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View Full Version : Question about charcoal basket for UDS build.

ClintHTX
11-03-2011, 07:52 PM
How big does the expanded metal need to be. I have a sheet of 8" wide x 44" long expanded metal. Would that be enough? Thanks guys.
Johnny_Crunch
11-03-2011, 07:56 PM
A 2'x2' square works perfectly 12" base with 6" sides.
BillywannaQ
11-03-2011, 08:01 PM
You should be fine with an 8 inch tall basket. Mine is that tall by approximate 14 inches around.
HeSmellsLikeSmoke
11-03-2011, 08:08 PM
Pat, Norcoredneck, uses the exact size you have there, in his great tutorial to make a round basket with a charcoal grate from a 18.5" kettle.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43943&page=6
Skidder
11-03-2011, 08:08 PM
If you attach it to a Weber charcoal grate you'll be fine with the height and length. 3.1416 x13" grate = 40.4808"
ClintHTX
11-03-2011, 08:18 PM
Pat, Norcoredneck, uses the exact size you have there, in his great tutorial to make a round basket with a charcoal grate from a 18.5" kettle.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43943&page=6

Mine doesn't go all the way around like norcos does for some reason. Does it matter?
HeSmellsLikeSmoke
11-03-2011, 08:24 PM
Mine doesn't go all the way around like norcos does for some reason. Does it matter?

You must be using a larger grate which should be no problem. Just make a smaller circle and attach it on there.
BillywannaQ
11-03-2011, 09:38 PM
My expanded steel didn't go all the way around the grate either. It attached the round basket to the grate with bailing wire.
Outnumbered
11-03-2011, 09:42 PM
I just posted a question about this in the UDS thread. Somebody suggested a turkey fryer basket. I found one on the Ace Hardware Web site for $25. Seems like a good price. Would it be cheaper than building one? Surely easier. It's for a 30 QT fryer. http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1291443
BillywannaQ
11-03-2011, 09:56 PM
That fryer basket looks to nice to use for a charcoal basket. If you wanna an easy/inexpensive charcoal basket, go to Home Depot and get yourself a 2 foot by 2 foot piece of expanded steel. Measure six inches down and six inches in from every corner and cut them off. This will leave you with four 6x6 in squares. Now fold up all the sides of the basket. Use pliers to "weave" the expanded steel into itself and hold together. You should end up with a basket the measures 12x12x6 inches high. The expanded steel at HD costs 20 dollars. Hope this helps. That turkey fryer basket is nice, though!
Outnumbered
11-03-2011, 09:58 PM
Yeah it does. I might get two. One for the UDS and one for my turkey fryer that didn't come with a basket 10 years ago when I bought it.

Oh, and thanks for the tips on the expanded metal. I have access to a welder, but not sure how soon I can get to one. This sounds like you can get by without one.
swamprb
11-03-2011, 11:23 PM
Where is Norco when we need him????
hankll
11-04-2011, 12:31 AM
My expanded steel didn't go all the way around the grate either. It attached the round basket to the grate with bailing wire.

Neither did mine. I used 11" by 48" and it came about an inch short of making the outside of the Weber grate. I used a pair of pliers and bent the bottom outward to set on the grate and I welded it to the grate and at the same time closed the gap.