Originally Posted by colonel00 (Post 1428784)

Have you built a "standard" UDS yet? If not I highly suggest you start with a simple build. Score yourself a Weber lid and you can have at least two racks that will hold a ton of meat. If you build a big enough charcoal basket you will not need to access it during any cook. Some people report their UDS running over 24 hours. As far as the water pan (I do not use one) but many people just use an empty pan filled with sand or a clay dish as a diffuser. In Illinois you should not have a real problem with lack of humidity.

Originally Posted by gjdad (Post 1428791)

I have a few lids :-D

Originally Posted by colonel00 (Post 1428784)

Have you built a "standard" UDS yet? If not I highly suggest you start with a simple build. Score yourself a Weber lid and you can have at least two racks that will hold a ton of meat. If you build a big enough charcoal basket you will not need to access it during any cook. Some people report their UDS running over 24 hours. As far as the water pan (I do not use one) but many people just use an empty pan filled with sand or a clay dish as a diffuser. In Illinois you should not have a real problem with lack of humidity.

Originally Posted by chaddie (Post 1428961)

X2.. jgdad, it's neat your thinking ahead, nttawwt, but you could build two or three simple drums that will probably save you alot of headaches, and money..
This tread is all about keeping it simple! Good luck with you build!! Post pics when your done. We all learn new ways to do things here!!

Originally Posted by samiam (Post 1429192)

Firebox from the cheepo Lowe's grill

Originally Posted by gjdad (Post 1429270)

Here is something similar to what I was tinking off building.

http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/...moker017-1.jpg

Another shot

http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/...esmoker013.jpg

Originally Posted by 1FUNVET (Post 1429294)

Are ya gonna need a ladder to get to the top rack ?

Originally Posted by jkalach (Post 1429235)

Greetings all. This is a great site and thanks to all who contributed to this helpful thread. I just picked up a drum and everything I need to build my UDS, but I have a few questions that I did not see specficially answered here.

I bought a reconditioned drum from a barrel company. I don't know what was in it but the seller said all their drums are sent out to be burned and repainted. Mine is "unlined" but seems to have a thin, dark grey coating on the inside that's rough to the touch. You can almost see metal through it. Could it be rust inhibitor and is it dangerous?
Not sure without seeing a pic and sorry can't help ya with that one.
Also, I saw a "no weld" method for air intakes that uses pipe nipples and conduit nuts to secure them, but the nuts are zinc coated. Will three, thin conduit nuts at the inside bottom of the drum be a health hazard? Doubtful since the area that they are in won't get that hot.

I planning to do a burnout of my barrel this weekend but will try to post some pics of it here before I do. Also thinking of getting it sandblasted after the burn.

Thanks again.

Jim