Multi-use UDS

Mtmouse · 06-17-2011, 01:11 PM

For the past year I have been using my UDS as a substitute "conventional" BBQ, with limited success. The problem is the heat source is too far away from the cooking surface in order to get a good sear on the meat.

So today I decided to modify one of my UDS's so I can use it as a BBQ when needed. All I needed to do was drill four more holes 6" below my cooking grate for another set of bolts....I was going to do this anyways to add a second grate for larger smokes. I put two grates on top of one another (to limit the holes sizes as not to lose the small bits of charcoal) I'm sure one grate would have worked just fine, but I had an extra one sitting around.

Now I should be able to get a good sear on my steaks, etc....without reverting back to my gasser. I will be doing a test run tonight with some shish kabobs.

J'ville Grill · 06-17-2011, 01:48 PM

I wonder how long those cooking grates will hold up using them as charcoal grates?

---k--- · 06-17-2011, 03:10 PM

I've thought about similar mods, but haven't done anything. Let us know how it goes.

harripooner · 06-17-2011, 03:42 PM

Brilliant!!!

woodbutcher1 · 06-17-2011, 04:07 PM

Hey,Mtmouse. Do a search for Grilling on a UDS. Post #7 by Southern Home Boy will give you an example of how to. I remember seeing some good ideas to do just that, cant remember where though .

BBQ PD · 06-17-2011, 04:10 PM

Looks like a great idea, but you might want to think of some sort of barrier between the charcoal and the sides of you drum. Those hot coals could burn and discolor the outside of the drum, I think anyway.

thillin · 06-17-2011, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQ PD

Looks like a great idea, but you might want to think of some sort of barrier between the charcoal and the sides of you drum. Those hot coals could burn and discolor the outside of the drum, I think anyway.

my thought as well.

El Ropo · 06-17-2011, 05:25 PM

I'm planning on doing something similar, only the charcoal basket will be sitting on it's own grate about 10" below cooking grate. All it takes is 4 more bolts installed in the drum, and set the original basket on the lowest grate. It has a pizza pan ash catcher mounted to bottom, so no worries burning out the cooking grate.

martyleach · 06-17-2011, 05:34 PM

I added 3 bolts to put another cooking grate in to hold my charcoal basket just below the cooking grate. Works great. This is how I make my new UDS's. However, I can't use the 550degree engine paint. I have to use the 1100 degree stuff which costs more....

woodbutcher1 · 06-17-2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyleach

I added 3 bolts to put another cooking grate in to hold my charcoal basket just below the cooking grate. Works great. This is how I make my new UDS's. However, I can't use the 550degree engine paint. I have to use the 1100 degree stuff which costs more....

With all that extra $$$$$ you are making now selling the custom Weber handles now?????? JK Marty

swamprb · 06-17-2011, 07:18 PM

Not a very good location for the thermometer for that grilling setup.

just sayin'

Mtmouse · 06-18-2011, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBQ PD

you might want to think of some sort of barrier between the charcoal and the sides of you drum. Those hot coals could burn and discolor the outside of the drum, I think anyway.

Too late.

What I have learned....besides above:

1. Use less charcoal.

2. Remove the firebox from below (with charcoal in it) or get a pizza pan to cover it so the burning coals that fall through won't light the lower coals.

Needless to say there was enough heat to make a great pizza oven or incinerator, but I think with a couple little tweaks it should suit my needs.

biglag · 06-18-2011, 08:35 AM

I used a stand from an outdoor burner to raise my firebasket and it was a perfect height and had perfect heat. My prob was that flame-ups were brutal cooking burgers and then sticking my hand down into the drum to flip them was HOT being that my grate is 8" below the rim surface. I'm sure steaks or anything you can use tongs on would be fine but using a spatula was brutal. But I was looking for a good excuse to buy a performer anyway so I didn't try again. Haha

Lag the lurker

LoveBBQ · 06-18-2011, 12:47 PM

I used a set of chains to suspend my charcoal basket in mid air about 5" below the top grate. Here is the thread: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=108048

06-17-2011, 01:11 PM	#1
Mtmouse Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 06-29-10 Location: Belle River, Ontario Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Multi-use UDS For the past year I have been using my UDS as a substitute "conventional" BBQ, with limited success. The problem is the heat source is too far away from the cooking surface in order to get a good sear on the meat. So today I decided to modify one of my UDS's so I can use it as a BBQ when needed. All I needed to do was drill four more holes 6" below my cooking grate for another set of bolts....I was going to do this anyways to add a second grate for larger smokes. I put two grates on top of one another (to limit the holes sizes as not to lose the small bits of charcoal) I'm sure one grate would have worked just fine, but I had an extra one sitting around. Now I should be able to get a good sear on my steaks, etc....without reverting back to my gasser. I will be doing a test run tonight with some shish kabobs.

06-17-2011, 01:48 PM	#2
J'ville Grill is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-18-10 Location: Jacksonville, Fl. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I wonder how long those cooking grates will hold up using them as charcoal grates? __________________ Rick 18.5" Weber Smokey Mountain 22.5" Weber OTG with Cajun Bandit Conversion Kit Char-Griller Akorn with side cart 1999 Weber Master-Touch - bent but not broken 14.5" Weber Smokey Joe Silver

06-17-2011, 03:10 PM	#3
---k--- is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 09-07-10 Location: Chicago, IL - West burbs Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	I've thought about similar mods, but haven't done anything. Let us know how it goes. __________________ -Ryan Proudly Smoking on a UDS, PBC & Accidental Winner of the 2012 "Saucy" Throwdown.

06-17-2011, 03:42 PM	#4
harripooner Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 04-19-11 Location: Venice Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Brilliant!!! __________________ Brinkman Gasser, 2- Modded ECB's, Weber Smokey Joe, 22" Weber Kettle, Porkalypse Now UDS

06-17-2011, 04:07 PM	#5
woodbutcher1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-04-10 Location: Shelby Twp. Macomb Co. SE Michigan Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Hey,Mtmouse. Do a search for Grilling on a UDS. Post #7 by Southern Home Boy will give you an example of how to. I remember seeing some good ideas to do just that, cant remember where though . __________________ leonard ----------------- 22.5" Weber------OTS 18.5" Weber------OTS 14" Weber---- Smokey Joe 55 Gal. UDS 30 Gal. UDS 16 Gal. Mini. UDS Maverick ET-732 & iQue - 110

06-17-2011, 04:10 PM	#6
BBQ PD is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-17-10 Location: Livermore, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looks like a great idea, but you might want to think of some sort of barrier between the charcoal and the sides of you drum. Those hot coals could burn and discolor the outside of the drum, I think anyway. __________________ Dave CBJ, 15' custom BBQ trailer with a Backwoods Competitor, Pitts & Spitts off-set, & Santa Maria grill. Ole Hickory CTO, 1 BGE, 2 Weber kettles and 1 Smokey Joe, BWS Chubby, Sonoma gasser, and a BBQ store full of everything BBQ.

06-17-2011, 05:25 PM	#8
El Ropo Babbling Farker Join Date: 10-06-10 Location: Austin, TX Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I'm planning on doing something similar, only the charcoal basket will be sitting on it's own grate about 10" below cooking grate. All it takes is 4 more bolts installed in the drum, and set the original basket on the lowest grate. It has a pizza pan ash catcher mounted to bottom, so no worries burning out the cooking grate. __________________ Modded Brinkmann Gourmet. Basic UDS. Rescued 22.5" OTS. Weber SJS. Stubbs. B&B Oak Lump. Cannondale 2009 F8 (for burning off all the great BBQ)

06-17-2011, 05:34 PM	#9
martyleach Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-17-10 Location: Pleasanton, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I added 3 bolts to put another cooking grate in to hold my charcoal basket just below the cooking grate. Works great. This is how I make my new UDS's. However, I can't use the 550degree engine paint. I have to use the 1100 degree stuff which costs more.... __________________ Large Big Green Egg, Cold smokehouse, UDS with hinged lid, Santa Maria pit 26.75" Weber OTG, Weber Performer, WGA MAK One Star General Pellet Pooper Hasty Bake Gourmet Custom wooden handles for BBQ's made by Marty Leach (oh, that's me) www.amlwoodart.com

06-17-2011, 07:18 PM	#11
swamprb somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 10-27-06 Location: Bothell WA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Not a very good location for the thermometer for that grilling setup. just sayin' __________________ Brian - Left Hand Smoke BBQ PNWBA 2010 Team of the Year BGE's/WSM's/BWS Gater/BDS Clones/Weber Performer w EZ-Que/Cajun Bandit/Rib-O-Lator Test Pilot/La Caja China/BBQ Guru/Weber 1000 RK Drum Coffee Roaster Follow Left Hand Smoke on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-H...462391?sk=wall KCBS CBJ/PNWBA CBJ www.pnwba.com

06-18-2011, 08:35 AM	#13
biglag Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 05-26-11 Location: baton rouge, la Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I used a stand from an outdoor burner to raise my firebasket and it was a perfect height and had perfect heat. My prob was that flame-ups were brutal cooking burgers and then sticking my hand down into the drum to flip them was HOT being that my grate is 8" below the rim surface. I'm sure steaks or anything you can use tongs on would be fine but using a spatula was brutal. But I was looking for a good excuse to buy a performer anyway so I didn't try again. Haha Lag the lurker

06-18-2011, 12:47 PM	#14
LoveBBQ On the road to being a farker Join Date: 03-29-11 Location: Monroe, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I used a set of chains to suspend my charcoal basket in mid air about 5" below the top grate. Here is the thread: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=108048 __________________ Mike - UDS (born 5/22/2011) and a Weber E310 gasser

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