Ugly Drum Smoker

Jkstone, If my recollection serves, memory not withstanding, my firebox is about 52 inches in circumference so yours should be fine.
With regards to your UDS customization - I think it's a great/clever idea but like some others have stated, isn't at all necessary based on my albeit limited experience. BUt I shall still share it hehe.
Like I said my, firebox is roughly 14-15in diameter, whatever the weber replacement charcoal grate is... and it's 8 inches high. I have a 3 in air gap between the bottom of the firebox and the ash catcher. I've loaded it with as little as 7 lbs of Stubbs or Royal Oak Brickettes which fill about to the middle of the box and then poured a 14- to 1/3 full chimney of lit charcoal in the middle (I use a generic chimney which is smaller than the weber genuine one). I have never run out of charcoal. I have always had coals left over. I haven't had a cook last less than 10 hours. I'm fully confident I have the capacity to run 20 hours before considering adding charcoal. So that's my experience. Hope it helps. Still, looking good mod there and hope you get some great cooks outta there!!!
 
jkstone said:
OK, so despite my blasphemous disregard for the K.I.S.S. method, I am on my second cook and have been holding steady at 225 degrees (give or take 5 degrees either way) for over 4 hours in 35 degree weather. My doors are sealed and not letting any smoke escape so far. I also don't notice any spike in warmth around the doors (holding my hand to the barrel in various places including the door seals).
In other words, "to each his own"! Whether you create the most basic UDS or elaborate on the design... as long as it works, there are no objections on my end.
On another note, after making my charcoal basket... it is 6" tall and made of expanded metal 4' in circumference... I may cut a notch out that fits my firplace shovel so I can add wood or charcoal as needed. I haven't needed to fill it so I don't see a notch being an issue. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

There is another member of the brethren that uses a door on his because he only burns wood in his drum and needs to continuously add fuel.

If you only plan on burning charcoal then a door won't be useful and will only give you grief with air leaks. I use a charcoal grate from a 22 1/2 kettle with 6" of expanded metal which will hold enough charcoal to keep it going 18+ hours.

If you go for it post some pics and how it works and if you would suggest the idea to others.
 
chikenskin said:
Well I finally got 'er built and seasoned.

I thought I would post a few pics of the fire basket I ended up with.
I used a piece of expndo and welded it to a Weber 18.5" Kettle carcoal grate.
As you can see, I have no legs.
When I bought the expando, it was a "drop" from the steel supplier and it was already 12"wide.
I knew it was going to be a pain to trim it down to 9" so I just welded the charcoal grate up 3" from the bottom and I didn't need the bolts for the legs.
I used the cheap $12 grill from the dollar store for the ash pan.
I couldn't figure out how to secure the pan to the fire basket so I ended up drilling 2 holes opposite each other an running a metal rod all the way through the grill and fire basket to make it all pull out of the UDS as one unit. Now it easy to detach the ash pan from the fire basket for emptying the ash.
I have had a lot of fun building it. This forum is definitely the "Mother of all UDS" threads and has been great inspiration for me to build one. Thanks to you all.
I'm smoking ribs tomorrow...

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff72/bbq-brethren/Chikenskins UDS/P1010027.jpg
Click to expand...

VERY nice solution! I like it! Maybe I'll do this instead of folding up a 24x24 piece of expando into a 12x12x6 box...

-r
 
wayner123 said:
I am having the hardest time find the proper barrel. Here is the latest one I found:

IMG_5974.jpg


However, it looks like it's cadmium plated or something. It is being sold as "unpainted inside and out" but it only rusts where the "plating" has been scratched. Any of you have experience with this?
Click to expand...

Could be zinc chromate...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Stampings_steel_zinc_chromate_conversion_coating.JPG

-r
 
So, I've got two options here, and in trying to be frugal (for once, turning over a new leaf!), I can't decide on what I'd rather do:

1) Get a lined apple juice drum for free from a friend and have it sandblasted inside and out for $45 or so and paint it with stove paint (another $12 or so in paint), or...

2) Buy a new, unlined drum for $70 from the place here in town, maybe wipe it down with carb cleaner and shoot it with another coat of paint, and hope that the paint doesn't bubble up. I'd use it without burning it out, and would likely run it at 300 deg. or lower at all times.

I have no desire to burn out and scrape the drum, and I'm going for form AND function so I want it to look decent in my backyard. Thoughts?

Thanks!

-r
 
I think I would sandblast the inside. I like the outside and I think it would be more durable than most spray can paints.
 
sdb25 said:
Maybe you need a new wife?:p
Click to expand...
Yes, well fortunately both you and I live in an area were you can generally go outdoors with shorts an a t-shirt. Rode my bike to the beach today and the checked out the beach volleyball talent. It is a chilly 60* on my patio so I am cooking inside tonight, just not on a bbq.
 
schellter said:
Yes, well fortunately both you and I live in an area were you can generally go outdoors with shorts an a t-shirt. Rode my bike to the beach today and the checked out the beach volleyball talent. It is a chilly 60* on my patio so I am cooking inside tonight, just not on a bbq.
Click to expand...

So true! Got I love the warm weather! As soon as march comes its tank tops and short shorts! I'm such a pig, but I love it.

Oh, and I'm smokin' tonight even in the frigid 60 degree weather. Couple yardbirds and a tumbler of whiskey and coke. Lovin' life!
 
Can't assemble UDS I've been foiled by the rain and snow mix again this morning. :icon_bugeyed
 
sdb25 said:
So true! Got I love the warm weather! As soon as march comes its tank tops and short shorts! I'm such a pig, but I love it.

Oh, and I'm smokin' tonight even in the frigid 60 degree weather. Couple yardbirds and a tumbler of whiskey and coke. Lovin' life!
Click to expand...

I can't wait for 60 degree weather.... Hahahaaa

I am Cali bound in a few months though. So I'll be enjoying the warm weather soon...!!!
 
The weather checked up for now. I bundled up and braved the 30 degree weather to completed my basic UDS except for the charcoal basket. Don't want to pull welder from storage building with more poor weather pending. Once charcoal basket is complete It will be ready for seasoning. :biggrin:


DSC00001-1.jpg
 
Thank you all for your replies about my weird looking barrel. For now, I am going to play the better safe than sorry route and chalk it up to a learning curve. I am still not certain if it's Zinc or Cadmium, but either way it's not what I want.


Off to find a barrel that is suitable....
 
Finished my UDS build! Seasoned it Saturday and cooked some chicken thighs and a fatty for a test run. Turned out good, UDS work fine. Think I could have used a little less wood. Do you guys use lump or briquettes in your UDS?

PS: Great info in this thread, built it completely from the info found within.

David
 
Im sorry, but I have to ask again, "What in the &*^& is a UDS?"
grills&smokers.JPG


 
question

So i have all my parts for my first UDS. however, i have not landed any expanded metal yet. i called a metal fab shop near me and the guy said he has some but he asked me what kind. i did not know so i told him i would call him back.

I am assuming he was talking about the guage but i really dont know because i dont know much about expanded metal. Can someone let me know the preferred type of expanded metal used. I tried skimming back through this thread because i remember reading about it, but i could not find it.
 
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