No paint under the lid. Too close to the food and high heat.

here we go!
 

Steel drum and most parts acquired! Build starting shortly. Thank you all for the weeks of reading and unbelievable inspiration.

I will post pics of the build and final Product when its done! Can't wait to start smoking!

Help. I've done three burns now and can't get a blue smoke burn below 350 degrees. I have a 2" X 7" tall exhaust. 1" valve and a 3/4" valve then added another 3/4" hole. Tried opening the 1" bung also for more exhaust--little temp increase 15 degrees. Fire basket is 17" round and 10" tall, normal 3/4" expanded metal side and weber fire rack, 2 inch legs with ash pan. I used a mixed charcoal and lump the first two times more lump than bricks. Third time about 50/50. Putting 4 fist sized Hickory chunks on top of coal, but not on hot pile. Lighting 10 bricks in a chimney and pouring them in one six inch area( 2 and 3 burn). The first time I put them in a 10" area. OK so here's the problem---220 to 300 degrees only white smoke produced. Opening air to get a Blue smoke produces 350+ temp. Cannot get blue smoke AND 225 to 250 degrees. First burn was ribs, spent two hours trying to get above 225,finally got to 275, ribs not good. Second burn did two whole chickens--yo-yoed between 280 and 350, white smoke the whole time--chicken was terrible. Lots of juices in bottom of drum, had to clean and reburn out for bacteria. With a basket of hickory and the lid ajar, 700 degrees is possible. Third burn for chicken breasts and potatoes. Could not get above 250, white smoke. Added 3/4" hole,blue smoke acheived followed by 375 degrees. Reduced air = 300 degrees and light white smoke. Increase air = 350 dgrees and Blue smoke. Chicken was better but dry.

Any help appreciated.

It sounds like you might want to try to cut back the amount of charcoal you are lighting , try starting with 6 briquettes and see how you fair out with that. When you starve an already burning fire for oxygen you get white smoke(or worse, black) , so if you are starting with too much fire it would explain why it want to burn cleanly at a higher temperature than you are aiming for. Also , I might cut back on the chunks of wood , 2 fist sized chunks is a lot.

I found this thread to be very heplful about loading the charcoal basket.

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=109339

Recon drum prep...burned it
 

OK.. Bought a recondition open head drum, drilled some holes and burned it out. Warped the lid a bit. Any best practices to straighten it?

Thanks.

Look forward to participating in the forums.
-cjd
Abscam

Welcome Abscam!
I'm no help with that one. But I have to ask... why did you leave the lid on to do a burn out of the barrel?

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/phot...eat=directlink
I placed it over it later in the burn to help get rid of the paint on the lid as well as the glue that held the gasket. It wasn't on when the fire was blasting to start...

Understood. This may be a lose / lose either way because I took the paint off my lid with a wire brush on a drill and it doesn't fit right now when it did before. I heated the gasket with a propane torch, removed it and then burned the gunk out with a torch. Then I wire brushed it with the drill again.
It's a learning thing. :)

Ok been reading about UDS for awhile and noticed some using 1/2 in nipples and some using 3/4. Which is best size and how many 3 or 4? 1/2 in ball vave or 3/4in? Sorry for the newbie questions just trying to get it right.
Thanks,
Lawdog's

Lawdog - I used 2 nipples and one ball valve, all in 3/4".
In real use I rarely need more than the ball valve, so in my experience 4 would be too many.
Enjoy your build!

Thanks Otterpop. I'll go with the 3 3/4 fittings. Seems like they would work better - more air = more adjustable to me.

I mounted my (3) 3/4" pipe nipples 45 degrees apart on the front of the drum. Since only one is really used during cooking, I figured it didn't matter if the inlets were evenly spaced around the drum. Having them on the front is much more convenient. FYI, ball valve is 3/4".

-Rodney

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/pi...pictureid=2115

I used four 3/4 inch pipe nipple for mine. I figured I'll only be using two to get the uds to temp and the ball valve for fine temp adjustments.

Sounds like your exhaust and valve setup is rather suspect. I think you will have better results if you just stick to the accepted norm from the beginning of this thread. Three 7/8" holes evenly spaced around the bottom of the barrel, with 2 close nipples and 1 valve, or just the magnet approach. I have both versions, and they both work equally well.

Your 2" exhaust should be fine.

I use the same setup you are describing as far as charcoal starting,etc. I open all three holes all the way, and dump in the coals.....I leave the valves open until the temp hits about 200 at the grates. Then close two holes and leave one open........it will cruise around 225 for 14 hours. Maybe you have some air leaks or too much smoke wood.