i cut off the entire rim. i just couldnt get the weber kettle top to fit

PIcked up my first free drum last week... Still reading through te thread, but I'll be starting the build soon...!!!

http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...d/ac4f9a7c.jpg

When using it as a uds should be used, I have seen absolutely no need for a diffuser.

That said, mine is currently a twig burner. When cooking chicken, I have a VERY short window to open it without catastrophic temperature spikes. With chicken I run the drum hot (300-350). Essentially all the twigs are kept right below flash point - open it longer than 10-15 seconds and flames are coming out the top of the barrel. As such I have considered using a diffuser (including a butterfly baffle - to limit the uds turning into a burn barrel.

Why do I open it too long? takes a while to load chicken quarters.

I bought the threaded thermos for my UDS at Walmart in the grill dept.

That's a great point. Thanks for the info!

One more question; ive painted the inside of my drum with black kettle paint (rated to 400C or 752F)

Was this a bad idea, healthwise?

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

No paint on the inside, just raw iron:eek:!!!!!!!

I'd get it out of there.......

Paul B
SS UDS

Hire someone to sand blast it out unless you want to lose your hearing from a sander inside the barrel.

Errr... like shooting at the range:
Step 1: put on earplugs.
Step 2: Put on hearing protector sound deadening ear-muffs.

Too much work. It's worth $20.00 to have someone else do it. :-)

Thanks guys,

I stripped the orignial paint lining out from the inside using an electric drill & wire brush.

Looks like i'll be doing that all over again!

Not to proud to ask a brother for help
 

Howdy yall, :-P

I am new to the brotherhood and have been reading on this epic thread for the BDS/UDS.

Now 'member I'm from Texas and there's always a story 'specally 'fore askin' a question.

I have the bug to build a UDS, especially since my new son-in-law after this last Thanksgiving when I smoked a turkey wants a smoker so I want to make one for each of us. (Brings a tear to my eye, a lump in my throat, and my chest puffs out a bit, just thinkin' 'bout the boy with his very first smoker. I'm so proud. :-D)

I have a question before I get started.

I have been given 10 open top barrells with rolled rims, bolt rings, and lids. Don't know what the insides look like yet as they are sealed up, I do know they were used for soil samples from an area small strip mall and have been given green non-hazardous stickers, so I know our 'Q won't glow in the dark or poison us.( 2 very important points.)

I would like to use a couple of them to make high covers instead of using old weber or clone domes (since I don't have any of those), and maybe even rotisery rings like ive seen a few do.

I'm only up to page 130 of the thread so I don't know if this has been asked and answered, if it has please tell me where to look, many thanks.

Here's the question, :confused:

I was wondering if any one has specific instructions and/or pics of how to construct the donor drum lids and make them seal tightly?

I think that I've seen somewhere in the thread N8man talking about his but not how he built it.

I just want to get it right the first time to get a good seal.

I'll take lost of pice during the build and post it all for upcoming generations of brethren.

Thanks brothers, in advance

____________________________________
Havent figured out how to get all the stuff
I have to Q and Grill with tha normally goes here

High top cover for a drum
 

Hey brotherbd, here's what I did.

A drum with a crimped seal, not rolled. This is an open top drum, so used the bottom for this part.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...b/PA160300.jpg

Cut 3/4" below the first bulge.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...b/PA160302.jpg

Beat the heck out of the bulge to expand it a bit. I used a 3# hammer and an anvil.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...b/PA160304.jpg

A close up.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...b/PA160305.jpg

And sitting on the drum.

http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o...b/PA160307.jpg

This was done to accept a Weber top and a rotisserie unit, but will certainly work as high top cover for your drums. It will need an exhaust of some sort though.

Have fun with the project and I hope this was of some help to you.

Great idea Smokin D

I did mine sorta like Smokin D's except I took an open top drum and cut the top third section of it at the center of the reinforcement rib. At first I thought to use it as a extended lid but couldn't get it to seal well enough. I used a locking ring to meld the cut section to the DrumPit Proper and used stove gasket to eliminate the air leaks. Keep in mind that this may not be a viable option for some. My DrumPit is now 46.5" tall and for some, they would need a step ladder to use it.
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/at...3&d=1206299431