you tube videos of my uds
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjUAB5xGEKc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXHRcAOajUQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3XrLdz4qfg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM-hSpJFgwE

Finished my first UDS. Here are a couple pictures. I started a thread that has more info and pictures in it.
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2...z/100_2264.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2...z/100_2265.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f2...z/100_2267.jpg

Take it out.

Looks very cool, I like it :clap2:
j

I'm gonna finish my UDS this saturday and i wanted to make dinner on sunday with it. We have a Pork Shoulder Roast in the freezer i thought i'd use. Now i like to build things but honestly I don't know much about cooking a roast. I had some questions.

Can anyone tell me what temp to maintain and for roughly how long on this?

What should the internal temp read when its done?

Should i do some kind of rub on it saturday or earlier or whats a good way to prepare this?

Is this type of meat going to give me pulled pork or do we just slice it and eat it?

Can this be my seasoning smoke or do i have to do a dry run first with it?

Please help a newb out :nerd:

i've been trying to locate one of those bottle openers. nice mod.

OK, I'm doing my first burn right now in my just completed UDS. I hope to cook in it tomorrow for the first time. Any tips?

Yeah chip, have a great time and let us know how it works out. The best tip is be PATIENT!!!! The drum takes time to catch up with adjustments so give any adjustment 20 minutes or so to settle in. Have fun bro.

Charcoal lighting strategy?
 

Hello brethren!

Finished the UDS yesterday. Decided to name her "Black Magic." The wife seriously thinks I'm insane now.

On to my question. Getting the baby lit. I've seen a few different strategies. Assuming I'll need a 7-10 hour burn at 225 degrees, whats the best way to get it started, using how much charcoal (and wood chunks)? Has anyone created a basic guide?

I'm planning my first burn with 5lbs of charcoal and a few wood chunks, but I can't imagine I light an entire charcoal chimney to start it.

Thoughts?

-Bastid

Hey Bastid, here is the advice I got in my Cattle Call thread and it's what I'm going to try later this morning.

Formula One race is over and now it's time to start cooking for the football games.

Cheers.

Thanks Chip!

Yeah, that was the method I went with, but am still unsure on how MUCH charcoal to have in the basket to support that long of a burn. My fire basket is very large (18" in diameter) and also deep (about 15" in height), so filling my basket "nearly to the top" would be close to 20 lbs of charcoal! Probably not very reasonable for a 7-10 hour burn.

I got "Black Magic" humming along at 225 for the last 90 minutes on 4-5 lbs of charcoal. We'll see how long it will hold that temp.

-Bastid

I start with about 12-15 lit coals. Too many lit coals will set it up too hot. I would say 10 lbs will handle up to 12-15 hours or so if the temperature stays put. High temps= faster fuel consumption. Once you're cooking, leave the lid ON! Opening the lid allows an inrush of oxygen, which will cause a temperature spike. Too much coal in the basket is better than too little. What doesn't get burned can be used the next time. When you're done cooking, close all of the vents, including the exhaust, and the coals will go out. Next time, knock the loose ash off of the remaining coals, and add enough new fuel for the cook. I've run mine for 13 hours, and still had charcoal left. My basket is 16" in diameter, and 8" high. I've never filled it to the top.

Bastid, I would agree with MushCreek. Maybe 8 - 10 lbs of charcoal and only a 12-15 lit placed in the middle of the unlit. Make SURE you catch the temps short on the way up like Harbormaster mentioned. Also, if you leave the lid off for any length of time, you will have a major temp spike that may take hours to get back down. Good luck bro and keep us posted!!

Edit: Bastid, I actually start my drums 55-60 minutes early to make sure the temps are stable. 200 degrees on the side thermometer should be around 225-235 at the center of the grate.

Comin' in a bit late here, but I wholeheartedly recommend Chris Lilly's recipe, smoked over apple wood. INCREDIBLE. Search the forum for his name and you'll find it.

Thanks Meat Burner/Mush Creek,

Just got back from an afternoon at the mall. When I left at noon I was steady at 225. When I came back at 4:00pm, it was down to 150 - having burned through the charcoal pretty significantly.

Lesson learned? I didn't put nearly enough charcoal in my basket. I probably under-bid by at least half. And it occurs to me that it really shouldn't matter how much charcoal is in the basket. So long as the oxygen flow is maintained appropriately, I should be able to steer it to 225 degrees regardless of how much fuel is in there.

Burning the rest of it off now so that I can start fresh again for another test. Gotta have this down since I'm having 30 idiots over for Thanksgiving and I want to have at least a LITTLE confidence. Btw - anyone have a good smoked turkey recipe?

-Bastid