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-   -   Ugly Drum Smoker (https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23436)

backwoods 02-05-2010 09:24 AM

I burned my drum 3 times now and there is still liner in it. The last burn was extremely hot and still had flames coming 2-3 feet above the top 6 hours after i started. Can i just grind this **** off with a flap wheel?

Babyboomerboy 02-05-2010 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skidder (Post 1170082)
Now that is how it's supposed to be done. Do it right the first time and you won't have any questions. Nice work.

There is something to be said about K. I.S.S.
CmdCtrl, that is a very nice UDS you built there. I am sure you will enjoy it for years.

BadHorsieBBQ 02-05-2010 10:18 AM

The only open head food grade drum they had available at the yard close to where I live. had a dark brown coating that the dealer said was Teflon. He did not think that the Teflon would burn out. What do you guys think.

brotherbd 02-05-2010 12:23 PM

Smoke Brothers a consensus please…. (2nd try)
 
I’m really getting fired up about building my UDS’s within the next few weeks and Ive got another question, this one not so much about the build but about the cook thereon.
Now before you answer that I just gotta do it to figure out my own, I realize the cook times can vary, but that’s why I am looking for a consensus.:-D

I’ve been cooking with a propane Smokey Mountain by Great Outdoors smoker for about 3 years and I’ve never been as happy with it as yall are with your UDSs. I have noticed here and there to times being shorter than water smokers and many talk about flipping their meat over during cooks.

Would you share with me and the other brothers, newbies or not, your approximate times temps and handling of your cooks on the basic meats? :confused:
I appreciate all the info on the building of your UDSs and all the pron pics of your cooks, I will post mine as soon as I have any to share.:grin:

If you want to pm the info to me that would be fine also, I just thought an out in the open consensus would be helpful to everyone now and for the future. I know it takes a lot of room but it the feedback won’t last long and I feel it will be an invaluable help to those of us who are starting out with this epic cooker of the common man. :mrgreen:

If enough share I'll assimilate the info and repost the consensus so it may be readily available to all in a condensed format.

Here’s a grid of what I’m looking for info on.

Cooking on the UDS.
_________Cook __Int. ___Aprox_____ Start Flip_ Flip
_________Temp__Temp_ Cook Time _at Hrs ___ How Often
BEEF
Brisket,
Packer

Tri-Tip


PORK
Butt

Ribs,
Spare

Ribs,
Baby Back

Ham,
Fresh

Loin,
Whole

Chicken
Beer Can

Whole,
Flattened

Leg Qrts

Wings

Skidder 02-05-2010 01:23 PM

Babyboomerboy I've done four UDS's so far. Two for me and two for friends and all were done with the K.I.S.S. method and all run the exact same way..................Perfect. I did make one once that had some spiking issues but it wasn't built the same way the others were but I even corrected that problem (air leak).

CmdCtrl 02-05-2010 02:14 PM

3 Attachment(s)
It's raining here in Los Angeles so I had to drag my UDS into the garage for it's 1st round of upgrades.

I added a 6in gate handle to the side of the drum. Messed up there as I originally intended to put it 4in down from the lid which unfortunately would interfere with the ease I get my cooking grate in and out. So I patched the 2 holes with magnets - lol - and moved my handle down to grill height. Now my grate is resting on 6 screws. If I had thought about this in advance I could have saved me some drilling. Live and learn...

Also added the HF pick handle to the lid. It serves to not only look good but also allows me to remove my lid easier. The handle is mounted just inside the perimeter of the lid for maximum leverage. My lid seals up really tight and when the barrel expands from the heat it is a ***Insert Myron Mixon expletives here*** to get off.

Here are the pictures:
1st one is stock KISS
2nd with my handle mod
3rd post season, post 1st cook build up on the side. Do you see any rust? Nope, thought so. Good to go!!!

wayner123 02-05-2010 03:03 PM

I am still in the planning phase of my UDS, and I have a question.

I am not sure if I want to do 1 grate or two. I have a nice offset if I want to do any large amounts of meat. And I mainly want to build the UDS for another smoker that will need less watching/stoking and can handle a butt and maybe a slab or two of ribs (small amounts of meat)

The question I have is; What is the difference in temperature from the lower grate to the upper grate if they are around 6" apart? I have read that people set their thermometers about an inch under the lower grate and that's where people determine cooking temps.

Boshizzle 02-05-2010 04:00 PM

Typically, the higher grate will have the highest temp because heat rises. So, knowing that you may be 5 to 15 degrees higher on the top grate than the lower is usually no big deal. But, if the lower grate isn't at the temp you want, that can be more of a problem.

So, the thermometer at the lower grate is usually sufficient. If the lower grate is at cooking temp, you know the upper grate is at that temp or a little higher. If the thermometer is reading the upper grate, you can't be sure what the lower grate is because heat will seek to rise to the upper grate.

I will be building my UDS first with only 1 grate but I will put in the supports for a lower one. I have an offset smoker if I want to cook a lot more at one time, but I doubt that I will very often. In addition, I want to experiment with a diffuser.

MushCreek 02-05-2010 04:19 PM

I don't know if the top grate is hotter, but the food burns more on the bottom one, since it is closer to the fire. I did 4 butts on mine, and put the biggest one on the bottom. It cooked as fast as the smaller ones on top, and was quite charred on the bottom. No prob- I had the fat cap on the bottom. I have two other uses for my lower grate. One is to put a drip pan on when I do a turkey. I catch the drippings to make the best gravy you've ever had in your life. I also made my fire basket so I can mount it to the lower grate position. With a grate on top, I now have a direct heat grill. Since I grill more than smoke, this has been a very useful mod. It's also a good place to mount a water pan, if you're so inclined. A friend of mine does his ribs with a water pan, and I can't argue with the results. I have a tiny back yard, so I have to have a Swiss Army knife for a UDS!

IronStomach 02-05-2010 04:26 PM

Mushcreek -- I was thinking of doing the elevated firebasket mod, too! Glad to see that someone else does that for using the drum as a grill. :)

Boshizzle... you're correct in that heat rises, but only because of air convection, it's hot air that rises, not all heat. Go to your rangetop some time, turn on a burner and hold your hand a foot above the flame. Then raise your hand 6 inches. Which position was hotter? ;-)

CUTigerQ 02-05-2010 09:51 PM

I guess Im not really understanding something about this...and maybe I just missed it in the thread, but specifically WHY cant you use the lid that is cut off of the barrel? I see so many uds cookers with the flat top lids that look like they were one a part of the barrell. I just dont understand it and hope that you guys can help...

Babyboomerboy 02-05-2010 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skidder (Post 1170648)
Babyboomerboy I've done four UDS's so far. Two for me and two for friends and all were done with the K.I.S.S. method and all run the exact same way..................Perfect. I did make one once that had some spiking issues but it wasn't built the same way the others were but I even corrected that problem (air leak).

Thank you Skidder for your experience in UDS building and the results. I have read so many brethren that have posted they are getting ready to build their first smoker and have already decided they can make improvements on the main design. If only they would build the UDS the way it was meant to be built and learn how it cooks, they would have an idea what would make their next UDS do different things with changes they would like to make to the original design. To many people want to go the step three before step one and two. I guess its just a fast world we live in today.

blackdog043 02-06-2010 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MariettaSmoker (Post 1171288)
I guess Im not really understanding something about this...and maybe I just missed it in the thread, but specifically WHY cant you use the lid that is cut off of the barrel? I see so many uds cookers with the flat top lids that look like they were one a part of the barrell. I just dont understand it and hope that you guys can help...

The flat lid you are seeing is the lid from an open head drum. An open head drum is one that has a ring around it that clamps a lid on. Do a search for open head drum and maybe you can better understand. Once you cut the lid off a closed head drum it is smaller than the drum opening there is nothing to hold it. Hopefully that is clear.

CUTigerQ 02-06-2010 08:13 AM

Now I understand. Thanks for clarifying for me.

sjm845 02-06-2010 04:16 PM

My first UDS
 
1 Attachment(s)
Maiden Voyage for my UDS. 11 degrees with the wind chill 30 miles north of NYC. Blazing at 260 degrees with 2.5 one inch intakes open. Picking up the webber lid from the in-laws tonight.
Attachment 36837
TELL YOU WHAT!!!


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