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View Full Version : UDS Charcoal Basket, intake & paint Question


Don Marco
04-23-2008, 12:44 PM
Howdy folks...


I´m gonna have my UDS finished tomorrow and was thinking about the charcoal basket.

Found this old 18" Weber Kettle Bowl in the garage and thought this would be mighty fine.

What do you think ? Diameter fits perfect, Charcoal grate is included and i thought about putting a stainless steel bowl below it to catch the ashes.

The top of the kettle is 12" high and my lower grate is 28" from the bottom of the barrel. Hope the distance is okay ?

Also, i have a single 1" air intake. Will that be enough or should i add another one ?

I have two cans of high temp paint in black but i want some flames in yellow and orange too. Can i use normal paint on top of the high temp paint or will it start to burn/flake ? Cant get any other high temp colours than black and grey atm.

http://mybbq.net/forum/userpix/57_ribs_005_Small_3.jpg

The lid fits perfectly tight

http://mybbq.net/forum/userpix/57_ribs_007_Small_2.jpg

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7544/s001smallpx3.jpg

http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/6036/s003smallto6.jpg



Thanks,

DM

smooookin
04-23-2008, 12:49 PM
not sure about the basket but the rest sounds fine to me. You can use what ever spray paint you want. the outside temp doesnt get any hotter than the surface of a car in the summer time. Well, unless you leave the lid off.

Bentley
04-23-2008, 12:54 PM
Webber will work fine, as far as intake, try it, it it works leave it alone.

Cliff H.
04-23-2008, 02:47 PM
I would drill several BIG holes around the outside of the kettle. WSM charcoal ring mod.

I have two 1" intakes and plan to add two more. Two intakes work well for low and slow on most of my cooks but I did 8 butts once and really struggled with temp control.

BobBrisket
04-23-2008, 02:53 PM
While I think the Weber bottom will work as a charcoal basket, I think it will clog a lot easier as the as the ash settles under the grate and then also the ash that falls through th vents and onto the drum bottom. I would go without the SS pan under the basket and try to raise the kettle bottom so it sits a little higher than it already does. I would even consider drilling extra holes for more ventilation.

Try out your current set up and see how it works. You can always add more vents etc if it isn't reaching proper temps.

Good Luck DM.

Don Marco
04-23-2008, 03:07 PM
I would go without the SS pan under the basket and try to raise the kettle bottom so it sits a little higher than it already does.

The holes shouldnt be a problem.

Im a little scared of getting problems when i get the "basket" even higher. As it is now its 12" tall, that makes a distance of only 16" between the top of the basket and the bottom cooking rack.

DM

Don Marco
04-23-2008, 03:49 PM
D´oh ! :icon_smil

I just remembered my unused selfbuild charcoal baskets for the char griller, they are hidden somewhere in the garage...

http://mybbq.net/forum/userpix/57_Basket_001_Medium_1.jpg


http://mybbq.net/forum/userpix/57_Basket_003_Medium_1.jpg

The size is 12" x 12" square and 8 inch height. Angle iron is 3/8" and two sides are closed with 1/4" plate.

Would you think they´d make good baskets when i raise them a bit ?
I like them more than the weber bowl, wich i can then use for a fireplace.

Is the size okay for a long burn ?


DM

Don Marco
04-23-2008, 04:02 PM
Heres the basket in comparisation with the 18" kettle

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/1079/s004smalldl9.jpg

Boy did that thing attract rust since autumn :oops:

DM

N8man
04-23-2008, 04:11 PM
I'd use the basket there....should be fine once you raise it up a bit, I think
2 inches from the Drum floor would work well.

swamprb
04-23-2008, 07:31 PM
Try them both and see which works best for you. If you go with the Weber kettle bottom, might I suggest cutting out the bottom of it for better airflow and allow the ashes to fall to the bottom of the drum? Here is an 18" Bar-B-Kettle I drilled a ton of holes in.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/100_1389-2.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/100_1390-2.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/100_1391-2.jpg

It worked fine, but if I were to do it over, I'd cut the bottom out below the grate.

Here is another basket similar to the square ones of yours. It is 12"x12"x12". A little lighter than yours but it works just as well.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/100_2110.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t310/swamprb/100_2107.jpg

Looking at your fire baskets, I'd use larger expando on the bottom.

Meat Burner
04-23-2008, 07:46 PM
DM, I have one like the basket you have that also has two enclosed solid sides. I originally made it for a small offset I have and found out it works just fine in my UDS. Purrrrrrrs like kitten! It's up off the bottom of the barrel 2 1/2 inches. Three inches might be better. Let us know how it all works. Drum looks good btw.

bowhnter
04-23-2008, 08:27 PM
:shock: Are you chittin me DM, where ya gonna put another cooker? :biggrin: 8)

Don Marco
04-24-2008, 11:59 AM
:shock: Are you chittin me DM, where ya gonna put another cooker? :biggrin: 8)


I have no idea what your talking about. At least 1/4 of my patio is smoker-free :biggrin:

http://mybbq.net/forum/userpix/57_s_006_Small_5.jpg


DM