Help! My first UDS attempt

[Zed]

Thanks for the pic. I assume you welded a piece of flat stock around the perimeter? Also I have a chance to get a sheet of 1in expanded steel for 30 bucks. It seems 2 big for charcoal though, anyone got some thoughts on this? That being said I had an idea today for a charcoal basket, a weber little smokey. It has legs and a vent at the bottom and it's build to withstand heat from charcoal. Couldn't I just take the lid off and place it in the bottom of the smoker? Would it hold enough charcoal? They cost 30 bucks and that's what a grate and 2 pieces of expanded steel costs. What do you guys think?

[4dueces]

It is flat stock welded around the edge. I guess the little smokey might work, only 1 way to find out. Not sure it will hold enough charcoal for a long cook. The baskets I make are using the charcoal rack from a 22.5 Weber with 9" tall expanded metal welded to it and 3" legs. It will hold 20 lbs of Kingsford charcoal.

[ebijack]

Originally Posted by Zed

a weber little smokey. It has legs and a vent at the bottom and it's build to withstand heat from charcoal. Couldn't I just take the lid off and place it in the bottom of the smoker? Would it hold enough charcoal? They cost 30 bucks and that's what a grate and 2 pieces of expanded steel costs. What do you guys think?

I believe the bottom holes will fill up with ash and your fire/coals will go out. Enough coal for how many hrs/temp?
But give it a go.

[kls44]

Forget the smoky joe unless you want to make a mini smoker. You will only get about 7-8hrs. before the ashes choke it out. Get the charcoal grate for a 22.5" Weber grill and some expanded metal. You may be able to find a cutoff piece at a metal fabricator for cheap. Make some clips from a wire coat hanger to attach the ends together and to the grate. Mine is 12" tall and have done 3 cooks of 8hrs.+ on one fill.

[Zed]

I've not come across any other threads or pics of one like this. I took a 20 lb propane tank and cut the top off. Then I layed out 3/4 inch holes every 1.5 inches with an alternating pattern. I cut the bottom out but left the original foot and dropped in a Weber little Smokey charcoal grate. This in total cost me 8 dollars. I got the old tank for free. It seems to burn wood like a champ. It measures 11.25 wide by 13 tall. I'm curious if anyone else has done this. I will add an ash pan and a handle tomorrow. What do you guy's think?

[Zed]

Ok so this is the finished product. I decided to use the top that I cut off as an ash pan. I had some threaded rod laying around and I cut three legs out of it. I welded them to the foot that I left on the bottom of the tank. Then I drilled three holes thought the soon to be ash pan and tack welded it to the rod. Then I added a handle from a old busted 5 gallon drum I had laying around. I really like how this turned out. Now I just hope it burns long enough for a good cook. If not then I guess I got a little portable cooker!