Garth57 has one I pass it daily and many times smoke is a rollin! I started one and never finished.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...k/IMG_3115.jpg

It just dont get any simpler than that... add in a thermometer and a ladder and you are set. The cool thing is you still got a complete Weber if you wanted to.

I am working on mine like that, its going to be a bit shorter and a little Cooler... of course

Norco, dude why would you build a smoker that is 5 feet taller than you? Whaddayou gonna stand on to get your meat out of that? Big ladder?

I guess you missed the important detail "I started one and never finished". Guess i need to learn the real deffinition of "Cool":cool:

Very cool drums brother.

I'm afraid you are going to need more exhaust though and some sort of method to control the intakes, chrome or highly polish a brass a ball valve for each intake perhaps? You could use a chrome exhaust tip in the 2" bung on the lid then leave the other exhaust you have closed and call it a 'Knucklehead' UDS. Remember you need more out than in for the UDS to work properly.

HINT... legs are shortened and center support is scaled down...Do you remember my questions in my PM to you about sealing the drum to the kettle? It worked Slicker than Goose Grease...Pron to follow when completed and painted, hopefully this weekend

The main advantage to this is that you are using the whole weber instead of making another firepit out of the basin... as well as doing away with nipples and a ball valve... Oh Ya... its now self cleaning

Thanks for the tips, you cant see it but I have 1 3/4 ball valve on the back fitting. I have did 10 to 15 cooks she holds good at 225 for 10 to 12 hrs with one bottom plug out and about 1/2 on the ball valve. thanks again. la smoker

Cool, lets see some of the dead animal that comes off of them. :cool:
\
Are your reading 225 on those gauges you have installed? What are you using lump or charcoal?


We love to see seasoned smokers and food pron.:-D

200 on guage on smoker 225 to 230 on digital inside middle of smoker using charcoal starting a few coals in middle with flame thrower. thanks

Excellent!!

Well built another drum, basic drum with flat lid, but I had a charcoal basket made like the one that JDER30 did except I added an ashpan to the bottom so I just lift the frame out, pull the ashpan out and dump. So clean up is easy like the drum I built with no bottom so I could lift it off for cleanup, but should be airtight where that one was not. Got a lever-lock ring just to help keep it airtight.

Also just for fun to have things flush on the outside I used a stainless T-nut with a steel spacer, locknut and nut on 1.25" stainless bolts for the grate bolts.

Was thinking about the bottom like Jaranimo, but this looked easier to build.

Just finished the lid so the only seasoned so far, gonna do moink balls for a Super Bowl party on Sunday. Pron to come.

I stinkin love it!!!!!!!!
Looks like the idea of the tall baskets is starting to take hold. :cool: If you ever want to use a pan or defuser it makes the perfect place/stand for em.

Can you please share the method used to seal the drum to the kettle, I have an extra and think I would like to try that. Thanks
Dave

I wish I had taken pics...

First I made 2 cuts in my drum, one at the high point of the rib, all the way around and a second about 2 inches down from that, making a ring.

then I cut the ring and put it inside the barrel upside down, so it forms a channel against the remaining half of the rib. I cut the ring to fit and butt weld it back together. The ring is then tacked inside the barrel and 1/2" stove gasket is glued inside.

This is as far as I have gotten.. Im not sure how tight I will have to secure the drum to the kettle.. if at all. I will probably do a test on it on Saturday... if all goes good I will do a big fattie on it while the Steelers kick ass on Sunday

Thanks for the info and please keep us posted on the results.
Dave

Shouldn't there be a tshirt or something for reading all of these?

Well FARK... Ungrateful Bastage!.. How else are you gonna learn to make a drum? If ya dont want to read it all... make yer own! Or go buy one online from BDS... no one said you HAD to read it.... Just DO IT, you will be way ahead of the curve if you do... I was in the same state of mind and was glad I read it.

This thread is like the AA Big Book.. no prize except the one you have earned for yourself!

Easy Beerwolf he is a Canadian. Have a beer, lol.

Eh... I was just kidding ... ya know

Jerry, I like the paint job on the new UDS. How did you do that? Sponge?

I like the flush t-nuts. Good idea. I have been welding everything. Gotta play with the toys when I can.

I have been busy the last few weeks and today is my first chance to do my test run on my drum. I found some 5/8 stove door gasket (rope) and adhesive for about 8 bucks and but it in place of the silicone seal on the drum. With the clamp on it appears to hold pretty good and I think the bottom drum will seal nicely to the top drum.

Its coming up to temp as I type. I have a fatty and a pork tenderloin that are going on it shortly. Pics to follow....

Ding, ding, ding. I think I've got a pair of fish tails out in the shed. Thanks Norco.

Jaronimo, yes I used a sponge one of those natural painting sponges. Just wanted something different. Will be waiting to hear how it works out, good luck.

Test drive of UDS
 

OK, the food has been on the UDS about 45 minutes and the temp is holding rock solid. It has not moved even one degree! I seriously think I am going to spend a lot of time cooking on this UDS.

Heres the fire basket loaded up...
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/o...firebasket.jpg

Heres the food, a fattie with apple and cheese, and a pork tenderloin with Kosciusko mustard rubbed on and then some dry rub...
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/o...tfoodonuds.jpg


Here is a shot of the UDS. It is very ugly now, but as soon as I get a day that warms up enough to paint outside, it will be beautiful!!!
http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/o...smokeonUDS.jpg

Lookin' good!!!!!!!!!
I like your paint job to, nice rusty hue.

It's about time she's done! My new Stainless UDS.
 

It has been over a year since I stumbled across the UDS tread while I was surfing for BBQ smoking tips. Not sure how many times I have read this tread for great ideas, not very good at keeping notes. I want to thank everyone for sharing their great ideas. Well last week I had a buddy with a nice shop full of equipment like: plasma cutters, multiple welders, air tools, and more help me fabricate the new stainless steel UDS. OK here goes the pron.

She is not very nice looking right now. I know it is supposed to be an UGLY drum smoker but I am going to buff it out with some stainless polish and hopefully she will look nice again. The burn turned the nice looking stainless brown.
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7539.jpg
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7511.jpg

We welded a 2 inch stainless pipe for intake and exhaust.
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7517.jpg
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7513.jpg

I copied the flapper design from my Chargriller.
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7535.jpg

Found the stainless springs in the pluming section at HD.
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7537.jpg
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7528.jpg

The basket was given to me as is and we welded a base for an ash pan. I may have a problem with ash build up because the bottom has pretty small holes.
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7518.jpg
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7521.jpg
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7519.jpg

Used a Weber grate from HD.
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7538.jpg

Put a hook to hang the door like a Weber.
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7540.jpg

O yea she has a sister! I got the drum for free from a guy who owns a metal supply company. I was telling him about the UDS and he said "I have two stainless steel drums out back. If you build one for me you can have the other drum for nothing." Can't beat that.
http://i543.photobucket.com/albums/g...T/CIMG7522.jpg

Only thing left is to get her greasy.:-P

Can't wait to see that thing polished up. You will need sunglasses to cook on it.:icon_cool

New Prototype UDS
 

Here is a VERY ROUGH version of what has been in my mind for the past few months. Ive always wanted to try controlling a UDS with one touch type valve. I finally got an idea to mate the drum to a kettle base and here it is.

Havent got this posting thing figured out alltogether.. so bear with me. First photo shows the channel I made from the half of the drum where I cut - I know its ragged, but it is a prototype and it wont show. The channel is filled with 1/2" stove gasket. The bottom legs of the Weber are shortened a bunch and I am still able to use the Weber ash pan to catch the waste.

I did a test burn today with about 1/2 # of charcoal in it and was able to get temp to hold steady at 250 for about 2 1/2 hours. I will be eager to see how it will behave with a good charge in it

Last pic is the Shop Foreman and BBQ Quality Assurance Manager... nothing gets by him.

Newbie/lurker looking for some help!
 

Oh god's of the UDS please help me!

First I think that I need some eye drops because I did just finnish looking at all of these posts today.

Like I noted I have been lurking for a while now. But as I have been Lurking I have been looking for my drum. I live between Detroit Lakes, MN and Fargo, ND and I cannot find any drums local. Anyone have any ideas? I have actually contacted a company that builds tanks to price out getting a 1/8" sheet rolled to a 23.5" dia. But at $125 I'm back looking for a drum. Might be worth it after I have gotten some practice with a drum.

Thanks for any help! And have a great day!

Check your local craigslist if everywhere else fails. Search for "metal", "drum", or "Barrel". That should get you a few hits.

I know what you mean there roadracer. It took me about three days to read all the posts. :shock:

Be creative... it doesnt have to be a Drum to be an Ugly Smoker... what about an old pressure tank from someones well? Looks like you are in farming country... let your imagination run wild

roadracer, call around to local food producer's that is where I got my first one. Later, I got a new unlined barrel from an oil distributer.

Implement dealers, scrap metal yards and pretty much any manufacturer

I have read the whole thing. Where's my t-shirt?

Hey farklf I think there is a test you have to take first. Not sure who administers it though. It is not open computer either, you have to memorize the subject matter, like what to do if you don't weld and your nipples get loose.:lol:

Like this, not a UDS but a pressure tank none the less.

http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/c...1/DSCF0069.jpg

Sorry for the hijack. My next project will be a UDS and I to am currently looking for a drum.

Wow. I bought my drum a week ago and have spent the last few days reading this entire thread! Great advise from all. Thanks. I think I have my plans figured out. I just have a couple questions. My drum was used for "apple juice concentrate" and doesn't seem to have any plasticy liner, but looks like white paint. Is this in fact a liner or just paint? I was planning on burning either way...just wondering. My donor kettle is the Uniflame and doesn't quite fit the barrel. I was going to cut the top of the bottom half of the kettle. Are there specifics on this? I think it was Swamprb who showed this? How well does this seal up? Help?

Jerrykr, I'm doing the upside down version (like you have in your blog). I'm wondering what you use to "seal" the bottom lid? It looks like some type of clamp? Where can i get one?

Thanks again everyone for their advise. I'll post pics soon.

You will soon find out when you start burning. Paint will come off pretty quick. That liner is tough.

That's creative with the wheelchair wheels but dosen't your ber get warm?:mrgreen:

heres my stainless drum but we are still making the outer cover for all the controller and hopper we are making a pellets drum

Those were the dead soldiers and I wasn’t running the cooker that day.
:wink:

now thats funny

I just used 3 clamps I got at Harbor Freight. They are adjustable.

I took the rubbber seal out of the lid and rolled up some tin foil "snakes" to put into the lid's lip instead.

It's not a perfect seal, but after a few smokes, the drippings and just general grease settle in the lip and help seal it up.

I can shut everything down completely and the fire goes out, so it's can't be leaking air very badly.

I decided that this thread isn't long enough. I hadda tack on to the end. (Welding pun not intended--but funny!) I saw this get-up, and just had to applaud the engineering! This is COOL!:cool:

I hate it when my nipples get loose...
sorry

Anyone in the KC area that has experience in manufacturing UDS' that would be interested in making and selling one, shoot me a PM

The holes on mine is 5/8 of inch and has a 1 inch wide and 3 inch long strip of metal that I can use to open or put them in place over the holes. I have 3 holes around the bottom, and up top I use the two holes that was in my lid but I always leave them open.

[Elvis voice]Thank yoo. Thank yoo vury much... [/Elvis voice]

What a post...
 

Just got through this huge post. Much info here. I think my head is still spinning. I forgot most of it but I think I am ready. Now time just to find a drum.
Great info and thanks for all your time you guys spent putting this together.. It was a long but very useful read.

Uds 1.02
 

This thing is so ugly, I love it!
It makes good food too. :-D

Weiser