Ugly Drum Smoker

[Meat Burner]

Originally Posted by smokindave74

I am sure this is covered probably 3 or 4 times during this massive thread, but I don't feel like reading through it ALL over again.

Has anyone had any experience with using more than one ball valve? I planned on cutting three vent holes, and was going to cover 2 with magnets or use pipe nipples with caps, and use one ball valve. Any reason I could not just use 3 ball valves. I think the magnets won't "look" as nice, and I figure they might melt or get lost eventually.

I know it will cost more, but I think it would offer more control or more variety of control. Do the ball valves constrict the flow more than a full hole even when they are wide open? There must be a little head loss due to the valve.

My reasoning is that I could partially open any or all of the three and have more adjustment to counteract any wind variation, etc, if I used all ball valves.

I like to position my smoker just under the roof of my garage eves facing inside, so I can just duck out there and tend to things in case of rain, etc. If I have multiple valves I could open different ones depending on which way the wind is blowing.......

Am I over-thinking this? I just want to have ultimate flexibility so I don't have to re-build anything, if my initial config. doesn't work perfectly.

Sorry for the verbosity.....just thinking out loud here....

Thanks for any help.......

Smokindave

I build all mine with ball valves. It works great to help with the wind problem. I like the nice even burn I get as well. Just another way that works well. Harbor Freight usually has them for about $5 each so not a big expense. Good luck bro!

[kcchiefdav]

I apologize in advance for asking the same question that has been asked around here 100s of times, but I have no one else to ask...So, in the short time that I've been a member here, I've fallen in love with the UDS. A few weeks ago, I decided that I must try making one. I have come across some barrels and I wanted to run them by some of you, who are more "in the know" on these sorts of things, as to whether or not these types of barrels are gonna work for a UDS. The guy advertised them as barrels used to ship sand and aggregate which seems ok to me. They don't appear to be galvanized. So, what do you guys think, should i make the 12 dollar investment and give this thing a try or wait til I can find something more food friendly?

[michaelp]

Originally Posted by kcchiefdav

I apologize in advance for asking the same question that has been asked around here 100s of times, but I have no one else to ask...So, in the short time that I've been a member here, I've fallen in love with the UDS. A few weeks ago, I decided that I must try making one. I have come across some barrels and I wanted to run them by some of you, who are more "in the know" on these sorts of things, as to whether or not these types of barrels are gonna work for a UDS. The guy advertised them as barrels used to ship sand and aggregate which seems ok to me. They don't appear to be galvanized. So, what do you guys think, should i make the 12 dollar investment and give this thing a try or wait til I can find something more food friendly?

If the metal is rusting on the inside, Id say they are good to go. Just give'em a good burn so if there was any dioxin or agent orange in there you'd at least burn most of it off.

[smokindave74]

Thanks for the tips and the thread link.......I might just try fridge magnets for now....seems to be the easiest way.

Here all this time I never knew that Gene Simmons was such an expert bbq cook..........



Every hobby has their own special jargon just to confuse people.

Originally Posted by McGurk

There is a search at the bottom of all of the pages, it looks like a google search but it is indeed for this site. The fancy one is for subscribers, but this one will work.

I found the link I was looking for that you might find interesting: Norcoredneck's "If a redneck were to build a UDS"
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=43943

[McGurk]

Added some more mods to my UDS now that I know it can cook! Nothing special, but I want to do this stuff after I knew that it worked for me, but before paint. Not that I mind the ugliness it has acquired!


"New Tool Hangers and 2nd rack Thermo" Yanked some Stainless Steel bling off of a trashed Amana gasser, and modded it to make some tool hangers. IGNORE THESE TOOLS!!! I just threw them on for pix, but I don't use them. They came free with one of the webers I got. Put another thermo probe mount just below the upper rack. They are both 12" probes.


"Hangers" Not pretty (yet). S hooks on a bar for tools and junk. I also did a little more "custom lid fitting", involving a linemans pliers and a hammer. I think it's a better fit now.


"Screw post for hanging racks" I was getting sick of putting my racks on the ground when moving things around, so I just popped a hole in the side (on right side of pic) for a bolt to stick out of. Nothing too fancy.

I am still looking into options for some sort of side table(s) that I'll be happy with. Then it's strip, grind, prime, paint, and re-assemble!

[PaulG78]

Originally Posted by McGurk

Added some more mods to my UDS now that I know it can cook! Nothing special, but I want to do this stuff after I knew that it worked for me, but before paint. Not that I mind the ugliness it has acquired!


"New Tool Hangers and 2nd rack Thermo" Yanked some Stainless Steel bling off of a trashed Amana gasser, and modded it to make some tool hangers. Put another thermo probe mount just below the upper rack. They are both 12" probes.


"Hangers" Not pretty (yet). S hooks on a bar for tools and junk. I also did a little more "custom lid fitting", involving a linemans pliers and a hammer. I think it's a better fit now.


"Screw post for hanging racks" I was getting sick of putting my racks on the ground when moving things around, so I just popped a hole in the side (on right side of pic) for a bolt to stick out of. Nothing too fancy.

I am still looking into options for some sort of side table(s) that I'll be happy with. Then it's strip, grind, prime, paint, and re-assemble!

Nice practical mods. I have had an issue with where do I set this rack while I ........ too. I may be borrowing that idea from you.

[Derek]

Hey gang, I have a question about the stickers you guys have on your uds?

What are those? Are they heavy duty vinyl? or metal signs?

[1FUNVET]

Originally Posted by Derek

Hey gang, I have a question about the stickers you guys have on your uds?

What are those? Are they heavy duty vinyl? or metal signs?

Mine are magnetic.

[PoppaSmoke]

I've finished my first UDS except for one piece - the grilling grate. Trying to build it on the cheap without buying a grate, but I'm about to break down and spend the $20+ for a Weber replacement.

Has anyone had any luck simply cutting a piece of flexsteel in a 22" diametre circle and using it? If so, should I season it before use? How would you suggest I do it.

I found an old rack in a discarded oven I could bend and weld, but I was just trying to save myself the aggravation. All suggestions appreciated!
PoppaSmoke

[fbody396]

I did my burn today and the "red" liner is still there. The fire was HOT and it didn't do a thing to remove it. What do I have to do to get it out of there? This is my first post and my first UDS. Any help is appreciated.

[steev-o]

Originally Posted by fbody396

I did my burn today and the "red" liner is still there. The fire was HOT and it didn't do a thing to remove it. What do I have to do to get it out of there? This is my first post and my first UDS. Any help is appreciated.

I hear ya. I did 3 5hr+ burns("spitbouncing-hot", to quote a brethren!) and the liner in my drum laughed at me... so I borrowed an angle grinder and some 36 grit sanding discs from work, and 3 frustrating, dirty hours and 7 discs later it was 99% gone. Getting into the "ribs" on the drum was tedious, as was reaching into the bottom, but 2 cooks into it and I think it was totally worth the effort. Not to say I won't be getting a sealed drum for my next UDS... JM2C!

[fbody396]

That is what I was afraid of. It may be in my best interest to go to Orlando Drum Co. and purchase an unlined drum. I've read many pages on this forum and have seen the labor put into getting the inside liner ground out. Thanks for the prompt reply. I'll post pic's when I figure out how to do it. FBODY396......i'm a Camaro guy!

[schellter]

Originally Posted by PoppaSmoke

I've finished my first UDS except for one piece - the grilling grate. Trying to build it on the cheap without buying a grate, but I'm about to break down and spend the $20+ for a Weber replacement.

Has anyone had any luck simply cutting a piece of flexsteel in a 22" diametre circle and using it? If so, should I season it before use? How would you suggest I do it.

I found an old rack in a discarded oven I could bend and weld, but I was just trying to save myself the aggravation. All suggestions appreciated!
PoppaSmoke

Amazon has a Weber grate for $16 and if you buy another item to bring the total purchase up to $25 shipping is free.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

Amazon has other grates for as cheap as $10 http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Doutdoor&field-keywords=cooking+grate+22&x=15&y=12

[PaulG78]

Originally Posted by PoppaSmoke

I've finished my first UDS except for one piece - the grilling grate. Trying to build it on the cheap without buying a grate, but I'm about to break down and spend the $20+ for a Weber replacement.

Has anyone had any luck simply cutting a piece of flexsteel in a 22" diametre circle and using it? If so, should I season it before use? How would you suggest I do it.

I found an old rack in a discarded oven I could bend and weld, but I was just trying to save myself the aggravation. All suggestions appreciated!
PoppaSmoke

If you happen to have a Menards (Home Depot meets flea market) near you they have a functional 22 " grate for $10ish. It's lighter gauge than the weber but I figured I'd go cheap keeping in the spirit of the UDS.

[NASCARican]

Originally Posted by PoppaSmoke

I've finished my first UDS except for one piece - the grilling grate. Trying to build it on the cheap without buying a grate, but I'm about to break down and spend the $20+ for a Weber replacement.

Has anyone had any luck simply cutting a piece of flexsteel in a 22" diametre circle and using it? If so, should I season it before use? How would you suggest I do it.

I found an old rack in a discarded oven I could bend and weld, but I was just trying to save myself the aggravation. All suggestions appreciated!
PoppaSmoke

Bought one (22.5") for $12ish @ Walmart