a great positive difference in my cooking. I use a pan with water. It presents some issues though as compared to a straight up draft that you have without the defuser. __________________ Tom

01-01-2014, 09:31 PM	#7
Friction33 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-14-13 Location: Winder,Ga	Thanks everyone. I will go with no intake risers and incorporate a diffuser for different cooks. I am going to start on them tomorrow night and hopefully by the weekend it will up and running with smoke.

01-01-2014, 09:35 PM	#8
ChickenWang Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-15-11 Location: Tyler, Tx	I cant speak for others, but I have risers on my UDS and I have no problem with air flow. I use a diffuser and It holds temp like a charm and I have very few flare ups __________________ Klose Mobile Pit, Weber OTG, 2 UDS

01-01-2014, 10:22 PM	#9
farmerman Found some matches. Join Date: 12-27-13 Location: Soldotna, AK	I also have risers but only 2 cooks under my belt. I can say that i think my riser is too tall and at only 3/4" it seems quite restrictive. I would suggest a 1" id pipe for the riser but thats just my .02

01-01-2014, 10:27 PM	#10
J-Rod is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-15-12 Location: Irish Hills, MI	I'll second the notion of using intake risers. And its not about looking cool- think itd look better without it honestly, but... Intakes which are perpendicular to high winds are far less affected by it than intakes facing wind. I know because I have cookers with both. The cooker with low, side intakes gets its a$$ kicked on windy days and the one with risers laughs at the wind and keeps on truckin. Jm2c. __________________ Okie Joe offset, UDS, Akorn, Weber Kettles, I'm JD.

01-01-2014, 10:49 PM	#11
Friction33 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-14-13 Location: Winder,Ga	Well with all the different opinions and results I think I will do a couple of test runs with and without the risers and see what works best for me. Can't wait to get started building and I will post pics of the build.

01-01-2014, 10:51 PM	#12
Beef Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-03-11 Location: Cedarburg, wi	There is a UDS thread here somewhere that will blow your mind. It will take two weeks to read through __________________ Standard UDS Imperial Kamado #3 Numerous Weber Kettles, daisies and one touches Seville Cart by Woodard for my pre-79 Kettle Indoors cooking hearth with crane Large heavy duty open grill for dutch ovens, etc.

01-01-2014, 11:43 PM	#15
farmerman Found some matches. Join Date: 12-27-13 Location: Soldotna, AK	Yeah a free drum is a perfect drum! I have a riser like i said but now wonder if either its too tall or too small