Ugly Drum Smoker

jgh1204 · Aug 3, 2009

Stlitz, I doubt the basket is the problem. I bought a replacement water pan and punched a bunch of 3/4" holes in it for a charcoal basket for a friends UDS and it has no problem with the temps.

If it was ash build up, it would affect the later part of the cook and not the entire cook.

All that being said, if you have a step bit it wouldn't hurt to try opening up some of those holes.

And all that again being said, if it is steady 220 the entire time and it doesn't spike, I would use the old computer programmer saying, "That's not a bug, it's a feature!"

biggs98 · Aug 3, 2009

12 hour burn and I still have the red liner......only like 30% of it burned off.....HELP!!!!!!

jcinadr · Aug 4, 2009

Stiltz6ft9in said:
The only thing was I had problems last time with temps. I just can't seem to get above 220*. I have (8) 1/2" holes in the flat lid and (4) intakes around the bottom. For my intakes I have (2) 3/4" x 3" pipes with caps and (2) ball valves. With all four open all the way I can't hit higher than 220*.

Just another possible cause (the one that gave me the most grief). What are you using for charcoal? I had the same problem with some older bags lying aground (one open for over a year, second one stored in a humid enviroment). Mosture absorbed by the charcoal was acting as a natural thermostat in my UDS. Fresh bag of (dryer) charcoal solved the problem. I also notice that the unburnt charcoal in my UDS will absorbe mosture occasionally between useage.

Rich Parker · Aug 4, 2009

Jethro said:
Finally got her done and seasoned. She held perfect cooking temps from 5pm until 8am when I shut her down, all on the single load of charcoal.
Will be cooking a butt tommorow for her maiden voyage.
A special thanks to all that contributed to this thread.

Nice cooker Jethro!

Rich Parker · Aug 4, 2009

jcinadr said:
I have missed a couple dozen pages of the thread - so please forgive me if it is in here somewhere, but....

I have the obscene desire to put a guru on my uds. What size fan unit would it need? Any experiance with this lurking on the thread.
--
oh, why would one want to do such a stupid thing. I mostly BBQ for Sunday Lunch. Being able to sleep a little longer between temp checks would be nice (as well as not coming back from Church to a cold pit - happened once). The second reason is damp lump.

You need to find the Redneck Guru thread..Norcoredneck's invention.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45710

Natryka · Aug 4, 2009

After hanging around the site for a long time I finally started. I tried to smoke on my gas grill a couple of times and the results were as you know, poor. That is what I am after wasting money on the meat. I have been keeping up with this thread and decided to start my build. I have an endless supply of drums, so if anyone in Southern IL needs a drum let me know. They are food grade with the liner. I went with 3 - 1/2inch and 1 - 3/4 ball valve and will use the 2 inch bung.
All is left is to paint and smoke!

1FUNVET · Aug 4, 2009

Why paint it? They are called UGLY drum smokers.:biggrin:

Rich Parker · Aug 4, 2009

1FUNVET said:
Why paint it? They are called UGLY drum smokers.:biggrin:

Ditto! Who cares what they look like as long as the put out good food.

Phubar · Aug 4, 2009

Question charcoal basket

Today I got my charcoal basket back from the welder and I realized that I gave the wrong measurement in height.
My basket is now 13cm/5" tall and diameter is 43cm/17".
How long can I cook with a full basket if everything is going ok (temp,wind etc.)?
Thanx!

h20loo · Aug 4, 2009

Phubar said:
Today I got my charcoal basket back from the welder and I realized that I gave the wrong measurement in height.
My basket is now 13cm/5" tall and diameter is 43cm/17".
How long can I cook with a full basket if everything is going ok (temp,wind etc.)?
Thanx!

'til you run out of groceries!!!
Nice looking basket

Meat Burner · Aug 4, 2009

Phubar, that size basket is just fine. My longest cook has been about 18 hours and didn't need to refuel. You are good to go brother.

Phubar · Aug 4, 2009

h20loo said:
'til you run out of groceries!!!
Nice looking basket

:lol:

True,true!
Thanx guys for the anwsers.

BBQNOOB · Aug 4, 2009

just brought my barrel home from a reconditioning business. 8 individual wash stations including an acid bath, and sandblasted on the outside. I am going to wash the thing out to remove any residuals from the baths, and start drilling this weekend

Cant wait. Should be complete early next week. I will post pics of the build.

smokeythebama · Aug 4, 2009

Thanks Viva, I will try just the lid and see what happens. If it fails, I will use the gasket and try to rig it.

Hugh Jorgan · Aug 4, 2009

jcinadr said:
Just another possible cause (the one that gave me the most grief). What are you using for charcoal? I had the same problem with some older bags lying aground (one open for over a year, second one stored in a humid enviroment). Mosture absorbed by the charcoal was acting as a natural thermostat in my UDS. Fresh bag of (dryer) charcoal solved the problem. I also notice that the unburnt charcoal in my UDS will absorbe mosture occasionally between useage.

x2 my temps were up and down and totally unpredictable until I bought a Bag of fresh briquets. At first I used what I had leftover in bags around the house.

jlough69 · Aug 4, 2009

Phubar said:
Today I got my charcoal basket back from the welder and I realized that I gave the wrong measurement in height.
My basket is now 13cm/5" tall and diameter is 43cm/17".
How long can I cook with a full basket if everything is going ok (temp,wind etc.)?
Thanx!

I also had a basket made and I think the guy welding was really getting into it - he built it like a tank! 16" dia 6" tall

I wanted to see how a full basket (to the top rim but not any higher)would burn and cooked for 12 hours and burned little over 1/3 of the coals. It will definately cook for as long as I need it to.

Sits about 3" high on the coal grate. Ash drops right through.

Just added coals to start the cook.

Norcoredneck · Aug 4, 2009

You could get a better flavor if you align the grooves on the K

jlough69 · Aug 4, 2009

Norcoredneck said:
You could get a better flavor if you align the grooves on the K

LMAO - I want to try lump one of these days but am still getting the hang of cooking in the drum. :wink:

jgh1204 · Aug 4, 2009

biggs98 said:
12 hour burn and I still have the red liner......only like 30% of it burned off.....HELP!!!!!!

Biggs, how big a fire did you build? You have to put a lot of wood in the barrel to get that liner off. It is tough stuff. Flames should be shooting out about 3 feet above the barrel.

Norcoredneck · Aug 4, 2009

jgh1204 said:
Biggs, how big a fire did you build? You have to put a lot of wood in the barrel to get that liner off. It is tough stuff. Flames should be shooting out about 3 feet above the barrel.

Helps if you have the holes in the bottom to add oxygen from the bottom.

Ugly Drum Smoker

Babbling Farker

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