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Q-talk *ON TOPIC ONLY* QUALITY ON TOPIC discussion of Backyard BBQ, grilling, equipment and outdoor cookin' . ** Other cooking techniques are welcomed for when your cookin' in the kitchen. Post your hints, tips, tricks & techniques, success, failures, but stay on topic and watch for that hijacking. |
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03-09-2015, 06:45 PM | #1 |
Got rid of the matchlight.
Join Date: 03-04-15
Location: Virgnia Beach, VA
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Building my first UDS, and I had a couple questions
I'm working through building my first UDS, and it's going well. I'll post some pics soon. I have run into a couple of bumps and wondered if anyone had similar issues in the past.
First issue is I am having a hard time finding a large enough piece of expanded metal for my charcoal basket. Did anyone use a different design for their basket? Second is there an adhesive or sealant that anyone would trust to put on the smoker? I'm hesitant to use any chemicals for obvious reasons, but i definitely have a few places like down near my bottom air intake which could use some sealing/adhesive Thanks Mike |
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03-09-2015, 09:14 PM | #2 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 04-17-08
Location: Dallas Or.
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Home Depot or ace hardware will have the expabpnded metal , I used hi temp rtv around my intake , once it cures your fine , just use it on the outside
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Weber Genisis 1000 Weber Silver Weber 22.5 Weber 18.5 R.I.P. Smokey Joe Treager 070 Traeger 075 UDS Brinkmann Cimarron Pink Thermapen |
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03-09-2015, 09:24 PM | #3 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 05-12-08
Location: Los Alamos, NM
Name/Nickname : Greg
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Ditto on Home Depot for the expanded metal. It came in a cardboard package, which I was not expecting, so it doesn't just jump out at you.
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Pit Boss Copperhead 5 Series, Blackstone Griddle, Camp Chef Explorer, UDS |
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03-09-2015, 09:34 PM | #4 |
is one Smokin' Farker
Join Date: 01-17-14
Location: Eureka, KS
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I simply went to a good sheetmetal/fabrication shop, had them roll some 9 guage expanded metal into an 18" cylinder, then had them cut me a piece I could cut and weld to the bottom. Cost me about $30 for the metal and the work, and about an hour of welding and cutting.
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[COLOR=blue][B][SIZE=3]That Smokin' Preacher. Ribs and :mad2:[COLOR=red]Hot Peppers[/COLOR]:mad2:[/SIZE][/B][/COLOR][LIST][*][B]WKG (Weber Kettle Grill)[/B][*][B][COLOR=navy]Brinkman heavy duty Cimarron offset[/COLOR][/B][*][B][COLOR=red]Custom built 72" x 40" Offset logburner[/COLOR][/B][*][B][COLOR=navy]One Butt Ugly Drum Smoker[/COLOR][/B][*][B][COLOR=black]One big tow-behind Wood-fired grill [/COLOR][/B][*][B][COLOR=#ff0000][COLOR=gray]and one itty bitty gasser[/COLOR] :doh:[/COLOR][/B][/LIST] |
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03-10-2015, 04:55 AM | #5 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 08-23-13
Location: Detroit Mi
Name/Nickname : tom
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The sheets/pieces from HD you will need 2 to form your basket. Most employees do not know they even sell it. Go down the bolt/rope/strap isle and you will see the angle iron etc. Standing up on it's side are a few different types/sizes in white cardboard. Trims easily with tin snips. Bolt, wire, weld after shaping the expanded metal. Bends easy around a pole so go easy. High temp RTV around the outside of the barrel like mentioned if required.
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03-10-2015, 07:12 AM | #6 |
Babbling Farker
Join Date: 08-18-13
Location: Texas
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There are several different ways to approach your UDS build. Yes, HD and Lowes do have 2' x 2' sheets of expando - for a bit over $20.00 You will still need a grate (or another piece of expando) for the bottom.The 13.5" dia charcoal grate (for the 18.5" weber) is a good size but you will likely have to order it online- never saw one in HD or Lowes on the shelf. Then bust your 2 x 2 expando in half and have enough to wrap around the grate. Wire it together with clothes hanger wire, or SS or mild steel rebar tying wire- all work. Might hit Grainger (they seem to be everywhere) - same size sheet but thicker for half the price. Or you can get a 4'x 4' sheet of 3/4 #13 expando from Grainger for about 30.00 - do a bit of trimming and make yourself a dandy square basket- no grate needed. Hit Google-there are a couple of videos showing how- do yourself a favor and don't get the 3/4 #9...very tuff to bend- go thinner.
On ball valves/ nipples/emt washers/ sealant... IMO- I don't bother- honestly. Yes, they look Industrial Cool- something about "grabbing a lever and making that slight tweak"speaks to a fella. But try this- drill your intake holes- hit amazon, a craft store, a sign shop and get a small sheet of magnetic flexible vinyl - cut you some 3x5's and go to town. They last a long time- will not leak, you will not stub your toe on them, you can see how much hole you have open/closed and they are dirt cheap. They don't have the cool factor- granted- but I would defy anyone who said that their valves work better. Good luck- however you build it- you will love using and sharing what comes off your UDS |
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Thanks from:---> |
03-10-2015, 07:37 AM | #7 | |
On the road to being a farker
Join Date: 01-21-15
Location: London
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Quote:
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Engineering the perfect partnership between metal fire and meat |
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03-10-2015, 07:47 AM | #8 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 09-17-12
Location: Oswego, IL
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When I made my UDS, I used these stainless steel zip ties for the basket. Cheap, easy to use, and no welding required. I used these over three years ago, and they are still holding strong.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-B...0245/202528833 And yes, the expanded metal at HD is kind of hard to find. On the link below, post #11 shows what it looks like in the white cardboard packaging. http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...d.php?t=121853
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- Matt [URL="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hatfield-and-McCoy-Barbecue/765488903565575"]Hatfield and McCoy Barbecue[/URL] - Co-Pitmaster Illinois This Butt's for 'Que - Pitmaster KCBS CBJ; 18.5" WSM; [COLOR="Sienna"]U[/COLOR][COLOR="Navy"]D[/COLOR][COLOR="Sienna"]S[/COLOR]; [COLOR="Red"]Thermapen Mk4[/COLOR]; [COLOR="Blue"]DigiQ DX2[/COLOR]; [COLOR="DarkOrange"]IQ120[/COLOR]; [COLOR="Gray"]CharBroil Gasser (wind victim after 11 years)[/COLOR]; Maverick; OTS x2; etc. [URL="http://bbqbeat.com/hatfield-and-mccoy-bbq-team/"]We're (kinda) famous![/URL] |
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03-10-2015, 08:10 AM | #9 |
Quintessential Chatty Farker
Join Date: 07-01-13
Location: Grayslake, IL
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I'm not a fan of the home depot expanded.. they gouge you on price and you have to connect it in 2 places. Find a steel shop and have them cut you a piece. I explained what I wanted, had it cut while I stood by making sure he was cutting how I wanted.. 1 piece 10"x4' and a 16" square for the bottom. Whole thing cost 30 bucks. I took it home and wrapped it around a bucket to make it round.
For a sealant, you can use RTV or JB Weld. Either works great.
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Matt Come Join the fun in the Throwdowns! Shirley Fabrication 24x70 Trailer - UDS - Weber Kettle - WGA - Fire Pit Rotisserie - Shirley-Shagstone Griddle/Wok Cart - Carson Rodizio 2016 Official BBQ Brethren Ribeye Master |
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03-10-2015, 01:25 PM | #10 |
is One Chatty Farker
Join Date: 08-22-14
Location: Broken Arrow/ ok
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You can get a round grate for the bottom of it at academy for around $5 and then attach the grating to it by any of the ways mentioned. I have made 10 or so this way with the expanded metal grating from home Depot cut in half and bolted together
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03-11-2015, 06:11 PM | #11 |
Got rid of the matchlight.
Join Date: 03-04-15
Location: Virgnia Beach, VA
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Awesome thanks for all the tips guys. Doesn't look like I'm getting a day off for the next 30 days haha, but soon as I do I'll be completing this build and posting the final product
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Mike M. BBQ aficionado. Nothing goes better with good BBQ than an equally good whiskey |
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03-11-2015, 10:15 PM | #12 |
somebody shut me the fark up.
Join Date: 10-27-06
Location: Bothell WA
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You dont need expando for a basket, pretty much anything that can contain the fuel and a bottom grate to let the ash fall through will work.
For reference take a look at the Pit Barrel Cooker and the Hunsaker Smokers Vortex basket. (google is your friend) Trust me on this and thank me later!
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Brian - Left Hand Smoke BBQ PNWBA 2010 Team of the Year BGE's/WSM's/Pellet Pro WSM/BWS Gater/BDS Clones/Cookshack 008/Weber Performer w EZ-Que/Cajun Bandit/Rib-O-Lator Test Pilot/La Caja China/BBQ Guru/Weber 1000 RK Drum Coffee Roaster Follow Left Hand Smoke on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/pages/Left-H...462391?sk=wall KCBS CBJ/PNWBA CBJ www.pnwba.com |
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uds, uds build |
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