I finished my UDS yesterday about 1pm. I coated the inside with oil and put about 5lbs of charcoal in along with a couple of hickory sticks about the size of a forearm to season it properly. I must say I am AMAZED at how well the UDS holds heat and is able to maintain a temp of 220F. It finally started dropping off last night about 8:30pm, but it was a sloooooow decline in temp. I went ahead and closed the ball valve and smothered it out still have some descent sticks of hickory to reuse. I cant wait till Thursday when I'm off to fire this bad boy up. My only regret is that I didn't build one sooner. If its not to dark out I'll take pics and post.

Smoke on brother. Do you plan on using charcoal?

Charcoal is all I can find in my area, unless I travel 50+ miles then I can find lump, which I will prolly get some next time I'm "in the city". The good thing however is I live in the country so I have an endless supply of wood to smoke with, i.e. hickory, pecan, apple etc.

So use all wood. Using all wood in a UDS smoker means a little more fire tending and a way of adding chunks now and then.

Hadn't thought about that. Would you just open all vents and stack some logs in there and get a good fire going, then cap it off and smother the fire and bring temps to where they need to be?

No, I wouldn't do that. A small hot fire and just add a chunk or 2 now and then. I got a 6" side door for that.

I don't have a side door mod on mine but I don't think it would hurt to pull the grate out and drop a stick or 2 1/2 way through the cook.

If your primary fuel is going to be wood, you'll want a side door. The easiest way is to make plunge cuts with a grinder or circular saw equipped with a cut-off blade for metal.

Most recent addition ~ Two of these and a bungee cord. No more PIA barrel ring when hauling around...

http://images.orgill.com/200x200/6714232.jpg

BTW: I finally got some pics of my stainless steel UDS. Ashmont posted one and I'm waiting for him to email me ther rest. Here's the link:
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=33727 (scroll down)
I'll try to make a PowerPoint Presentation like Pat did.

PS: I too think the UDS subject needss its own discussion area and a place for resources in the files section. Any moderators listening?

PSS: Any second now this thread goes over 30,000 hits.

x2!!

i have asked for this before but no reply look at the numbers moderators,make it a sticky

PS: The reason is you'll get an instant flare-up once the excess air hit the fire (like when you lift the lid off).

I actually had a flashback of sorts in mine this weekend...cooking pork loin @ 350*. Nothing major, but the trashcan did fill with a blueish/orange swirl all the way to the top. I added fresh lump over red coals, so I thinkin' that was the difference maker...pretty cool lookin' if nothing else.

I found some drums that had been used for sunflower oil and I've done two burns in them but there is still paint on the upper half. Do you think I can paint over the top half or should I do some more burns until it's all gone?

Jim

Load up enough scrap wood to get the fire way up out of the top. That should get the rest of the paint off. If there is any left you should be able to get the little bit that is left off with a wire brush.

I would not paint over any that is left as it will cause your high temp paint to peel off.

Best of luck... you will be rewarded for your efforts.

like this

http://rankin.home.mchsi.com/burn6.jpg

not like this
http://rankin.home.mchsi.com/burn7.jpg

Kinda in between actually:-)

IF you happen to live in the city.... I reccommend firing that bad boy off after it gets dark and pray that there is no wind so the smoke goes straight up. Make sure you get a couple of "all nighter" logs to throw in too, this is where you will get that long heat that will make the paint burn off... what you dont get will come off easier with a knotted wire wheel and a cheap Harbor Freight Grinder

Its amazing how a neighbor will bitch about the smoke and noise it takes to make a grille, but will be a total suckarse when you are cooking on it after its all done

"Burn baby burn!" then "paint baby paint" and "grease baby grease" as fast as possible.

Nothing rust faster than a freshly burned drum. I suggest that you paint tha outside with high temperature paint as soon as it cools off and "grease the inside" with bacon grease quickly.(with a regular controlled charcoal fire)

Speaking of which,, their grider is $8.99 Thursday morning. And here's another deal:

I bought a set of those punches at HF and have used them on several barrels. Sure beats using a holesaw or drill bit.

Getting ready to try a Mista type video. Came across pics i had taken of Single Fins I had not posted. Hope all is not bored with drum info.

Slide shows(click to play)
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...h_IMG_2649.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...IMG_2658-1.jpg


Pics.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...IMG_2663-1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...IMG_2661-1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...IMG_2662-1.jpg
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...IMG_2666-1.jpg

I am never bored of looking at the pics of my uds. Wait till you see the pics I'm gonna take of it in action this weekend at the USC/ucla tailgate this Saturday.

Where did you guys get unlined drums from? I've been eying the ones from www.freundcontainer.com. Anybody found new unlined drums cheaper?

I always enjoy seeing pics of a UDS in progress, and also enjoy reading about everyones different techniques.

For Scudrunr, I have not bought any drums yet, but pricewise this is what I have found,
http://www.mcmaster.com/
and for 85 gallon (which I am leaning towards) try
http://secure2.data-comm.com/servlet...-Gallon/Detail

Sorry, don't know how to make hyperlinks for you.
From chatting with norcoredneck it seems the best way to go is a new unlined barrel and avoid any of the burning whatever was in the drum before.

Just call around. I got some new drums from an oil supplier. He had brand new uncoated drums.

There is a local food processor and they sell those green apple juice barrels.

The best thing to get if you can find it, is a new unlined barrel with a removable lid.

If you can only find a closed drum, try this method. A Weber 22.5" kettle has been sacrificed and lives to cook another day!
Cut the drum inside the rim
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_2082.jpg

I cut the bottom rim of the kettle and make a flange that fits in the drum
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_2083.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_2085.jpg

Wrap a section of expando to fit the Weber coal grate, bolt it together and wire it to the grate. Optional-wire it to the old 22.5" cooking grate and it sits on 4 bolts above the intake vents.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_2134.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_2133.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_2107.jpg

I go with the three hole intake, but use whatever design you choose.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_2108.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_2109.jpg

Cooking grate sits 24" from the bottom of my basket.
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_2106.jpg

Mount your thermometer just at/below grate, paint and season! Now you're cookin'!

Don't kill me for a little bit of a topic change here.............well, it's closely related. I just didn't want to start a whole new thread for this.
If you have a drum that just doesn't cut the mustard............turn it into a CCB.

Let's see who figures out what CCB means.

Here's my CCB.....

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/2...43aolr7.th.jpg

Mods...I won't mind if you move this to keep this thread UDS pure and virginal.

I'll bite, what is it?

Cracklin' Cookin' Barrel.
That's the day one of the hogs we had met his maker!

CCB??? Well in the pics that looks like "cracklins" so how about cracklin' cookin' barrel?

My drum finally arrived early this week. I went out and got the misc bits and peices today. Took about 3 hours to build. I would be smoking a brisket right now if it hadn't started snowing.

from this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Picture354.jpg

to this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Picture367.jpg

Hey, that looks great!!! I dont know if it has been mentioned in this thread or not but, they work just fine in the snow, so...git-r-done!!

sweet drum... love the stacks! what are the dimensions on that salvage drum???

Its actually standard 55 gal dimensions. Not the 80 gal drum designed for drums within a drum.

Height (In.)34 1/4Inside Dia. (In.)22 1/2Outside Dia. (In.)23 3/8

man thats sweet

scudrunr, sssswwwweeeeeeeeeeeeettt! Good lookin drum you did brother. OBTW, what Smooookin said...they work just fine in the snow. Keep us posted on the first cook cause you're going to like the outcome!

Great looking Drum Scudrunr. Love the Vents:icon_bigsmil You will be having some fun with that baby, and wome good eats too:biggrin:

Nice job on the drum Scudrunr! But don't let a little snow stop you, the Drums love it!


http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_1351.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_1353.jpg
http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t...b/100_1354.jpg

They make little snow angels when you're not looking!

Wow good looking lines on that UDS. great job, and happy smokin'. keep us posted on the cook:-D:cool:

My vote for the prettiest of 07! Great job.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Picture367.jpg

Oh my!! Thats just SWEEEETTTTT!!!

Let us know how it cooks, just one question, would all that exhaust effect the heat temp? I had to modify mine, because of TOO much exhaust... just currious!

That is sweet. Where did you get the barrel?
I don't think I can sneak the Toxic BBQ barrel on my flight back to NorCal and need to find something out there. Wondering how much the freight will be!!

Merry Xmas to all Bretheren out there!!

The barrel is from grainger PN-4GY35. shipping was $25.00

The exhaust might be too much, its taking longer than I thought to warm up. I turned both of the exhausts the same direction to prevent a draft between the stacks. If it is too much exhaust I can put some orifices in the stacks.

I got a late start but we are at 122* and rising.

(I smell smoked!)

151*

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Picture371.jpg

looks good Scudrunr. Did you have to burn out that barrel or did it come (can you get them) unlined?

Hows the temp. comming? after the basket is lit, you should hit 300* pretty quick, with my prob. "too much" exhaust, it would get too hot, not too cold...
Just stick an old towel, in the pipe, "don't ask me how I know mod."