Ugly Drum Smoker

Nuco59 · Aug 10, 2018

Was me, I'd go with an open top and use the flat lid that it comes with. Having a "weber" dome so you can have 2 grates sounds good but in practice - not so much. I got a "freebie" stainless closed head drum and had no choice but to adapt a weber lid to it. I did set it up to use 2 grates- but I won't cook on the lower grate. I use it for a catch pan...when I use it at all.

I'd pay good money (but not retail) to have the same SS 55 gallon drum with a removable flat lid

rinasek · Sep 8, 2018

First time posting here, read through 1/4 of this thread and here is the first result of my build:

Thanks, everyone! So far I have been only reading here but I hope that in future I can contribute.

foam2 · Sep 8, 2018

I have a stainless open head drum with the weber lid. I use the hunsaker vortex basket and have no issues cooking on both grates for ribs pork butts or anything else. I am not typically cooking that much food where I need both grates but when I'm cooking more than 3 slabs of ribs the second grate is great to have.

fuzzytxt · Sep 11, 2018

I just completed MY First UDS!
Weeks of planning and gathering what i needed and it payed off big time! Reading this tread helped alot!

I had a tiny little water smoker and it was great $50 from Home Depot! It worked, but i wanted to step up and looking at the intermediate smokers, whew thats $500 on up and When i saw Drum Smokers I was sold!

Here is a build log if anyone is interested (just on IMGUR)

Cant wait to get Ribs, Brisket, Pork Butt, and wings on there, Just dont know what to do first LOL!

OferL · Sep 12, 2018

fuzzytxt said:
I just completed MY First UDS!
Weeks of planning and gathering what i needed and it payed off big time! Reading this tread helped alot!

I had a tiny little water smoker and it was great $50 from Home Depot! It worked, but i wanted to step up and looking at the intermediate smokers, whew thats $500 on up and When i saw Drum Smokers I was sold!

Here is a build log if anyone is interested (just on IMGUR)

Cant wait to get Ribs, Brisket, Pork Butt, and wings on there, Just dont know what to do first LOL!

Looks beautiful. Welcome to the dark side:thumb:

Caeyers · Sep 12, 2018

Nice 1!

Big Game · Sep 12, 2018

New to site

I am new to this site and apologize if I am posting my question in the wrong place. But, can someone assist me in finding an accessory for an ugly drum smoker? I am looking for the device used to hold the digital meat probe to the UDS. It appears to be stainless Steel and has a pivoting head that that is detachable from the main unit but is attached to the meat probe. Thanks for all your help

fuzzytxt · Sep 12, 2018

OferL said:
Looks beautiful. Welcome to the dark side:thumb:

LOL Its So bad i am already thinking of my next one!

fuzzytxt · Sep 12, 2018

Big Game said:
I am looking for the device used to hold the digital meat probe to the UDS. It appears to be stainless Steel and has a pivoting head that that is detachable from the main unit but is attached to the meat probe.

Hey I am new to this stuff as well and i think i have seen what you are talking about (holds the digital thermometer on the outside not the actual probe inside) I cant seem to find it but this is my best guess

Magnetic door stop

Maybe glueing a big HUGE magnet to the bottom of it?

Good Luck

Big Game · Sep 12, 2018

You are correct, it holds the thermometer on the outside

Big Game · Sep 12, 2018

Thank you very much. That looks very similar

Displaced Texan · Sep 28, 2018

I have a quick question for those with graphics on your UDS. Did you paint the graphic on or did you use vinyl? If vinyl, how has it held up?

JTnWI · Oct 16, 2018

I have read this post, twice. After reading it the first time it was a lot shorter and I built my first UDS. I just got done reading it a second time and finished my second smoker. The 3rd UDS will not require another read, or I hope not. Here is my completed drum. Redskins theme, waiting on a stencil for the center yellow part. I am also going to add a deep fryer thermometer, and a removable table. The small silver shelf is for my ThermPro. The BCF is from a metal trashcan I found on Amazon, 11 holes in the bottom and a 14" grate for the charcoal.

OferL · Oct 17, 2018

JTnWI said:
I have read this post, twice. After reading it the first time it was a lot shorter and I built my first UDS. I just got done reading it a second time and finished my second smoker. The 3rd UDS will not require another read, or I hope not. Here is my completed drum. Redskins theme, waiting on a stencil for the center yellow part. I am also going to add a deep fryer thermometer, and a removable table. The small silver shelf is for my ThermPro. The BCF is from a metal trashcan I found on Amazon, 11 holes in the bottom and a 14" grate for the charcoal.

Very nice build. I like the thermopro shelf. What's the other metal thing on the barrel?

dadsr4 · Oct 17, 2018

OferL said:
Very nice build. I like the thermopro shelf. What's the other metal thing on the barrel?

Bottle opener?

JTnWI · Oct 17, 2018

Right, bottle opener. Pretty sure it is a legal requirement for smoking meat. ;-)

MattCom · Nov 3, 2018

Any Long Island Bros out there? I found a 55 Gal SS drum... $90.
I used one years ago and MY DS is awesome... no rust!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/147...89967707915225/?sale_post_id=2289967707915225

grosen84 · Nov 4, 2018

<$300 Stainless Drum Smoker

Drum was a craigslist find, very thick wall, was used for fermenting wine. It was hand made as far as I can tell, several weld beads around the base and a nice thick rolled edge that clips a plastic drum lid perfectly. Conveniently, it also perfectly fits the crust groove in a 24" pizza pan. Used a Amazon BGE replacement vent door. Had to put some muscle in to relax the radius, which ended up crinkling the door lip slightly, but now it just holds the door more firmly. -1 aesthetics, +1 function. Took advantage of the OSH closing clearance to pick up the hardware. I measured the grate size needed to roughly 22 to 22 1/4", so I may have to make my own expanded metal grate (also scored from OSH) Decided to use carriage bolts for the door and stainless rivets for the shelf standards, so everything outside is screw head free and stainless.

It's a little dented up, so I guess that's where it gets it's ugly? :laugh:

patrickd26 · Nov 4, 2018

grosen84 said:
<$300 Stainless Drum Smoker

Drum was a craigslist find, very thick wall, was used for fermenting wine. It was hand made as far as I can tell, several weld beads around the base and a nice thick rolled edge that clips a plastic drum lid perfectly. Conveniently, it also perfectly fits the crust groove in a 24" pizza pan. Used a Amazon BGE replacement vent door. Had to put some muscle in to relax the radius, which ended up crinkling the door lip slightly, but now it just holds the door more firmly. -1 aesthetics, +1 function. Took advantage of the OSH closing clearance to pick up the hardware. I measured the grate size needed to roughly 22 to 22 1/4", so I may have to make my own expanded metal grate (also scored from OSH) Decided to use carriage bolts for the door and stainless rivets for the shelf standards, so everything outside is screw head free and stainless.

It's a little dented up, so I guess that's where it gets it's ugly? :laugh:

Wow. What a fine find. I would highly recommend Membersmark to clean the inside. I do mine after every 3-5 cooks and it takes it back to new. I can't imagine how nice stainless would clean up. Thanks for sharing!

4dueces · Nov 16, 2018

Built this for a buddy, he's an Iowa State Cyclone fan but his daughter went to the University of Iowa, thus the house divided.

Ugly Drum Smoker

Babbling Farker

Wandering around with a bag of matchlight, looking for a match.

Full Fledged Farker

Found some matches.

is Blowin Smoke!

Found some matches.

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

Found some matches.

Found some matches.

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

Knows what a fatty is.

Found some matches.

Attachments

is Blowin Smoke!

somebody shut me the fark up.

Found some matches.

Take a breath!

Is lookin for wood to cook with.

Full Fledged Farker

is one Smokin' Farker

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