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Old 01-06-2018, 04:44 AM   #3
ebijack
Babbling Farker

 
Join Date: 08-23-13
Location: Detroit Mi
Name/Nickname : tom
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There are UDS companies that place the intake under the coal basket these days.
You did not mention what temp ranges you want to cook at. If you are wanting to get easily to 550* plus you will need to at least double your intake. Also your exhaust size and how/where you place it can make a difference in available temps. I use 3- 1.5" pipe elbows in order to get 700* plus on my 55 gal drums. And 3 5/8" minimum exh hole. I can only get to 650* in really cold weather with that 3 5/8" exhaust. My other drum I have 4 1/2" total exhaust and can get over 800*.



I tried the air under the coal basket in one of my UDS's for a good 6 or 7 mths and saw no difference/gain in the performance between either of my drums. With the intake under the coals, vs intake air coming from the side of the barrel. I do have my intakes placed low, at/near the bottom of each barrels.
Anyway, this was my way I came up with a few years ago to get the air under the coals and see if it actually made a difference. To not have anything in my way from sweeping up all the ash out of the drum after cooking. And no chance of the ash build up choking off the air.
I only covered 2 of the intakes with a shield for direct air flow under the coals. The shield is attached to the bottom edge of the coal basket grate. So it lifts out with the coal basket. I made the shield to keep the basket in the center of the drum.


The bottom of the grate is 3" up off the bottom. I have since gone to 4" legs for more room for ash on really long cooks.

I ended up removing that air shield. No added benefit. That is my experience.
Your riser intake tube is also very restricting for max temps. Fine for low n slow. When I add this, I can not get above 315* using 1- 1.5" pipe intake with the shorter extension.

Last edited by ebijack; 01-06-2018 at 05:34 AM..
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