Brainstorming My Next Build

Ok, so at least some of the people on this site are aware that my first UDS build was sort of disappointing.

My second build came out much better and has inspired me to go again.

This is my idea so far; take my first UDS, fix all the problems with it (which actually aren't that many) and get it to run as good as my latest build. THEN, take the extra steel drum that I have and combine the 2 into a mobile combination smoker and charcoal grill!

This plan has several things going for it:
1) I won't have to build a completely new smoker for the combo when I do start the build (hopefully later this year).

2) I won't have to let the first smoker I ever built rust away.

3) A combo would allow me to grill and prepare side dishes while the smoker finishes up. Or I could do ribs and brisket for the adults and hotdogs and burgers for the kids all at the same time.

4) Would save space over having a seperate smoker and charcoal grill.

I'm still debating on the overall design of the rig. I'm considering building the frame out of wood, which would save me a ton of money. I know wood is flammable, but I think I can make it work IF I can insulate it from the hot parts of the drums.

Anyone got any other ideas/comments, or attempted something like this before?

Bbq Bubba said:

A dissapointing drum build???

What does that mean?

Click to expand...

Well, i was too eager to get started and didn't really do enough research, so the things I thought were going to be really cool ended up sabotaging me; non-existant seal around the "clean-out" door, poor air intake control, using a plain grill grate to hold the coals instead of making a basket... there's a few more, but I think you get the picture.

I'm probably just going to end up riveting a bunch of plate steel over all the gaping holes I cut into it and re-drilling new, smaller ones.

Here's a very rough idea of what I've been thinking.

I'm working on ways to insulate the frame from the heat of the drums. One idea I had was to use Form-a-Gasket or silicone and spread it between 2 sheets of wax paper to make a flat sheet, then cut it to fit the areas where the drums will be in contact with the frame.

Next smoke I think i'm going to try to lean a piece of wood up against the outside of the drum to see just how much damage it will do, if any. I've noticed that there are a lot of drums that have wooden side tables (including my own) which are in contact with the upper most part of the drum, and they don't spontaneously combust. I'm sure the wood will scorch, but I want to see if it will actually ignite or start to smoke. That will give me a better idea of just how well I need to insulate the frame.

Hmmmm, definitely some things to think about.

So, used my home remodeling program to mock up a better version of what I'm thinking about building:






Unfortunately, that's about as much detail as I can squeeze out of it, but it's a reasonably depiction. The wood could just as easily be swapped out for steel. Still deciding what I want to do. Might start calling shops and get estimates on how much it would cost me to get the frame fab'd.

Hijacking my own thread...

So, this is another design I came up with. I'm seriously thinking about building one to donate to Moving Miracles to raffle off as a fund raiser. They do great work; teaching the developmentally disabled and handicapped dance routines, which they then perform at the end of the season recital.


So, basically, it's a cabinet smoker that's made out of drums. I kinda based it on the "big baby" double drum smoker, but with the top drums standing up instead of on their sides. It would have much greater capacity than "big baby" and could smoke the same amount of food as 8 standard UDS's while only taking up the space that 2 would.

Obviously there would have to be some kind of seal around the doors, and wheels on the base to be able to move it.

The bottom drum/fire box would have a pull-out coal basket with a detachable ash pan for easy loading/cleaning.

With the 2 seperate cooking chambers, there's no worry over cross-contamination. Do 1 type of meat in each side or meat/veggies with a water pan to steam them.

A thick steel diffuser plate evens out the temps from top to bottom and spreads the smoke around.

Can't wait to read the comments on this one!

It's just 1 idea I had. Like I said, based it on the "big baby" design, which seems to be pretty popular. I wouldn't go as far to say that laying a drum on its side was a disgrace, i'm just trying to some up with ways to make a larger capacity unit using drums instead of, say, a gigantic propane tank. Drums are free and easy to get for me- large tanks are expensive and hard to move. I don't know. Still a work in progress.

Hmmmm, some interesting points to consider.

Here's a better pic: