Ugly Drum Smoker

Stevenscustomguitars · Jun 9, 2014

Highcal said:
Have no idea if your chimney thingy will hold up to the heat, but the mesh seems a bit too
spaced out, I would think small pieces of charcoal would fall through.

Thanks, and I think you're right.

Eggtastico said:
As for the lid - do you know anyone who can weld your lid to the original drum lid?
That is what I done, so I got a perfect fit. Cost me about £20 IIRC done by a local panel beater. Then I cut the drum lid with a jigsaw & metal blade.

Do your drums have any lining? I assume not from what you say... I had a drum with no lining & didnt bother burning it out.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

No lining on my drums, clean bare steel. I'm just worried that if i don't remove the paint and respray it will peel off.

Think I may just bit the bullet and buy the 8x4 sheet, at least that way I'll have plenty for when I build my 2nd :wink:

qhoang · Jun 9, 2014

Building my first UDS. Can someone tell me if this is what it's suppose to look like? Not sure how to tell when the liner is out.

Eggtastico · Jun 10, 2014

Stevenscustomguitars said:
Thanks, and I think you're right.

Thanks, I'll look into that.

No lining on my drums, clean bare steel. I'm just worried that if i don't remove the paint and respray it will peel off.

Think I may just bit the bullet and buy the 8x4 sheet, at least that way I'll have plenty for when I build my 2nd :wink:

My paint did not peel for a few cooks - then I had to go out & left the missus in charge. 1 phone call later temp was upto 400F & it burnt the paint - then rust followed. I think if the temps are kept low enough, the paint is upto it (I would guess sitting around dockside all over the world in various temps the paint can take 225f without any issues)

As for steel - maybe look into welded mesh. I found a local supplier to me in Swansea that sell 8x4 for less than £20 in mild steel.

cmwr · Jun 10, 2014

Burning it will remove the outside paint as already said. My last 2 UDS were both unlined barrels that had grain in them from a dog food plant. I burned one and didn't burn the other. They both produce good food.

cmwr · Jun 10, 2014

qhoang said:
Building my first UDS. Can someone tell me if this is what it's suppose to look like? Not sure how to tell when the liner is out.

It looks like the liner is still in there. See that reddish brown looking stuff? That's a liner. Looks as if you tried grinding on it already from the marks. Those things are a bitch to get out.

Highcal · Jun 11, 2014

Should be silver in color inside, just take your wire wheel to the outside to remove some paint and what you see is exactly what you should see inside.

Stevenscustomguitars · Jun 11, 2014

So I ended up buying some expanded mild steel. It's listed as 154f over here and is about 1.5mm thick. Is that thick enough to withstand the heat? Any thicker and I was worried about being able to bend it or cut it. It's not too late to swap it, just want to make sure before I cut it!

Edit: Just had a look and the 3/4" x #9 that most of you guys use is about 3mm thick, twice that of what I bought. Worrying now.

gingerchris · Jun 11, 2014

Steven - don't worry about it. If it's too thin then it will burn away after a few cooks and you'll have to replace it. I've used whatever thin stuff they sell at B&Q and so far after three cooks it's not showing any sign of deterioration.

Eggtastico · Jun 11, 2014

gingerchris said:
Steven - don't worry about it. If it's too thin then it will burn away after a few cooks and you'll have to replace it. I've used whatever thin stuff they sell at B&Q and so far after three cooks it's not showing any sign of deterioration.

any links to B&Q stuff? I can only ever find galvanised there.

gingerchris · Jun 11, 2014

I cant see any on their website but I'm pretty sure (and now hopeful) that the stuff I found in my local wasn't galvanised. I know there's a lot of debate on here about it but I've been pretty adamant about not using it in my build.

Stevenscustomguitars · Jun 11, 2014

It's definitely on the B&Q website, but much more expensive than from a steel company.

@gingerchris: I don't want to have to replace it if it burns away, not at £38 a sheet. I'd rather make sure I get the right stuff first time!

Not that I'm keen on sticking it back on the roof to swap it either :roll:

Stevenscustomguitars · Jun 11, 2014

I think I'm gonna stick with it; it looks exactly like the stuff in this thread in terms of thickness and diamond size so I'm hoping it will be fine.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=171398

And with 8'x4' of it I've got enough to replace it anyway.

I've also ordered the last bits including an 18" pizza pan, the grates and some VHT engine enamel. I was planning on a weber lid but am struggling to find a use one touch 22.5". Think i'll just go with one rack and the drum lid for the time being and mod it as and when I find a cheap kettle.

I've loved reading this thread - so helpful - and can't wait to get started. Cheers
Dave

Eggtastico · Jun 11, 2014

any idea what area of the store I can look? there is a superstore close to my work.
I can check tomorrow.

found them online
http://www.diy.com/nav/build/buildi...ured-L-1000mm-x-W-500mm-9284116?skuId=9293816

Eggtastico · Jun 11, 2014

Stevenscustomguitars said:
I was planning on a weber lid but am struggling to find a use one touch 22.5". Think i'll just go with one rack and the drum lid for the time being and mod it as and when I find a cheap kettle.

I've loved reading this thread - so helpful - and can't wait to get started. Cheers
Dave

I picked up a cheap kettle from Asda for £10 towards the end of summer.
Used it for parts

D cant buy a 57cm charcoal grate for that!

Stevenscustomguitars · Jun 12, 2014

Eggtastico said:
any idea what area of the store I can look? there is a superstore close to my work.
I can check tomorrow.

found them online
http://www.diy.com/nav/build/buildi...ured-L-1000mm-x-W-500mm-9284116?skuId=9293816

I think you may need to check that it's not galvanised, is there a self colour option? V expensive though, I paid that for 8'x4' from a steel yard.

It's normally with all the sheet metal stored vertically, like stuff for radiator covers and the steel lengths.

gingerchris · Jun 13, 2014

@stevenscustomguitars it looks thicker than mine.

I've failed to find a decent lid to fit over my open head drum so I've committed the cardinal sin of deviating from the KISS principal and mounted a kettle BBQ with a giant hole in the bottom on top of my drum.

Fired it up for a test run today and it seems to be running a lot hotter than it was before. I'm thinking that could be either due to lack of exhaust (I was using the 2in bung hole before) or the extra volume of air in the cooker maybe? Does anyone have any ideas?

Eggtastico · Jun 13, 2014

gingerchris said:
@stevenscustomguitars it looks thicker than mine.

I've failed to find a decent lid to fit over my open head drum so I've committed the cardinal sin of deviating from the KISS principal and mounted a kettle BBQ with a giant hole in the bottom on top of my drum.

Fired it up for a test run today and it seems to be running a lot hotter than it was before. I'm thinking that could be either due to lack of exhaust (I was using the 2in bung hole before) or the extra volume of air in the cooker maybe? Does anyone have any ideas?

That looks really good.
Props to good idea about the lid - oh & the hooks for charcoal grate.
I may have to borrow that one [ ^ _ ^ ]

Eggtastico · Jun 13, 2014

Stevenscustomguitars said:
I think you may need to check that it's not galvanised, is there a self colour option? V expensive though, I paid that for 8'x4' from a steel yard.

It's normally with all the sheet metal stored vertically, like stuff for radiator covers and the steel lengths.

there where I have previously looked.
I can get welded sheet for £20 in 8x4 but I dont think it will bend as easily as expanded stuff.

I also see that Perkins has Stainless Steel Lath - might need to check that stuff out

gingerchris · Jun 13, 2014

I've seen a few people using washing machine drums with the base cut out and replaced by a bbq grate for a firebasket - might be worth a look if you know where to find one rather than expanded metal?

My donor kettle was from Argos - currently £60 in their sale and was bought as a leaving present from my old job. They knew me so well!

funugy · Jun 13, 2014

gingerchris said:
@stevenscustomguitars it looks thicker than mine.

I've failed to find a decent lid to fit over my open head drum so I've committed the cardinal sin of deviating from the KISS principal and mounted a kettle BBQ with a giant hole in the bottom on top of my drum.

http://imgur.com/LbGCVk4
http://imgur.com/isne3um

Fired it up for a test run today and it seems to be running a lot hotter than it was before. I'm thinking that could be either due to lack of exhaust (I was using the 2in bung hole before) or the extra volume of air in the cooker maybe? Does anyone have any ideas?

I would do another test run. My first thought is that you are getting more air flow. Did anything else change other than the top? Did you omit anything from before (i.e. water pan, diffuser)? Are you able to snuff out the fire still? If so you might want to try starting with less lit fuel and bring up the temp slowly, you may just be running more efficient with the dome lid than the flat one.

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