smooookin
01-12-2008, 08:56 PM
Friday morning I descended in the garage to create the biggest damn UDS the world has ever seen.!!
The plan is to be able to stack the drums but build them were I could separate them easily for transport. I also wanted to build something that would have a good size capacity if I wanted to use grates and plenty of room if I choose to hang what ever was smoking. After a few PM’s from others and several beers the night before the light finally went off and showed me what I needed to do to join the two drums.
The drums are mounted with the bottoms meeting in the middle.
The first step was to cut out the bottom of both barels, then smooth the edges.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0010.jpg
I decided to cut three inches from the bottom of my donor barrel. Once I had that cut I clamped and riveted the “sleeve” into the bottom barrel, leaving two inches exposed.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0013.jpg
After getting the barrels lined up and joined together I laid out my door openings using masking tape as a straight edge and a guide for my new best friend “the grinder”
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0014.jpg
After cutting out the doors I ended up here.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0016.jpg
Using the donor barrel and the scrap from the larger cut out I laid out the pattern for the new doors. Using the masking tape again as a guide and a straight edge I traced around the cut out pieces and laid the 1 ½ masking tape to increase the size to attempt to get a good seal.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0015.jpg
Here is a pic of the doors installed, I decided that the masking tape probably wouldn’t hold up so I went ahead and added hinges.
As you can see the cuts arent the straightest in the world but the fit is pretty good.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0021.jpg
Also, here is a shot of the inside that shows how the sleeve is working. It forms a very tight connection and I have not doubt will seal up well if nothing else after the first few burns.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0018.jpg
She will be finished , except for paint, and have a fire in her belly tomorrow afternoon!!
*** On a side note. I did get to meet a Brethren today! While I was in Springfield I was lucky enough to meet up with MeatBurner for a few minutes! Keith, Thanks for making the time, it was great to meet up. Next time we need to do it over a cold beer!! BTW. Westlake did have the latches I was looking for. I mounted one tonight and it looks like it is going to work great.
The plan is to be able to stack the drums but build them were I could separate them easily for transport. I also wanted to build something that would have a good size capacity if I wanted to use grates and plenty of room if I choose to hang what ever was smoking. After a few PM’s from others and several beers the night before the light finally went off and showed me what I needed to do to join the two drums.
The drums are mounted with the bottoms meeting in the middle.
The first step was to cut out the bottom of both barels, then smooth the edges.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0010.jpg
I decided to cut three inches from the bottom of my donor barrel. Once I had that cut I clamped and riveted the “sleeve” into the bottom barrel, leaving two inches exposed.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0013.jpg
After getting the barrels lined up and joined together I laid out my door openings using masking tape as a straight edge and a guide for my new best friend “the grinder”
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0014.jpg
After cutting out the doors I ended up here.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0016.jpg
Using the donor barrel and the scrap from the larger cut out I laid out the pattern for the new doors. Using the masking tape again as a guide and a straight edge I traced around the cut out pieces and laid the 1 ½ masking tape to increase the size to attempt to get a good seal.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0015.jpg
Here is a pic of the doors installed, I decided that the masking tape probably wouldn’t hold up so I went ahead and added hinges.
As you can see the cuts arent the straightest in the world but the fit is pretty good.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0021.jpg
Also, here is a shot of the inside that shows how the sleeve is working. It forms a very tight connection and I have not doubt will seal up well if nothing else after the first few burns.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2008-1/1294309/PICT0018.jpg
She will be finished , except for paint, and have a fire in her belly tomorrow afternoon!!
*** On a side note. I did get to meet a Brethren today! While I was in Springfield I was lucky enough to meet up with MeatBurner for a few minutes! Keith, Thanks for making the time, it was great to meet up. Next time we need to do it over a cold beer!! BTW. Westlake did have the latches I was looking for. I mounted one tonight and it looks like it is going to work great.