My latest UDS build optimized for a stoker

martyleach · 03-08-2013, 03:52 PM

I recently finished up my 2nd UDS with a Weber kettle for the lid. I also did another hinged lid thingy since it worked so good the first time.

I have used a stoker(5cfm fan) on my UDS but don't like the on/off type fan system. Either it is blowing full speed or it is turned off. I use Kingsford Blue in my UDS and it ends up blowing ash up on my food because the Stoker air is coming through one 3/4 inch nipple at fairly high velocity. I really should have a 10cfm fan because of the drum size but I found that I can get around that by opening up one of the air nipples and let the stoker take control of that environment.

So.... I made an air manifold that would take the incoming air and divide it equally (equal back pressure ) between 3 outlets in the drum. The air comes in through a 1"pipe into the bottom of the air manifold and is distributed horizontally to the three outlets at 1/3 the original velocity.
Here's what I came up with

My fire basket sits on it (with feet) and the air blows at 1/3 the original velocity onto the side of the fire basket creating and more equal burn.
As you can see, my fire basket has an attached ash pan below it.

I just cooked a 18lb brisket on it with no ash but the stoker has trouble tightly controlling the temp with the open nipple. I will probably upgrade to the 10cfm fan. So, even with doubling the input volume of air, the velocity when it hits the fire will be 2/3's of what is was with a 5cfm fan.

Who's anal??? Not me...

This is how it looks in the drum.

Bludawg · 03-08-2013, 03:55 PM

That cool but wouldn't it have been easier to use a different Charcoal

HeSmellsLikeSmoke · 03-08-2013, 03:56 PM

Now there is an interesting idea! Get that baby up and cooking so we can see how it works out.

dwfisk · 03-08-2013, 03:57 PM

Neat!

Oldbob · 03-08-2013, 04:07 PM

That Looks Great...Nice Work !!

Buried In Smoke · 03-08-2013, 04:13 PM

Looking forward to seeing how that works for ya.

---k--- · 03-08-2013, 04:39 PM

Looks like you're having fun.

Just curious, are you using a diffuser and where are you putting you putting your temp probe.

el_matt · 03-08-2013, 04:40 PM

You're a crafty one. I like it.

Matt

sweetheatbbq · 03-08-2013, 04:45 PM

Thats pretty cool

martyleach · 03-08-2013, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ---k---

Looks like you're having fun.

Just curious, are you using a diffuser and where are you putting you putting your temp probe.

Yes, I use a large 18 inch pizza pan for a diffuser. I put my temp probe 1 inch above the cooking grate.

chicagokp · 03-08-2013, 05:26 PM

wow. I woulda just put a deflector on the air inlet so it didn't blow directly on the coals.......yeah, you're not anal at all....

Ijustwantedtolookatpics · 03-08-2013, 05:34 PM

Nice work. I think I mentioned it last time as well but the hinge is pure genius. I love it

Johnny_Crunch · 03-08-2013, 05:44 PM

Cool idea. Look forward to the results.

---k--- · 03-08-2013, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyleach

Yes, I use a large 18 inch pizza pan for a diffuser. I put my temp probe 1 inch above the cooking grate.

I figured such.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chicagokp

wow. I woulda just put a deflector on the air inlet so it didn't blow directly on the coals.......yeah, you're not anal at all....

When I built my second, I put the 1" bolt that is my third leg directly in back of the ball valve for the reason. I don't know if it works, but I figure it can't hurt.

Pitmaster T · 03-08-2013, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bludawg

That cool but wouldn't it have been easier to use a different Charcoal

No, what Marty is doing is designing a air management system that prevents "core out." I had to do the same thing on my Meat Mama.

A "Core Out" is when you have a force of air entering at one point of the coal bed, burning that part the fastest or even exclusively. At first the stoker or Guru would go on and off like normal...but as the fuel burns closest to the single air induction point, the core of the fire moves back... this leads to the stoker coming on more often because it is further from the air induction egress. Eventually the fan is running all the time until its so far away it goes out. The entire fire extinguishes.

Marty's design makes the air come at all angles and actually prevents wide swings in temps.

03-08-2013, 03:52 PM	#1
martyleach Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-17-10 Location: Pleasanton, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My latest UDS build optimized for a stoker I recently finished up my 2nd UDS with a Weber kettle for the lid. I also did another hinged lid thingy since it worked so good the first time. I have used a stoker(5cfm fan) on my UDS but don't like the on/off type fan system. Either it is blowing full speed or it is turned off. I use Kingsford Blue in my UDS and it ends up blowing ash up on my food because the Stoker air is coming through one 3/4 inch nipple at fairly high velocity. I really should have a 10cfm fan because of the drum size but I found that I can get around that by opening up one of the air nipples and let the stoker take control of that environment. So.... I made an air manifold that would take the incoming air and divide it equally (equal back pressure ) between 3 outlets in the drum. The air comes in through a 1"pipe into the bottom of the air manifold and is distributed horizontally to the three outlets at 1/3 the original velocity. Here's what I came up with My fire basket sits on it (with feet) and the air blows at 1/3 the original velocity onto the side of the fire basket creating and more equal burn. As you can see, my fire basket has an attached ash pan below it. I just cooked a 18lb brisket on it with no ash but the stoker has trouble tightly controlling the temp with the open nipple. I will probably upgrade to the 10cfm fan. So, even with doubling the input volume of air, the velocity when it hits the fire will be 2/3's of what is was with a 5cfm fan. Who's anal??? Not me... This is how it looks in the drum. __________________ 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

03-08-2013, 03:55 PM	#2
Bludawg Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-04-09 Location: Jonesboro,Tx Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That cool but wouldn't it have been easier to use a different Charcoal __________________ I never met a Cow that I didn't like with a little Salt & Pepper! Certified PORK-A-HOLIC

03-08-2013, 03:56 PM	#3
HeSmellsLikeSmoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-07 Location: Warren, Vermont Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Now there is an interesting idea! Get that baby up and cooking so we can see how it works out. __________________ Jim - Another transplanted Texan Former KCBS CBJ Large and Medium Big Green Eggs , Black 18.5" WSM, Blue Weber Performer - Stainless, Green Weber OTG Kettle , Brinkmann SnP Pro, and a Stainless UDS. One retired Portable Kitchen grill. Red Thermapen, Maverick ET-73, EdgePro Apex Sharpener. Avatar is the original 1951 Weber Kettle

03-08-2013, 03:57 PM	#4
dwfisk is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 08-01-12 Location: Fairfield, FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Neat! __________________ I'm Dave 26.75 Weber OTG & SJ/WSM Mini Home built trailer mounted 24"x72" hybrid/reverse flow stick burner, 18"x44" grill w/CI grates, upright SS gas oven/smoker, iGrill & a bunch of other cooking toys. Home built 48" fire pit with a 30"x30" Santa Maria style grill.

03-08-2013, 04:07 PM	#5
Oldbob is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-24-06 Location: Kokomo,Indiana Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	That Looks Great...Nice Work !! __________________ Chargriller Akorn Drum Smoker " Old Smokey " Work in Progress Kingsford Premium Charcoal Grill Weber Gasser Genesis Silver A Pit Barrel Cooker Maverick ET-732 VietNam Veteran US Navy May you Sleep in Peace always...and Please....Thank a Veteran for That Privilege!!

03-08-2013, 04:13 PM	#6
Buried In Smoke Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-07-12 Location: Dearborn, MI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Looking forward to seeing how that works for ya. __________________ UDS, UDS/Weber hybrid a.k.a.- "The Meat Silo", Large BGE, Homemade 30# tank grill, 22.5" Weber Kettle, Brinkmann Pro SZ charcoal grill that won't die. 80 gallon air tank RF has begun!

03-08-2013, 04:39 PM	#7
---k--- is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 09-07-10 Location: Chicago, IL - West burbs Downloads: 3 Uploads: 0	Looks like you're having fun. Just curious, are you using a diffuser and where are you putting you putting your temp probe. __________________ -Ryan Proudly Smoking on a UDS, PBC & Accidental Winner of the 2012 "Saucy" Throwdown.

03-08-2013, 04:40 PM	#8
el_matt is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 12-08-09 Location: Turlock, California Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	You're a crafty one. I like it. Matt __________________ 22.5 OTS(H), 22.5 OTG(DA), 22.5 Daisy Wheel Kettle(EE), NBBD, UDS, MUDS, 6-burner gasser

03-08-2013, 04:45 PM	#9
sweetheatbbq Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 05-21-12 Location: St. Louis MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thats pretty cool __________________ 2 UDS Cheech & Chong

03-08-2013, 05:26 PM	#11
chicagokp is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-17-11 Location: Chicago north 'burbs IL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	wow. I woulda just put a deflector on the air inlet so it didn't blow directly on the coals.......yeah, you're not anal at all.... __________________ UDS - Midi Me - Weber Performer - 22.5 Weber OTG - Weber Genesis - GOSM White Lightning Thermopen

03-08-2013, 05:34 PM	#12
Ijustwantedtolookatpics On the road to being a farker Join Date: 07-26-11 Location: Lowell, MA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	My latest UDS build optimized for a stoker Nice work. I think I mentioned it last time as well but the hinge is pure genius. I love it __________________ _____________________________________________ CG Akorn Weber 22.5 OTG Weber gasser Kinda-fast Grey Thermapen

03-08-2013, 05:44 PM	#13
Johnny_Crunch Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-10 Location: Cypress TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Cool idea. Look forward to the results. __________________ J Crunch