That UDS was so nice I hated to give it up!!!

Wampus · 10-18-2011, 06:17 PM

So Pastor Dan (chambersuac) asked me some time ago if I would be willing to build a UDS for a friend of his in northern IN. I obliged, and originally thought I'd have the project whipped out in no time.

HOWEVER.....I think this project started in May or June and I just got done with it. Between work and all the other things I'm involved in, I just haven't given it as much time as I'd have liked. I finally finished it up tonight, though, and Dan's buddy happened to be near Indy and came out to pick it up.

I was able to get a lot of the parts either for free, on sale or off of CL, so this was a fairly cheap build.

FREE PARTS:
3/4" ball valve
3/4" short nipples
Misc steel parts for cooking grate tabs, etc.
Expanded metal for fire basket
1/2" rebar for fire basket and hook
3/4" square stock steel for the handles
A buddy helped me do the welding All parts are welded on, no bolts at all (well, except for the lid hinges).

CHEAP PARTS:
I bought a UNIFLAME grill off of CL for $10, from which I was able to use the charcoal grate for the bottom of the firebasket, the cooking grate and the lid and lid hinges.
The drum itself I picked up for $5. I had to buy 5 for $25 total, but I think I may know what I can do with the other 4 drums......

NEW PARTS/SERVICES:
I had to splurge on a new 22 1/2" Weber cooking grate for $15.99 (most expensive single part of the build)
12" - 3/4" long black nipple
2 - 3/4" CI nipple caps
$30 sandblasting out the liner and off of the paint
White and Red High Temp Spray Paint (5 cans total @ about $6.50 ea)
Misc bolts/nuts/washers, etc. for hardware

TOTAL COST was right about $80 to build

Here's some photos I took just before he took it away....

The white cross was masked off with tape prior to the red paint application. Hey.....Dan's buddy was a Lutheran Pastor!!!

I really wish MY UDS had a hinged lid like that!

The firebasket....

It features 2 cooking grates. The top is 2" below the lip of the drum, and the lower is 6" below the top grate.

The firebasket (as you can see) has a place that the provided rebar hook can lift and lower it in and out of the drum with (hook not pictured). The basket measured 15.5" diameter, and has 6" sidewalls and 3" tall legs.

The hinged lid turned out great. The Uniflame grill has these cast aluminum hinges with stops on them that hold the lid just past upright. This is one feature that I really wish my drum had! The lid also has 2 grommeted holes at the back, that were for an extra warming shelf on the grill. I didn't utilize the shelf, but these holes will be put to use since Chris (the new owner) has a dual probe maverick thermo.

The ball valve is raised to prevent bending and it's also easy to see how much the vent is open this way. Sometimes I have to nearly kneel down on the ground to get a good look to see how much mine's open (especially if I just want it BARELY cracked open).

I had to do some slight modification to the lid flange to widen and flatten it a bit so it would sit snuggly to the drum top. This will allow it to be weather tight and seal up nicely. Since this cracked the porcelain coating, it required painting to prevent rust, so the whole lid ended up getting painted, which looks nice anyway.

Time to build one for me with some of these features!

(I have 4 more drums left)

Thanks for lookin!!

colonel00 · 10-18-2011, 06:19 PM

Very nice build and gesture

gtr · 10-18-2011, 06:27 PM

Nice one!

chambersuac · 10-18-2011, 06:29 PM

Wampus, that's a darn fine UDS. Thanks for doing that. I know Chris was tired of cooking only on his flower pot A.B. smoker.

You, sir, are a good man. God's blessings!

mbshop · 10-18-2011, 06:29 PM

nicely done ! yer a great guy for sure, no matter what the others have to say about ya.

Disciple882542 · 10-18-2011, 06:59 PM

That's the same lid I have on mine. Did you hammer the lip on the lid flat? Does it fit better now?

colonel00 · 10-18-2011, 07:04 PM

Ya know, it is a little convenient that you "just now got it done" at the "end" of the summer and big BBQ season. Very convenient indeed

deguerre · 10-18-2011, 07:12 PM

I hope you know you're a good man, Kempis.

4dueces · 10-18-2011, 07:15 PM

Nice UDS Wampus. I wonder if the 2 preachers will have a TD now with their UDS we've built for them?

Wampus · 10-18-2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Disciple882542

That's the same lid I have on mine. Did you hammer the lip on the lid flat? Does it fit better now?

Pretty much flat, yes. I flattened it out on the workbench first and then put it on the lid and rolled the lip back over as much as I could to get a snug fit. Not much of a roll to it, though, when I got done.

Quote:

Originally Posted by colonel00

Ya know, it is a little convenient that you "just now got it done" at the "end" of the summer and big BBQ season. Very convenient indeed

I know.....I hate that it took me that long. BUT...he's been cooking in an Alton Brown Terra Cotta Flowrepot smoker up til now. He's still planning on using it. He's got 6 kids and has outgrown his. I doubt he'll let winter stop him!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4dueces

Nice UDS Wampus. I wonder if the 2 preachers will have a TD now with their UDS we've built for them?

PREACHER THROWDOWN!!!! Oh yeah baby!!!!

RevZiLLa · 10-18-2011, 07:39 PM

You took the U right out of that UDS

JMSetzler · 10-18-2011, 08:04 PM

THAT'S what i'm talkin' bout! Nice build :)

bluetang · 10-18-2011, 08:08 PM

Beauty way, Bro!

Smoothsmoke · 10-18-2011, 08:20 PM

Pimp!

Carbon · 10-18-2011, 08:52 PM

Very nice build! That UDS can also pass for a Swiss Army. :))

10-18-2011, 06:17 PM	#1
Wampus somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-05-09 Location: Mooresville, IN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That UDS was so nice I hated to give it up!!! So Pastor Dan (chambersuac) asked me some time ago if I would be willing to build a UDS for a friend of his in northern IN. I obliged, and originally thought I'd have the project whipped out in no time. HOWEVER.....I think this project started in May or June and I just got done with it. Between work and all the other things I'm involved in, I just haven't given it as much time as I'd have liked. I finally finished it up tonight, though, and Dan's buddy happened to be near Indy and came out to pick it up. I was able to get a lot of the parts either for free, on sale or off of CL, so this was a fairly cheap build. FREE PARTS: 3/4" ball valve 3/4" short nipples Misc steel parts for cooking grate tabs, etc. Expanded metal for fire basket 1/2" rebar for fire basket and hook 3/4" square stock steel for the handles A buddy helped me do the welding All parts are welded on, no bolts at all (well, except for the lid hinges). *CHEAP PARTS:* I bought a UNIFLAME grill off of CL for $10, from which I was able to use the charcoal grate for the bottom of the firebasket, the cooking grate and the lid and lid hinges. The drum itself I picked up for $5. I had to buy 5 for $25 total, but I think I may know what I can do with the other 4 drums...... NEW PARTS/SERVICES: I had to splurge on a new 22 1/2" Weber cooking grate for $15.99 (most expensive single part of the build) 12" - 3/4" long black nipple 2 - 3/4" CI nipple caps $30 sandblasting out the liner and off of the paint White and Red High Temp Spray Paint (5 cans total @ about $6.50 ea) Misc bolts/nuts/washers, etc. for hardware TOTAL COST was right about $80 to build Here's some photos I took just before he took it away.... The white cross was masked off with tape prior to the red paint application. Hey.....Dan's buddy was a Lutheran Pastor!!! I really wish MY UDS had a hinged lid like that! The firebasket.... It features 2 cooking grates. The top is 2" below the lip of the drum, and the lower is 6" below the top grate. The firebasket (as you can see) has a place that the provided rebar hook can lift and lower it in and out of the drum with (hook not pictured). The basket measured 15.5" diameter, and has 6" sidewalls and 3" tall legs. The hinged lid turned out great. The Uniflame grill has these cast aluminum hinges with stops on them that hold the lid just past upright. This is one feature that I really wish my drum had! The lid also has 2 grommeted holes at the back, that were for an extra warming shelf on the grill. I didn't utilize the shelf, but these holes will be put to use since Chris (the new owner) has a dual probe maverick thermo. The ball valve is raised to prevent bending and it's also easy to see how much the vent is open this way. Sometimes I have to nearly kneel down on the ground to get a good look to see how much mine's open (especially if I just want it BARELY cracked open). I had to do some slight modification to the lid flange to widen and flatten it a bit so it would sit snuggly to the drum top. This will allow it to be weather tight and seal up nicely. Since this cracked the porcelain coating, it required painting to prevent rust, so the whole lid ended up getting painted, which looks nice anyway. Time to build one for me with some of these features! (I have 4 more drums left) Thanks for lookin!! __________________ Big JT's Smokin' BBQ Competition Team “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. We need not wait to see what others do.” - Mahatma Gandhi

10-18-2011, 06:19 PM	#2
colonel00 Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-03-10 Location: Shawnee, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Very nice build and gesture __________________ 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

10-18-2011, 06:27 PM	#3
gtr Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-16-10 Location: Culver City, CA Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	Nice one! __________________ 50" Klose BYC, Backwoods Chubby, UDS, 26" & 22.5" Weber Kettles, Jumbo Joe, WGA, WSJ/MUDS, Jumbo Old Smokey, Pig Hibachi, a piece of expanded metal I throw over the fire pit sometimes, Stealthy Black & Vol Orange Thermapens Displaced East Tennesseean Proud recipient of a Tick Former outlaw MOINK baller, now IMBAS Certified, but still lookin' over my shoulder. Golden Goose Egg - Got 2 in the nest baby! SPFP Mayzie's keeping an eye out for you! WTFWGALD?

10-18-2011, 06:29 PM	#4
chambersuac somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-09 Location: Manito, IL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Wampus, that's a darn fine UDS. Thanks for doing that. I know Chris was tired of cooking only on his flower pot A.B. smoker. You, sir, are a good man. God's blessings! __________________ Dan Large BGE x 2, Small BGE, Big Steel Keg, WSM, 22" Weber Kettle, Charmglow Gasser, The Holy Smoked UDS and her sister UDS, and one custom trailer-ed smoker. The universe's fastest and most accurate Thermapen. (Replaced by Brethren) IMBAS Certified MOINK Ball maker Thanks, Grillman, for the avatar! And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. [Acts 20:32 KJV]

10-18-2011, 06:29 PM	#5
mbshop Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-24-07 Location: visalia, ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	nicely done ! yer a great guy for sure, no matter what the others have to say about ya. __________________ george spam, can't live without it

10-18-2011, 06:59 PM	#6
Disciple882542 On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-26-11 Location: Clanton, Al Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That's the same lid I have on mine. Did you hammer the lip on the lid flat? Does it fit better now? __________________ - Chargriller 5050 W/ side fire box; UDS finally finished

10-18-2011, 07:04 PM	#7
colonel00 Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-03-10 Location: Shawnee, KS Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ya know, it is a little convenient that you "just now got it done" at the "end" of the summer and big BBQ season. Very convenient indeed __________________ 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

10-18-2011, 07:12 PM	#8
deguerre somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 07-15-09 Location: Memphis, TN...Formerly of Decatur, AL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I hope you know you're a good man, Kempis. __________________ Guerry >^..^< Weber 22 1/2" OTS "Dirty Girl", Weber Performer/Cajun Bandit "Cajun Queen", GOSM "Bubba Q", Maverick et73, RED Thermapen, One Cameron Stove Top "Lazy Girl".It burns sawdust... Avatar by Northwest BBQ!!! If you really care about this place, you'll show some respect for it. Seven Zero notches on my spatula. Join_Us_In_The_Throwdowns_Forum!

10-18-2011, 07:15 PM	#9
4dueces is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 03-19-10 Location: Cornpatch USA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Nice UDS Wampus. I wonder if the 2 preachers will have a TD now with their UDS we've built for them? __________________ "Fitz"- The Keeper of "Hog Zilla" 20 year old Weber Kettle with a hail dent in the lid, decapitated and used on athe Coors UDS. Weber OTS. "Rocky" the Coors Beer Can UDS Big Boar BBQ-Home of "Hog Zilla BigBoarBBQ.com

10-18-2011, 07:39 PM	#11
RevZiLLa is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-02-07 Location: Richmond, VA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You took the U right out of that UDS __________________ www.BowlingBallExchange.com on Facebook Brinkman water smokers (elec and charcoal) Weber kettle grill Uniflame Gold Stainless 5 burner propane grill / rotisserie BBQ Grillware upright propane water smoker

10-18-2011, 08:04 PM	#12
JMSetzler Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-25-11 Location: Valdese, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	THAT'S what i'm talkin' bout! Nice build :) __________________ Visit Man Cave Meals on Facebook and YouTube! Kamado Joe Classic * Kamado Joe Big Joe Ugly Drum Smoker * Weber Performer * Weber Go-Anywhere * Mini WSM Man Cave Meals Video Index

10-18-2011, 08:08 PM	#13
bluetang Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-06-10 Location: Stuart, Fl Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Beauty way, Bro! __________________ Homegrown 120 Gallon Reverse Flow, Homey, the Homegrown Kettle, 3 UDS's, 3 Stack Pro Q Excel 20, 18.5" Elderly(but not retired) WSM, 150lb Capacity Homegrown Electric and a CA gasserrrr Bicycle Fast Polder Thermo, Indisputably Fastest Purple Thermapen, SAI Satay Grill

10-18-2011, 08:20 PM	#14
Smoothsmoke Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-20-10 Location: Monterey, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Pimp! __________________ Kamado Big Joe Kamado Classic Joe Weber Simpsons OTG "H" Redhead Weber OTS Simpsons Smokey Joe Silver Sam Adams Smokey Joe Silver Gray Smokey Joe Gold (future mini-WSM) Smooth Smoke BBQ

10-18-2011, 08:52 PM	#15
Carbon is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-24-08 Location: Los Angeles Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Very nice build! That UDS can also pass for a Swiss Army. :)) __________________ UDS / Mini-WSM / Weber 22.5 OTG / Modified ECB / Lodge hibachi / 34" WFO.

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