uds charcoal basket?

Crunky · 12-11-2010, 01:45 AM

Hey guys, I don't have a proper charcoal basket for the uds yet. My dad is going to help me weld one up in a couple of weeks, but I'm trying to throw something together to use in the meantime.
I have run it twice using an old brake drum and chicken wire, but I can only get it up to ~200 degrees or so.

Any ideas for a ghetto/temporary basket?

Tricky · 12-11-2010, 02:06 AM

What about a cheap Walmart colander? Probably too small but you could try . . .

mikeTRON · 12-11-2010, 04:58 AM

You dont need to WELD anything. Expanded steel and some nuts+bolts is all you need for a makeshift one anyways

scm1226 · 12-11-2010, 05:11 AM

Expanded Metal works GREAT!! Get on of those 24' sheets at Home Depot or ACE. a couple of 1 inch bolts and your good to go. I would cut the Expanded Metal in half and attach it together. Works great in my UDS!!

Good Luck!

Mitch · 12-11-2010, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scm1226

Expanded Metal works GREAT!! Get on of those 24' sheets at Home Depot or ACE. a couple of 1 inch bolts and your good to go. I would cut the Expanded Metal in half and attach it together. Works great in my UDS!!

Good Luck!

+1 on this approach. Just DO NOT use galvanized nuts/bolts etc. Funky things can happen - i.e. toxic fumes. Good Luck.

MushCreek · 12-11-2010, 12:09 PM

Helpful hint- Wear gloves!

Johnny_Crunch · 12-11-2010, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mitch

+1 on this approach. Just DO NOT use galvanized nuts/bolts etc. Funky things can happen - i.e. toxic fumes. Good Luck.

if you get galvanized soak them in vinager and it will remove the galvanized

Johnny_Crunch · 12-11-2010, 12:25 PM

I used Cowgirls design and it requires no welding. Use a 24" piece of expanded metal, bend 4 6" sides up leaving a 12" square base. Bolt it all together and you are all set. I can post a pic if needed.

Sammy_Shuford · 12-11-2010, 12:29 PM

Question? Do you have enough air flow?

That means exhaust also!

Crunky · 12-11-2010, 03:50 PM

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I just didn't want to waste any money on expanded steel just to buy more next week to build a sturdier basket.

As far as air flow goes, I'm not really sure to be totally honest. I have two 3/8" holes, and two 1/2" holes 2 inches from the bottom of the barrel, spaced 90 degrees from each other. As for exhaust, I have eight 1/4" holes evenly spaced around the lid.

Sterling · 12-11-2010, 03:59 PM

Not enough airflow, with holes that size, especially exhaust. Bore the exhaust holes out to 1/2".

Chef Country · 12-11-2010, 04:20 PM

^^^^ agreed needs more air

42BBQ · 12-11-2010, 04:53 PM

Noticed your initial post said using "chicken wire" and brake drum for temporary basket. Chicken wire is galvanized more often than not so get rid of that, or soak in vinager as stated above.

Crunky · 12-12-2010, 02:48 AM

Cool guys, I think I'll head to Home depot tomorrow morning and grab some expanded steel and bore out the intake/exh.
Any recommendations on intake sizes? I have a step bit that goes up to 1/2", so thats as big as I can go; unless i break out the Dremel and make ugly holes.

h20loo · 12-12-2010, 06:00 AM

Here's a few cheap suggestions:

Use an old car rim spaced an inch off the bototm of the drum and fold your chicken wire in the bottom of the rim. Looks like the inside of a BGE eh!

Cut a 2" exhaust in the lid and get a sheet magnet to cover it when you're eating!

Cut a 2" intake and use a sheet magnet to control that
plug the rest of your little holes. This isn't the only way but I think its the cheapest for you.

12-11-2010, 01:45 AM	#1
Crunky Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 12-03-10 Location: Tucson, Az	uds charcoal basket? Hey guys, I don't have a proper charcoal basket for the uds yet. My dad is going to help me weld one up in a couple of weeks, but I'm trying to throw something together to use in the meantime. I have run it twice using an old brake drum and chicken wire, but I can only get it up to ~200 degrees or so. Any ideas for a ghetto/temporary basket?

12-11-2010, 05:11 AM	#4
scm1226 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-14-10 Location: West Sayville , NY	Expanded Metal works GREAT!! Get on of those 24' sheets at Home Depot or ACE. a couple of 1 inch bolts and your good to go. I would cut the Expanded Metal in half and attach it together. Works great in my UDS!! Good Luck! __________________ SMOKIN' IRISH BBQ [COLOR="Lime"]Green Humphrey's Battle Box, [/COLOR]18 1/2 Inch WSM, Retired Green and White UDS, Black Performer, Smokey Joe Gold- WSM Mini, Genesis Gasser, Black Stealth Thermopen JAMESON IRISH WHISKEY

12-11-2010, 12:09 PM	#6
MushCreek Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-01-09 Location: Seminole Florida	Helpful hint- Wear gloves! __________________ I'm very intelligent, but I mask it by doing stupid stuff.

12-11-2010, 12:25 PM	#8
Johnny_Crunch Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-10 Location: Cypress TX	I used Cowgirls design and it requires no welding. Use a 24" piece of expanded metal, bend 4 6" sides up leaving a 12" square base. Bolt it all together and you are all set. I can post a pic if needed. __________________ J Crunch

12-11-2010, 12:29 PM	#9
Sammy_Shuford is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 05-17-09 Location: Summerville, SC	Question? Do you have enough air flow? That means exhaust also! __________________ [LEFT][COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] Yoder YS640 PitBoss Copper top series 7 [I][FONT="Arial Black"][B][I]A Pair of Pellet Poopers[/I][/B][/FONT][/I][/FONT][/COLOR] [/LEFT] [FONT=Verdana][COLOR=black][COLOR=magenta]Purple Thermapen:laugh:[/COLOR][/COLOR][/FONT] MASTER Judge, SCBA Carolina Pit Master [URL]http://patio-q.com/[/URL]

12-11-2010, 02:06 AM	#2
Tricky is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 12-06-10 Location: Ventura County, CA	What about a cheap Walmart colander? Probably too small but you could try . . .

12-11-2010, 04:58 AM	#3
mikeTRON Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-01-10 Location: Dallas,Tx	You dont need to WELD anything. Expanded steel and some nuts+bolts is all you need for a makeshift one anyways

12-11-2010, 03:50 PM	#10
Crunky Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 12-03-10 Location: Tucson, Az	Thanks for the suggestions guys, I just didn't want to waste any money on expanded steel just to buy more next week to build a sturdier basket. As far as air flow goes, I'm not really sure to be totally honest. I have two 3/8" holes, and two 1/2" holes 2 inches from the bottom of the barrel, spaced 90 degrees from each other. As for exhaust, I have eight 1/4" holes evenly spaced around the lid.

12-11-2010, 03:59 PM	#11
Sterling Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 12-06-09 Location: Gilbert AZ	Not enough airflow, with holes that size, especially exhaust. Bore the exhaust holes out to 1/2". __________________ Sterling Born just fine the first time, thanks...

12-11-2010, 04:20 PM	#12
Chef Country is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-26-09 Location: Wellington, KS	^^^^ agreed needs more air __________________ Country Q Here for a Good Time, not a Long Time!Webber 22.5 OTS The fastest and most accurate splash proof Red Thermapen UDS that gets used more than traeger Shop built 300 gal smoker Traeger bbq 125 with digital 180 controller collecting parts for a 500gal reverse flow build

12-11-2010, 04:53 PM	#13
42BBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-26-10 Location: Manheim, PA	Noticed your initial post said using "chicken wire" and brake drum for temporary basket. Chicken wire is galvanized more often than not so get rid of that, or soak in vinager as stated above. __________________ Meadowcreek SQ36 with 2nd grate, 1991 Weber Performer w/ SS table, UDS, gasser.-Glenn-

12-12-2010, 02:48 AM	#14
Crunky Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 12-03-10 Location: Tucson, Az	Cool guys, I think I'll head to Home depot tomorrow morning and grab some expanded steel and bore out the intake/exh. Any recommendations on intake sizes? I have a step bit that goes up to 1/2", so thats as big as I can go; unless i break out the Dremel and make ugly holes.

12-12-2010, 06:00 AM	#15
h20loo is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-22-08 Location: waterloo ontario	Here's a few cheap suggestions: Use an old car rim spaced an inch off the bototm of the drum and fold your chicken wire in the bottom of the rim. Looks like the inside of a BGE eh! Cut a 2" exhaust in the lid and get a sheet magnet to cover it when you're eating! Cut a 2" intake and use a sheet magnet to control that plug the rest of your little holes. This isn't the only way but I think its the cheapest for you.

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