Originally Posted by alfredbot9000 (Post 2179321)

First of all I would like to say its an honor to post in this amazing thread. I am halfway through and soaking up all the info in here like a sponge. I have all my supples and am getting ready to build my first UDS and am sticking to KISS and following the standard Norco design for some tried and true results.

I bought a sheet of 24x24 3/4" expando from HD for my no weld charcoal basket and as I see it I have 2 options:

1.) Cut it in half and use a 18in coal grate - basket thats 12in tall and has a 13.5 in diameter

or

2.) Cut it into thee pieces and use a 22.5in coal grate - basket thats 8in tall and has a 17.5in diameter

So brethren I ask you this when it comes to charcoal baskets for UDS what's better....length or girth?

I'm assuming a wider basket is better because its further from the fire, but then again I wanted to ask those who have built and have real world answers.

I would like to thank everyone that has contributed to this amazing thread so that people like myself can build something that works on the first try and not have to worth through trial and error.

P.S. Do this thread come with a diploma or some from of certificate of completion when I have finished reading it?

Originally Posted by Jethro608 (Post 2180258)

Hey don't want to seem like an a hole. But this has been a hot topic as of late.
I to agree that it is anoying when your reading a thread like this one & its already like 50,000 post long (great thing) & you have to read a long quote over & over & over & over
Please remember that you can quote the part that is important to you & delete the rest.
I'm new here also but this is a valid point that is a pain in the a**







Thanks for reading : rant over

Originally Posted by Hook_Line_and_Sinker (Post 609352)

one note to other first time users , is burn beyond black, at black you have only charred the paint. burn until you get a powdery gray or tan, you will see the paint start to ignite in small crumbly flakes.

Originally Posted by Mark (Post 610662)

Yeah, I understand. But what if, for example, uou want to grill a pizza or finish some chicken crispy? You might not have enuf intake air.

Originally Posted by Dr_KY (Post 612171)

Decided copy another brother here to make a new and wider stainless basket today. All that's left is to make several larger holes so the ash falls through...

http://i29.tinypic.com/r1d8cl.jpg

http://i26.tinypic.com/24estjl.jpg

http://i26.tinypic.com/2jeuyq8.jpg