UDS - Any tips?

AlexC · 01-31-2011, 03:41 PM

Hi - first off, this site is great! I have been BBQ'ing for a while but just getting into competing and found this site. The info and help on this site is fantastic - thank you!

I am building my first UDS (woo hoo

) and had a few of quick questions. Is it better to burn the drum out or sandblast it? Any recommended readings/sites/posts? What is the recommended spacing between the grates?

Thanks for the help!
Alex

devious · 01-31-2011, 04:48 PM

First off, congrats on your UDS your gonna love it. I burned my drum out, fire is always cool. check this thread out for all other ?'s... dont cheat yourself

read the the entire thread.
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=23436

smokeyw · 01-31-2011, 04:55 PM

Yep...what he said^. Read the thread. It will take a while but there is a ton of information in there. I just finished my first UDS and that thread was invaluable. You can keep it simple or you can make it more complicated. Your choice. I have to say though, mine was a thing of beauty last Saturday smoking that butt for 16 hours. Never had to add any charcoal or wood. In fact I shut it down at 18 hours and there was probably enough charcoal left to go another 4 to 6 hours.

SmokerKing · 01-31-2011, 05:27 PM

Save yourself the hassle, start with a new, unlined drum.

Johnny_Crunch · 01-31-2011, 05:49 PM

If you have access to a sand blaster I would do that for sure price permitting of course. Find one with no liner at all and skip the entire step if you can.

I put my first grate 22" above the fire and added one above it about 6" higher. The top one is not far from my flat lid so it is limited to what I can put on it like ribs or something thin.

I would also suggest putting a set of hardware below your cooking grate for an additional lower cooking grate in case you want to put something under your meat to keep the drippings off the fire. I prefer the taste without the drippings hitting the coals. I just throw a piece of foil on my lowest grate and poke some holes in it. It seems to stop enough of the juice falling on the fire.

Good luck, you will love your UDS.

El Ropo · 01-31-2011, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokerKing

Save yourself the hassle, start with a new, unlined drum.

For many people around the world, it's very difficult to find new, unlined drums. You are fortunate to have access to stockpiles of new drums. Many of us others aren't able to get 'em like that.

Low-n-Slow · 01-31-2011, 05:52 PM

I attempted to burn my red liner out without much luck...thought I'd soften it up to hit it with the wire wheel on the grinder. It really sucked sticking my head into the drum trying to grind it out so I took mine and got it sandblasted for $20. lol It was worth it.

Johnny_Crunch · 01-31-2011, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Low-n-Slow

I attempted to burn my red liner out without much luck...thought I'd soften it up to hit it with the wire wheel on the grinder. It really sucked sticking my head into the drum trying to grind it out so I took mine and got it sandblasted for $20. lol It was worth it.

$20 is a no brainer for that. I spent that in gas hauling a stack of pallets home to light on fire

BRBBQ · 01-31-2011, 06:01 PM

Look at this.
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Arch.../msg00243.html

woodbutcher1 · 01-31-2011, 06:02 PM

As mentioned before,read the whole thread and remember, take notes,lots of notes. Anything of interest that you may be able to use on your first build.Hints, techniques,sizes, dimensions,etc. Post #,page #

Otherwise you will be back-peddling 100 pages or more to find what you're looking for.

Johnny_Crunch · 01-31-2011, 06:05 PM

Here are the instructions I used

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...1&postcount=86

Rookie'48 · 01-31-2011, 07:30 PM

Ditto on Norco's Redneck instructions!

Boshizzle · 01-31-2011, 07:33 PM

Read the entire UDS thread. Seriously, read the whoel thread. That's my tip.

Louisiana Smoker · 01-31-2011, 08:34 PM

When you read the UDS thread be sure and take notes

butaford · 01-31-2011, 08:53 PM

+1 on note taking. Its no fun having to re-read page after page of info to find something you can't remember. It takes long enough to read once.

01-31-2011, 03:41 PM	#1
AlexC Wandering around with a bag of matchlight, looking for a match. Join Date: 01-29-11 Location: Philadelphia, PA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	UDS - Any tips? Hi - first off, this site is great! I have been BBQ'ing for a while but just getting into competing and found this site. The info and help on this site is fantastic - thank you! I am building my first UDS (woo hoo ) and had a few of quick questions. Is it better to burn the drum out or sandblast it? Any recommended readings/sites/posts? What is the recommended spacing between the grates? Thanks for the help! Alex __________________ Royal Oak Offset Smoker, Webber Grill, in the process of building a UDS

01-31-2011, 04:48 PM	#2
devious is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 12-08-09 Location: Bellevue Nebraska Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	First off, congrats on your UDS your gonna love it. I burned my drum out, fire is always cool. check this thread out for all other ?'s... dont cheat yourself read the the entire thread. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=23436 __________________ Big Red Kenmore gasser, black shirt UDS

01-31-2011, 05:49 PM	#5
Johnny_Crunch Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-10 Location: Cypress TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you have access to a sand blaster I would do that for sure price permitting of course. Find one with no liner at all and skip the entire step if you can. I put my first grate 22" above the fire and added one above it about 6" higher. The top one is not far from my flat lid so it is limited to what I can put on it like ribs or something thin. I would also suggest putting a set of hardware below your cooking grate for an additional lower cooking grate in case you want to put something under your meat to keep the drippings off the fire. I prefer the taste without the drippings hitting the coals. I just throw a piece of foil on my lowest grate and poke some holes in it. It seems to stop enough of the juice falling on the fire. Good luck, you will love your UDS. __________________ J Crunch

01-31-2011, 05:52 PM	#7
Low-n-Slow Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 10-26-10 Location: NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I attempted to burn my red liner out without much luck...thought I'd soften it up to hit it with the wire wheel on the grinder. It really sucked sticking my head into the drum trying to grind it out so I took mine and got it sandblasted for $20. lol It was worth it. __________________ GOSM and UDS

01-31-2011, 06:05 PM	#11
Johnny_Crunch Babbling Farker Join Date: 04-03-10 Location: Cypress TX Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Here are the instructions I used http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...1&postcount=86 __________________ J Crunch

01-31-2011, 04:55 PM	#3
smokeyw is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-03-11 Location: Smithfield, North Carolina Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yep...what he said^. Read the thread. It will take a while but there is a ton of information in there. I just finished my first UDS and that thread was invaluable. You can keep it simple or you can make it more complicated. Your choice. I have to say though, mine was a thing of beauty last Saturday smoking that butt for 16 hours. Never had to add any charcoal or wood. In fact I shut it down at 18 hours and there was probably enough charcoal left to go another 4 to 6 hours.

01-31-2011, 05:27 PM	#4
SmokerKing Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-07-10 Location: Sunny AZ Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Save yourself the hassle, start with a new, unlined drum.

01-31-2011, 06:01 PM	#9
BRBBQ is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-05-08 Location: Council Bluffs, Iowa Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Look at this. http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Arch.../msg00243.html

01-31-2011, 06:02 PM	#10
woodbutcher1 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-04-10 Location: Shelby Twp. Macomb Co. SE Michigan Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	As mentioned before,read the whole thread and remember, take notes,lots of notes. Anything of interest that you may be able to use on your first build.Hints, techniques,sizes, dimensions,etc. Post #,page # Otherwise you will be back-peddling 100 pages or more to find what you're looking for.

01-31-2011, 07:30 PM	#12
Rookie'48 Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-12-06 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ditto on Norco's Redneck instructions! __________________ Dave Compton KCBS MasterCBJ # 22569 KCBS BoD Judges' Advocate Possibly the only judge ever to get an award from a bunch of cooks UDS 075 UCB WSM and a bunch of other stuff. The above post is only my opinion - mine & mine alone.

01-31-2011, 07:33 PM	#13
Boshizzle somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-26-10 Location: Virginia Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Read the entire UDS thread. Seriously, read the whoel thread. That's my tip. __________________ Jambo Pit - UDS - Lang 60 (Sold) 18.5" & 22.5" Weber Kettles - Smokey Joe and Mini-WSM - Bubba Keg - #2 La Caja China Chargriller Outlaw Impeccably Accurate BLACK & RED Thermapens KCBS CBJ Operation BBQ Relief Founding Member I am Obsessive Compulsive about BBQ. Google it.

01-31-2011, 08:34 PM	#14
Louisiana Smoker Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 06-05-10 Location: Pineville LA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	When you read the UDS thread be sure and take notes

01-31-2011, 08:53 PM	#15
butaford Wandering around with a bag of matchlight, looking for a match. Join Date: 01-14-11 Location: Moss Bluff, LA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	+1 on note taking. Its no fun having to re-read page after page of info to find something you can't remember. It takes long enough to read once.

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