I am building a new UDS

J-Rod said:

I understand your frustration in locating the proper drum and or lid. To answer your lid size question, based on my experience lids from open head drums won't fit closed head drums without modification. (Cutting and welding). Trust me, save yourself the headache and find a open head drum WITH its own lid rather than playing the mix and match game. I mean, its possible but why dick around with it when you can use a drum with a proper fitting lid? also, the rolled edge of an open head drum provides better sealing of lid due to more surface area of sealing edge. Re: a diffuser- you'll naturally use more fuel as you're blocking much of the direct radiant heat by using one. Personally I feel they're only useful for very large, multiple rack cooks and even then not a necessity. A diffuser Just helps food on bottom rack not take so much heat to make it cook faster than the upper food, but without one this small issue can be managed. I think I've used a diffuser once or twice, in many years of smokin.

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My current UDS is an open head drum and yes the lid is super tight fit. I have 2 handles on the lid and I have to normally stand on a vent and yank upward to remove it. I got my 2 new closed head drums today with the tops already cut out. These drums have no liners and are rust free. They had some sort of "light" oil in them and with no liner I know they will clean up and burn out well. I test fitted my Weber lid from my performer grill and would you believe it almost fits perfect? All I need to do is go around the bead with a grinder and just "knock" the edge off and a 22.5" Weber lid will sit right down on with a perfect fit. I am pumped although I cannot seem to find a used Weber now for a lid. I may have to fabricate some sort of flat lid. Another thing about my current UDS is it DID have a red liner in it and when I built it I burnt it out for several hours with a leaf blower pumping air in and the liner remained 80% intact. Then I ground it with a wire wheel and ruined 2 wheels and I said screw it and gave up. Someone told me that the fire I had was way hotter than any smoker fire I will have so I would be safe. I have used it a lot and no ones been sick yet lol. The main issue with my current UDS is my OCD behavior. It works really good but since it was my first I have more holes and plugged holes in it than it needs plus a patch welded on where a fork lift had put a gash in it. I want to build a new one that just looks like it was built professionally is all.

Can you tell me with a good fitting Weber lid will it still be a good seal to be as efficient as my tight fitting open drum is now?

lissaannjon said:

I see your in iowa as well. this is where I got my drum because I couldn't find an open head one locally either. You may want to ask him if he has any without the dreaded red liner. mine had the red liner and it was just as miserable as everyone said getting it out. On a good note it was in my driveway in less than 24 hours from the time i bought it. http://www.ebay.com/itm/55-gallon-b...862?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a9fe094e

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Hey neighbor! Where at in Iowa? Read the post before this one. I got 2 brand new condition unrusted drums today (closed head) but the heads had already been cut out with an industrial drum opener so all I got to do now is find a used Weber for a lid.

AaronPo said:

Why don't more people do this on their uds? I can run 2-3 racks without any trouble, I can pull my upper rack and clips and have the bottom rack out in no time without tilting or anything. I love it!

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What are those?

mikemci said:

Those are shelf clips and standards for cabinet shelves.

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Now that I am on my computer and not my phone I can see that. That is a really cool idea but one thing I can see an issue is fumbling one of those tiny clips and dropping it in the barrel...:eusa_clap