Thanks samiam, it help to have friends with a garage full of tools and a welder.:clap2:

A couple pics of the two I just got done. I used a Kettle bottom for the lid on one, cut down the legs and used the ash pan for a rain hood. Used it the time time out and it worked great. The second drum is my buddies, he made a daisy wheel for his exuast, it is awesome!! Double rack for the "red rocket" and single rack for the flat top.
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...g?t=1285846953




http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/f...g?t=1285846953

Desmar, firescrambler, BlkJeep, Great looking drums! Keep on smokin! :clap2: :clap2: :clap2:

ready to build a UDS (well, almost)
 

Got my new drum yesterday :becky: ... so I'm going to begin assembling my UDS this weekend.
I've taken a ton of notes from this forum and i'm ready to start. I'm sure i'll be popping some questions.

:thumb:

Make sure to post some pics as well!

Good idea w/ the bottom of the Weber! Interesting thought. Never thought of using the bottom as a lid. Should work though! I have one that I used the top for Ole Blue, so maybe on the next one, I just may give it a shot! Hope it works out!

BlkJeep, I like the idea of using the bottom part of a weber as a lid, seems taller than the top part of the weber. I'm still looking for a used weber on CL or Freecycle, so the flat lid will have to do for now. :rolleyes:

Not my idea, it was somewhere is this thread. But yes it's a little taller.

Pics are hard for me - they imply a finished product, and my uds has always been simply a work in process.

At the moment it is getting close to being "completed", by the end of this weekend, should be down to a pass through fitting for temp probes, paint, feet/castors, and a bottle opener (probably will pass on that as well, but do have one available). Perhaps I will post some work in process pictures...

I have made it to page 61 in the thread and I will finish it over the weekend (maybe). I wanted to post a couple pics of the drum and too thank everyone again. You farkers really saved me a bunch of money on a new smoker.

Here is the UDS in action.

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...1285850418.jpg

close up

http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/k...1285850378.jpg

My first UDS
 

Just got my UDS finished and the first smoke under my belt. Everything went well and the wife & I were very impressed. 2 racks of rubbed back loin ribs- 6 hour (hickory) smoke @ 230 degrees (no foil,no turning & no mopping). The ribs turned out GREAT- tender & great flavor. I have a question for you guys with more experience with your drums. The day we fired up the smoker the temp outside was around 85 F and bright sunshine- black smoker in the sun- really had a hard time keeping the temp down- all air vents closed 98% of the time and even had to place a chunk of hickory over about half the stack. Anybody else experience this situation? I've included some pics of my UDS setup. I have since chopped the 8" high stack to about 3.5" inches, thinking that maybe it was drawing too hard. I have (3) 3/4" holes @ 2" from bottom, (2) are magnet covered and one has adjustable raised air intake. I use a Redicheck 2-probe thermometer to monitor meat and center of grate temp.
The pivot feature is for easy clean out.

You shouldn't use the exhaust to try to control temps. Leave it fully open. My guess is you started with to many hot coals. What are you using, bickets or lump? Also, nice looking drum!!:thumb:

I've been reading this thread for about three weeks now, while I gather parts for two drums.

Next week I have to cook 100+ lbs of butts in these things for my wife's youth ministry, so I'm running out of time. These guys have to be fabbed by tomorrow so that I can test, season, and of course through on the traditional fatty to christen the drums during the week. I hope that my situation is deserving asking a question even though I am only on page 255.

Regarding fitting Weber tops to the drums - my drums are a bit too wide. I've got a ball pein hammer that I can use to make them a bit wider. Would that be OK vs. a rubber mallet that I see people have used previously?

I've also got a grinder and cutting disks available to go with the kettle band mod. But it looks like those bands get welded, and I have no welding skills (this is actually my first metal working project). If I can do something with drilling holes and perhaps some high temp silicone I wouldn't be afraid of that in the least.

Can a few of the vets out there give me some advice about how to handle the lid in the best manner? If you know of any pics that you can point me to, that would be especially helpful.

I've got one more trip to the hardware store to get a few more bolts tomorrow, so if I need to buy something else I can get it then.

Thanks for sharing all of your advice.

How close is teh Weber lid from covering the rim? If you cut off or ground down the lip of the drum would the Weber lid fit then? I guess a metal hammer would work but I prefer to use a double sided mallet that has a harder rubber on one side and a harder plastic on the other.

http://community.craftsman.com/Craft...ws?tab=details