selling ugly drum smokers

dealm9 · 06-20-2011, 10:30 PM

myself and 2 of my buddies are considering selling ugly drum smokers locally. my one buddy works at a scrap metal company and can get drums and metal for free and my other buddy has connections with welders and has many tools. and i am apart of this great website

and have built uds's of my own. i was just wondering if any of you who do build uds's to sell can give us any tips or suggestions for doing this and i have a couple questions of my own.

Do we need to get some sort of permit or go through any sort of legal process in order to sell ugly drums smokers to the public, such as getting them inspected to be food safe?

we have access to some drums that we do not know what they previously held. we will burn them out and wash them and make sure they are good to go but would this be a problem for selling to the public?

i know this next question is probably hard to answer and different in every situation but depending on how much in ends up costing us per drum to make them, how much money/profit would be reasonable to ask for per drum?

if anyone can answer any of these questions or simply give out suggestions, it would be much appreciated. also, if anyone knows where to get materials that are normally used in making a uds in bulk for cheap that would be useful information. thanks for reading

Pyle's BBQ · 06-20-2011, 10:36 PM

Get liability insurance, if possible sandblast interior of drums, incorporate if possible (think limited liability), what is your time worth? If outfitted right $175 unpainted. Custom paint extra.

mjancel · 06-20-2011, 10:42 PM

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/app/2448837197.html

this person is trying to sell them...

ZouBBQ · 06-20-2011, 10:45 PM

Are you looking to get into this as a somewhat serious business or will it be more like a hobby that you happen to make a few bucks on but really just do it for fun?

Personally if I was going to charge for them I would make sure I knew what was in them first. It only seems right.

SmokerKing · 06-20-2011, 10:46 PM

potential UDS customers are the cheapest guys on the planet
good luck

colonel00 · 06-20-2011, 10:50 PM

Pyle's BBQ is right on. In the society we live in now you have to be very careful. All it takes is one person to get sick, even if it is not the drum at fault, and you could have a lawsuit on your hands. I make them for friends and coworkers but have been shy about public sale for these reasons. I am even incorporated but would have to jump through hoops having the customer pay the company, then the company pay out payroll, taxes, blah blah. Although, I guess I could write off new tools and such...hmm...

martyleach · 06-20-2011, 10:52 PM

You know what a 22.5" Weber Smokey sells for. That is your competition but they have great customer service and a fantastic warranty. I make UDS's because people kinda like them. I know I do.... I use all new parts except for the barrel and Weber lid. To do it right with 3 cans of high temp paint and 1 roll of wire for my welder, it costs me right about $250. This is including a fire basket with 3/4 #9 expanded metal, 22.5" Weber charcoal basket, all stainless steel bolts and nuts and a nice bail. It also includes 2 new Weber 22.5 inch cook grates. Of course, 2 handles for the sides, ball valve and 2 nipples. I pay $25 for a drum that needs a burn out and pressure wash and I get a Weber lid at an average of 30buck

Good luck.....

colonel00 · 06-20-2011, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyleach

You know what a 22.5" Weber Smokey sells for. That is your competition but they have great customer service and a fantastic warranty. I make UDS's because people kinda like them. I know I do.... I use all new parts except for the barrel and Weber lid. To do it right with 3 cans of high temp paint and 1 roll of wire for my welder, it costs me right about $250. This is including a fire basket with 3/4 #9 expanded metal, 22.5" Weber charcoal basket, all stainless steel bolts and nuts and a nice bail. It also includes 2 new Weber 22.5 inch cook grates. Of course, 2 handles for the sides, ball valve and 2 nipples. I pay $25 for a drum that needs a burn out and pressure wash and I get a Weber lid at an average of 30buck

Good luck.....

Geez Marty, how much are you welding to go through a roll?

martyleach · 06-20-2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonel00

Geez Marty, how much are you welding to go through a roll?

A little roll and only if I have to cut out the bottom and weld the top on....

Nickos · 06-20-2011, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyleach

A little roll and only if I have to cut out the bottom and weld the top on....

a really really little roll?

my 44lb spool would last forever making UDS'
what size is your welder?

martyleach · 06-21-2011, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickos

a really really little roll?

my 44lb spool would last forever making UDS'
what size is your welder?

Itty bitty.....

Norcoredneck · 06-21-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyleach

A little roll And a stack of grinding wheels!...

dealm9 · 06-21-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZouBBQ

Are you looking to get into this as a somewhat serious business or will it be more like a hobby that you happen to make a few bucks on but really just do it for fun?

Personally if I was going to charge for them I would make sure I knew what was in them first. It only seems right.

definately not serious. we were all together one day and we happened to start talking about the uds i recently built and my buddy mentioned that he could get as many free drums as he wanted from work. i asked him if he could get some for me so i could build more uds's for myself and then we all kind of came up with the idea at the same time to maybe sell them. i also wanted to do this because i enjoy building thes things a lot. but thanks, your advice is right on

dealm9 · 06-21-2011, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyleach

You know what a 22.5" Weber Smokey sells for. That is your competition but they have great customer service and a fantastic warranty. I make UDS's because people kinda like them. I know I do.... I use all new parts except for the barrel and Weber lid. To do it right with 3 cans of high temp paint and 1 roll of wire for my welder, it costs me right about $250. This is including a fire basket with 3/4 #9 expanded metal, 22.5" Weber charcoal basket, all stainless steel bolts and nuts and a nice bail. It also includes 2 new Weber 22.5 inch cook grates. Of course, 2 handles for the sides, ball valve and 2 nipples. I pay $25 for a drum that needs a burn out and pressure wash and I get a Weber lid at an average of 30buck

Good luck.....

i feel like frank costanza competing with microsoft and ibm trying to sell computers from his garage (a seinfeld reference in case no one understands this

)

SmokinAussie · 06-21-2011, 08:48 AM

^^^ Yeah... Know how you feel. Just keep it as a hobby and sell by word of mouth.

Cheers!

Bill

06-20-2011, 10:30 PM	#1
dealm9 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 04-22-11 Location: Cleveland, OH Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	selling ugly drum smokers myself and 2 of my buddies are considering selling ugly drum smokers locally. my one buddy works at a scrap metal company and can get drums and metal for free and my other buddy has connections with welders and has many tools. and i am apart of this great website and have built uds's of my own. i was just wondering if any of you who do build uds's to sell can give us any tips or suggestions for doing this and i have a couple questions of my own. Do we need to get some sort of permit or go through any sort of legal process in order to sell ugly drums smokers to the public, such as getting them inspected to be food safe? we have access to some drums that we do not know what they previously held. we will burn them out and wash them and make sure they are good to go but would this be a problem for selling to the public? i know this next question is probably hard to answer and different in every situation but depending on how much in ends up costing us per drum to make them, how much money/profit would be reasonable to ask for per drum? if anyone can answer any of these questions or simply give out suggestions, it would be much appreciated. also, if anyone knows where to get materials that are normally used in making a uds in bulk for cheap that would be useful information. thanks for reading

06-20-2011, 10:36 PM	#2
Pyle's BBQ Babbling Farker Join Date: 10-25-06 Location: Des Moines, IA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Get liability insurance, if possible sandblast interior of drums, incorporate if possible (think limited liability), what is your time worth? If outfitted right $175 unpainted. Custom paint extra. __________________ Bryan, Team: Pyle's BBQ; Good-One "Trail Boss" 60T; Homemade rig; 22" Weber Kettle w/rotisserie ring; Big A$$ Rotisserie; BGE-Small; Weber Kettle Gold, Weber OTS, New Braunfels offset smoker. Saddles BBQ Bistro Μολὼν λαβέ

06-20-2011, 10:50 PM	#6
colonel00 Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-03-10 Location: Shawnee, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Pyle's BBQ is right on. In the society we live in now you have to be very careful. All it takes is one person to get sick, even if it is not the drum at fault, and you could have a lawsuit on your hands. I make them for friends and coworkers but have been shy about public sale for these reasons. I am even incorporated but would have to jump through hoops having the customer pay the company, then the company pay out payroll, taxes, blah blah. Although, I guess I could write off new tools and such...hmm... __________________ Brad Proud owner of the PentaZero WWWWFBBQADD 0 out of 1 members found this post helpful UDS/WSM/Weber Cart for sale Here. Please someone give it a good home. Willing to entertain offers

06-20-2011, 10:52 PM	#7
martyleach Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-17-10 Location: Pleasanton, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You know what a 22.5" Weber Smokey sells for. That is your competition but they have great customer service and a fantastic warranty. I make UDS's because people kinda like them. I know I do.... I use all new parts except for the barrel and Weber lid. To do it right with 3 cans of high temp paint and 1 roll of wire for my welder, it costs me right about $250. This is including a fire basket with 3/4 #9 expanded metal, 22.5" Weber charcoal basket, all stainless steel bolts and nuts and a nice bail. It also includes 2 new Weber 22.5 inch cook grates. Of course, 2 handles for the sides, ball valve and 2 nipples. I pay $25 for a drum that needs a burn out and pressure wash and I get a Weber lid at an average of 30buck Good luck..... __________________ 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

06-21-2011, 08:48 AM	#15
SmokinAussie Babbling Farker Join Date: 10-19-09 Location: Melbourne, VIC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	^^^ Yeah... Know how you feel. Just keep it as a hobby and sell by word of mouth. Cheers! Bill __________________ Creator of the Aussie Lamb Farker Awards!!! IMBAS Certified MOINK BALLER (NOSKOS RULE) "Bullet Bill" WSM "Blue Lou" Performer Small Offset Smoker... SOS Baby WGA, Upright Cabinet Gasser Smoker, and a Cheap Arse Satay Stick Grill Zero for MOINKS Farkanaut

06-20-2011, 10:42 PM	#3
mjancel Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 05-09-10 Location: pgh pa Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/app/2448837197.html this person is trying to sell them...

06-20-2011, 10:45 PM	#4
ZouBBQ On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-04-11 Location: St. Louis, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Are you looking to get into this as a somewhat serious business or will it be more like a hobby that you happen to make a few bucks on but really just do it for fun? Personally if I was going to charge for them I would make sure I knew what was in them first. It only seems right.

06-20-2011, 10:46 PM	#5
SmokerKing Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-07-10 Location: Sunny AZ Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	potential UDS customers are the cheapest guys on the planet good luck

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