Just put this one together!
http://img.tapatalk.com/4a6c8d08-72ad-d97e.jpg
Can't wait to try it out!

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That thing is going to spil if you don't set it upright. :tongue:

Opinions from the Masters solicited
 

I have built 3 uds's. They all came out real well. Dome lids, double cook racks, 15 inch round charcoal baskets, as pans etc.

The first one i built started out as super simple. Drilled 4 intake holes and used sheet magnets to control air intake. That actually works good except i had them stuck directly to the side of the drum and after about 2-3 hours at heat they start loosin their "sticky power".

Ok..insert nipples and weld them in. Prob solved. But now i'm startin to think i want to build me a flat top to play around with and was just "thinkin" about makin the air intake a bit simpler.
i read about bds cookers and how they use some kind of plugs in 8 or 10 holes. Low heat= 1 or 2 plugs open...more heat = more holes open.
what kind of plugs????? Brethren are always talkin about using silicon to seal air leaks...so i did a search on silicon plugs....and found a LOT of co.'s
makin them. they use them in powder coating and electro baking.
withstand 600 degrees F.
Any of u guys (like maybe Norco) have any thoughts on using these plugs?

My first UDS!
 

I've had this barrel for sometime now and I'm finally getting around to building my first UDS. It was a brand new barrel and had only been painted (in-n-out) when I got my hands on it.



http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...d/IMG_7041.jpg



About an hour or so with the wire wheel and she is looking good from the inside out.



http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...d/82a41132.jpg



At the same time, also put in my 3 vent pipes and plug welded up a couple small holes that were drilled into the bottom.




Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this site and mostly to this thread... I have just about read every page at this point, I just wish I could remember it all. LOL.

Thanks. Added a couple Toxic stencils.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...7/f58b287f.jpg

I can see no reason they would not work :-). it might be nice to have a short slice of pipe to push them into, say take a 6" nipple and cut it into pieces, or ask the HW store to cut you however 1" long slices you wanted :-).

Thanks Will. good idea. And a bump back to the top!!

Ok, I have gathered almost everything for UDS build. I have a couple questions: What thermometer are most using to mount on the drum, i have an ET-73 as well. Where are you uys finding the high temp paint in other than balck, silver or white?

Thanks!

I got some caliper red paint and gold flake engine paint from Advanced Auto parts.

Yep, engine paint from any auto parts store.

Contemplating the intake on my next uds build. The first one I used 1/4 turn ball valves but I wondered, has anyone used the daisy wheel intakes from a donor grill for intake vents?

I've seen a lot of various intake mods but don't recall seeing those.

I just used plain old spray paint, if you do not do anything "strange" the drum will not generally get that hot. That said I did hit the charcoal with the air from a small shop vac and "toast" my normal paint a bit :-).

My favorite thermo so far is one I got with a Turkey Fryer from Gander Mtn, it has a long enough reach to go to drum center from the side, BUT I did find that installing it that way means it picks up radiant heat from below and gives a reading that is not "true".

On the pie or other shaped rotating vents, What I hate about them the little I have used them is the lack of precision, I have seen where people made a rotating cover for just a single 1/2" or 3/4" hole, that looked pretty cool. That gives you the option to use it "binary" (on or off) or analog (partially open) :-).

Just finished UDS#5 Nothing fancy, just functional. 16"x16" charcoal basket with adjustable charcoal grate so I can use it to grill if needed. Breaking it in with a spatchcocked bird.

Looks great :clap2:

She's finally done. I didn't quite get the blue I was looking for, but it still looks pretty good. This thing ROCKS! I've done a breakfast fatty, an 8lb picnic, spares, ABTs, and some chicken breasts. Everything has turned out great.

I borrowed a buddy's PitmasterIQ and smokered the picnic over night at 240 - 250. After 16 hours, I still had more than 1/2 of the original charcoal left.

Unfortunately (for me), I built this one for my brother-in-law. Hopefully the next one will do just as well.