Ugly Drum Smoker

[SmittyJonz]

 

[PorkinButts82]

That's a whole Lotta wood brother!

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[clskinsfan]

Hi all. I am almost done with my first UDS. I know this thread helped me immensely with my build so I wanted to drop a tip that I found while building. I had the red liner in my barrel. I was going to get it sand blasted but before I dropped the money to have it done I was going to try to do it myself first. I did a VERY hot burn with 3 pallets stuffed into the barrel. Once that was done I used a scotch brite scouring pad and Bar keepers friend and scrubbed the inside of the barrel. I was shocked how easy the red liner came off. There were still a few spots of it inside the barrell. Especially in the ribs. So up went another VERY hot fire into the barrell. After this second fire and another scrubbing the red liner is gone. It really was not any more difficult than washing a car. I hope that helps someone else who is concerned about getting the liner out.

I set my UDS up similar to a PBC. 2 racks which I cut in half and one piece of rebar running to 2 holes in the sides of the drum. I split the racks so that I can hang meat off of the rebar and still use 2 half racks for some cedar fish or oysters (I love smoked oysters!) Since I had to have those 2 holes to hang meat I only drilled 2 additional holes in my lid for venting. I am going to get the thing dialed in this weekend.

Thanks to all of you who contributed to this thread. You have made my job much easier.

 

[SmittyJonz]

That's a whole Lotta wood brother!

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60/40. That's why people couldn't tell if I cooked on my drum or my stick burner.
Can't run that many chunks at 225*, but 225* Blows. I run 275*-300*. :heh:

 

[PorkinButts82]

60/40. That's why people couldn't tell if I cooked on my drum or my stick burner.
Can't run that many chunks at 225*, but 225* Blows. I run 275*-300*. :heh:

275* seems to be the sweet spot for me and my drum. She will purr right along within a few degrees here and there. Just added a kettle lid on mine and seems to run better than the flat lid did.

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[Radiccus]

She aint pretty, but she's faithful

Forum crept for a bit then just pulled the trigger. Made this beauty a few weeks back. Low cost was the name of the game. Got the drum for $15, dome and 2 grates free off CL, $12 for the dome lip metal and about the same for the fire rope. Found the safety pin in a drawer. Rattled canned in hi temp matte black bc it was $3.50 a can. 2 cooking grates, and a 3rd grate so I can mess around with a heat diffuser. No welder/welding skills and I didnt want to buy u-bolts, so yes that is wire holding my basket together. Its solid as a rock. Ive had it fired up 5 or 6 times since its creation and have made, ribs, rib tips, chicken, sausages, and a 12lb pork butt ( can be seen on bottom rack between the ribs). All phenomenal. Big props to this mega thread for getting me here. Prior to this I was rocking $60 Home depot bullet smokers so now I am a happy camper. I'm currently working on an automatic temperature controller. If its a success ill post that too. Cheers.

 

[peppasawce]

theres nothing like an Ugly Drum Smoker

 

[bstomper]

Drums are looking good guys. Keep the pictures coming. Pictures are good. I actualy lucked out for a change. I have always wanted a weber lid for my first uds but they are impossible to come by where I live. I have also always wanted a weber kettle......so I finally got one the other day and just for giggles I tried the weber lid on my uds and to my surprize it was a perfect fit. Actualy fit the drum better than the kettle. Now I'm looking real hard for another lid.

 

[PorkinButts82]

Drums are looking good guys. Keep the pictures coming. Pictures are good. I actualy lucked out for a change. I have always wanted a weber lid for my first uds but they are impossible to come by where I live. I have also always wanted a weber kettle......so I finally got one the other day and just for giggles I tried the weber lid on my uds and to my surprize it was a perfect fit. Actualy fit the drum better than the kettle. Now I'm looking real hard for another lid.

Craigslist, facebook, offer up, letgo... plenty of resale sites. Just an FYI it doesn't have to be a Weber kettle lid.

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[Sid Post]

General questions about UDS/PBC:

• How do these differ from a Weber Smokey Mountain? Is it just cost and capacity?
  
• Does anyone use surplus Beer Kegs to make these or, would they be too small?
  
• Does anyone "wrap" them or put a smaller barrel inside a larger one for sort of an 'insulated cabinet' smoker effect?

TIA,
Sid

 

[zippy12]

UDS lid

Am I missing something here. Everyone wants to use webber lids but the cost is insaine!!!

What do you think about a stainless mixing bowl?


View attachment 143720

 

[Displaced Texan]

Am I missing something here. Everyone wants to use webber lids but the cost is insaine!!!

What do you think about a stainless mixing bowl?


View attachment 143720

Unless you are planning on using a 30 Gallon drum, that's not going to be big enough. If you can find one that is big enough, it's a decent thought, though.

 

[Nuco59]

"Am I missing something here. Everyone wants to use webber lids but the cost is insaine!!!"

Sorta- depends on how you look at it. If you buy it Brand New- yeah- can be "expensive" (I put it in quotes because some people can spend an obscene amount of $$ on cookers)

But- if you buy a used Weber off Craigs List (OR a knock off /off brand 22.5 kettle) you might spend from Zero to 40.00. For this nominal sum, you get: One lid, One cooking Grate, one charcoal grate (could be used to make your basket), one set of wheels

Not Bad for 40.00 IMO.

 

[SmokinJohn]

Am I missing something here. Everyone wants to use webber lids but the cost is insaine!!!

What do you think about a stainless mixing bowl?


View attachment 143720

I bought my Weber 22" for $40 on clearance from Target a few years back.

I kept the rest of the parts on the off chance that my UDS will need to be rebuilt, leaving me with a usuable smoker/grill until I get a new drum.

The Bowl? Not for a 55 gallon drum.

 

[SmokinJohn]

General questions about UDS/PBC:

• How do these differ from a Weber Smokey Mountain? Is it just cost and capacity?
  
• Does anyone use surplus Beer Kegs to make these or, would they be too small?
  
• Does anyone "wrap" them or put a smaller barrel inside a larger one for sort of an 'insulated cabinet' smoker effect?

TIA,
Sid

1. For me, it was the thrill of doing it yourself...and the cost.

2. Surplus Beer Keg smoker sounds like the start of a new thread.

3. Haven't tried the insulated effect. Could be fun. What if you put your coals and wood in the space between the two? You could use the center section to catch the meat drippings so they wouldn't go to waste and/or spike your temps.

 

[zippy12]

Unless you are planning on using a 30 Gallon drum, that's not going to be big enough. If you can find one that is big enough, it's a decent thought, though.

[ame]https://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Group-Stainless-Mixing-Silver/dp/B0153AKP9C/ref=pd_sim_79_7?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0153AKP9C&pd_rd_r=JZ5SZ835HT73X59FQ07T&pd_rd_w=knaq5&pd_rd_wg=FQZRx&psc=1&refRID=JZ5SZ835HT73X59FQ07T[/ame]

I went with this for my 30gal stainless steel build and paid 16.00 shipped. So I keep the stainless look and feel (YEA!)

 

[bwsawman]

For me, the dome lid issue was solved by just cutting the top off another (closed head) barrel (about 8" down from the top) and then I screwed that to the lid of the open head barrel. (Note: I cut the open top lid center out...just leaving enough around the lip to attach the dome top.) Now I have a dome top that fits my barrel perfect.

 

[gmatt]

GMATT's UDS build

I learned everything from many of you on this forum. So i thought i would take the time to give back and share the UDS I built. I did post some of this before on another thread, but it should have been in this thread. It's been a while since I got started. I moved to an apartment couple years ago that did not allow fire / BBQ. Yeah I know my mistake, never again. But now i'm back. When i started the drum sat in my garage for 3 months. I thought it was going to take a long time to complete. When i finally started it, I did the build in a weekend! I could have done it in one Saturday but i wanted to paint it. Anyway thanks to everyone's posts here! Many inspirations went into what i did.

Start:
Bought new drum

Removed paint:

First Charcoal load:

Grates:

First white smoke:

Blower and Controller:

 

[PorkinButts82]

I learned everything from many of you on this forum. So i thought i would take the time to give back and share the UDS I built. I did post some of this before on another thread, but it should have been in this thread. It's been a while since I got started. I moved to an apartment couple years ago that did not allow fire / BBQ. Yeah I know my mistake, never again. But now i'm back. When i started the drum sat in my garage for 3 months. I thought it was going to take a long time to complete. When i finally started it, I did the build in a weekend! I could have done it in one Saturday but i wanted to paint it. Anyway thanks to everyone's posts here! Many inspirations went into what i did.

Start:
Bought new drum

Removed paint:

First Charcoal load:

Grates:

First white smoke:

Blower and Controller:

I'd say that little exhaust doesn't let you get over 250, if you're lucky. Need atleast 2", just my opinion. Other than that it looks great.

How many intakes do you have?

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[gmatt]

I'd say that little exhaust doesn't let you get over 250, if you're lucky. Need atleast 2", just my opinion. Other than that it looks great.

How many intakes do you have?

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Ok by me i typically smoke at 225 for 9 to 10 hours. Other than opening the lid it stays there. I have one 3/4in. air intake (with blower from controller).

My cook temps:
you see the big drop then the spike was when i wrapped the butt. I left the lid off too long (drop in temp)then closed the temp came back up (spike). Then settled down.