Ugly Drum Smoker

CharlieAlphaMike · Oct 24, 2015

Ok ... Time for my first serious UDS post ...

Looking at building my first UDS... One small problem I've encounted is that all the 55's I've found are from scrap yards and beyond repair but I have located a plethora of 44's.

Has anyone tried a 44 build and is there any difference between the two in regards to cook times ...
Obviously sizing is going to be a factor with space for racks and fire pit size ...

Thanks for the input !!

ebijack · Oct 24, 2015

CharlieAlphaMike said:
One small problem I've encounted is that all the 55's I've found are from scrap yards and beyond repair but I have located a plethora of 44's. Has anyone tried a 44 build and is there any difference between the two in regards to cook times ...
Obviously sizing is going to be a factor with space for racks and fire pit size ...

Thanks for the input !!

As long as you can either build or buy grates to fit and make a coal basket, no problem at all. From 16 gal/30 gal on up.

Tharg · Nov 5, 2015

Going to make my first UDS, got a 200 Litre Drum with a removeable lid and clip. Im in the UK so are there any threads specific to the UK folks with regards to sourcing parts available here?
Im hoping to get it ready for new years eve so everyone can bring in the new year with pulled pork barms and loads of beer :-D

Tharg · Nov 6, 2015

Burned it out last night. Going for as easy as possible build using kiss method. It's winter here in uk so I managed to find a 57cm kettle bbq for £20 which I plan to use the parts for.

Tharg · Nov 9, 2015

Anyone have any tips for getting a bbq kettle lid to fit a drum when the lid is virtually the same circumference as the drum rim?
I was thinking of getting an inch wide strip for the inside circumference of the drum and riveting it just under the rim so it stick up just above the rim , if that makes sense

Bbq_lover · Nov 9, 2015

Tharg said:
Anyone have any tips for getting a bbq kettle lid to fit a drum when the lid is virtually the same circumference as the drum rim?
I was thinking of getting an inch wide strip for the inside circumference of the drum and riveting it just under the rim so it stick up just above the rim , if that makes sense

That would work, or if it's a weber lid, and you have the rest of the grill, cut the top lip off the grill and mount it inside the UDS. Then the lid always fits!

Tharg · Nov 9, 2015

I just had a read of the another thread and one suggestion was to flare out the lip of the kettle kid with some pliers. Think I will try that as it requires the least effort &#55357;&#56834;&#55357;&#56834;

Tharg · Nov 10, 2015

I have been reading that the zink plated screws are fine to use as they dont give off gases until they reach really high temps. Is this the case for galvanised too? I found this galvanized perforated strip of steel thats perfect for my fire basket.

AussieMatt · Nov 10, 2015

No gal mate, unless you can strip it off. Better off to keep looking for non-gal.

woodbutcher1 · Nov 10, 2015

Take a 6 to 8 lb. sledge hammer. hold that on the inside of the drum lip.
With another good sized hammer,flatten the lip of the drum all the way around. No need to flatten the Weber lid. you'll knock of a lot of enamel.

Southern Home Boy · Nov 10, 2015

Tharg said:
Anyone have any tips for getting a bbq kettle lid to fit a drum when the lid is virtually the same circumference as the drum rim?
I was thinking of getting an inch wide strip for the inside circumference of the drum and riveting it just under the rim so it stick up just above the rim , if that makes sense

I used an open head drum for my last UDS. I took the lid, cut out the center and epoxied the kettle lid to the rim of the lid that came on the drum. Snaps on tight as a frog's butthole.

Redtail · Nov 13, 2015

Southern Home Boy said:
I used an open head drum for my last UDS. I took the lid, cut out the center and epoxied the kettle lid to the rim of the lid that came on the drum. Snaps on tight as a frog's butthole.

What epoxy did you use?

Roguejim · Nov 14, 2015

Alright, I'm very interested in what I've read here, although, I can't go through 800+ pages. So, I'll just ask a few questions, if that's alright.

I can get a 55-gal drum for $20. The only other significant expense I can think of is the charcoal basket, ball valve,and a grate. Maybe paying to have the drum sanded down? I'm trying to figure out if it would be more cost effective to go the Big Poppa Drum Kit route, or piece it together. Any help? I only have a Weber 22.5" kettle, so, a drum would give me a pretty versatile, and inexpensive arsenal, I think. Thanks.

AussieMatt · Nov 14, 2015

I pieced mine together and then changed it a couple of times so the end cost was more than the BP kit. Having said that, I can make one that works great for cheaper than the kit now.

But, the reviews on the BP kit are very good and if you want to get everything in one hit rather than piecing it together and ordering from different places, the BP is the way to go.

Grumpy the Elder · Nov 15, 2015

What do you do about the fat that cooks out of the meat when cooking butts?

RT · Nov 15, 2015

Grumpy the Elder said:
What do you do about the fat that cooks out of the meat when cooking butts?

I just drop 4 or 5 paper towels in the bottom when done and it will soak it up.

Blythewood BBQ'er · Nov 15, 2015

I will shake the ask out of my basket a day or two after I cook and then scrape out with a little scoop I got from walmart. Ash soaks up the grease nicely.

ebijack · Nov 15, 2015

Grumpy the Elder said:
What do you do about the fat that cooks out of the meat when cooking butts?

Catch in a drip pan, makes the best gravy you ever had. Only some of the grease gets around the drip pan to hit the coals.

fisherfrk · Nov 16, 2015

thirdeye said:
The guy I cooked with used sand in his water pan.

I tried that once and when the sand got dry and butts dripped into the pan, the sand was picked up in the steam and got all over the food. Not a good idea IMHO.

fisherfrk · Nov 16, 2015

Roguejim said:
Alright, I'm very interested in what I've read here, although, I can't go through 800+ pages. So, I'll just ask a few questions, if that's alright.

I can get a 55-gal drum for $20. The only other significant expense I can think of is the charcoal basket, ball valve,and a grate. Maybe paying to have the drum sanded down? I'm trying to figure out if it would be more cost effective to go the Big Poppa Drum Kit route, or piece it together. Any help? I only have a Weber 22.5" kettle, so, a drum would give me a pretty versatile, and inexpensive arsenal, I think. Thanks.

I am totally sold on making my own. Drums burn out really well and after a good burn, most of the outside paint is gone. I found a great deal on ball valves on e-bay, 10 for 42.99. If you have a 22.5, you have a dome lid for the smoker, 90% fit easily, if they don't fit on the top of closed barrels, they will fit on the bottom. The only other costs are the bolts, the nipples, and the grates.

The basket is the toughest. I use 2" expanded cut to 8" x 4 ft. that wraps perfectly around the charcoal grate from an 18" webber kettle. I have been using hog rings to put it together and it seems to make a very clean basket. I finish it off with a 16" pizza pan to catch ash and 3" bolts for the legs. about 12 bucks in the basket.

Good luck, if you want to take it to the next level, get a guru for it.

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