1st closed head uds

[Bush Pig]

Hi Brethren
Im building a uds for my brother and this is my first time building one out of a closed head drum. All my other uds were built from open head drums and those builds were pretty straight forward. For the closed head drum I did cut the top of drum with the bung holes about 1/2 in under the lip. I have a couple of questions.

1: what is the best method to get a lid to fit? I do have a 22.5 weber lid that fits but i do see some gaps from the cut. I do have a friend who can weld me a fitting but need some ideas for him.

2: Has anyone used the top/lid from the drum that was cut off. If so what method did you use to make it fit back on drum.

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[DjPorkchop]

On a closed top drum, the best trick to do is to take a grinder and grind on the lip until you see the seam. Then take a screw driver and a hammer and gently tap on screw driver knocking the top (lid)off. Now it is reuseable just like a open top drum.

Now that the top is cut off you have another option to use the weber lid. You will need to go to home depot or somewhere and buy a piece of flat stock a couple inches wide by an 1/8 inch or so thick and roll it to fit the inside of the drum leaving a 1/4 to 1/2 inch or so sticking up above drum top. You will obviously bolt this stock to the drum. Then the Weber lid will sit on properly.

As far as using one that has been cut off, I tried once and I was so utterly disgusted by the decision to cut the top off, it got turned in to a garbage burn barrel and I went and found my open top drums for $10 a piece.

 

[Bush Pig]

Thanks for the info Djporkchop

I think i can salvage the lid on one of the drums and the other one the kettle lid does fit I just have to fill in gaps between the lid and drum. I will post pics soon of the build. Cheers

 

[Bush Pig]

Just got my hands a 4in grinder and leveled the cut on the drum. Next step is to clean up lid so it sits cleanly on drum. Will show pics soon. Cheers

 

[Bush Pig]

These closed head drums are looking great. I was able to salvage both lids and they both fit mighty fine on the drums. I took the grinder and gently cut/sanded the excess steel from the lid from where it was cut on the drum. I was a little nervous that i was not going to be able to use the lids due to where i cut them off the drums but it fits great.

I just got done with drilling the holes and did a good 6+hr burn. I was wondering what kinda modifications people have done on the lids for exhaust on the 2in thread hole on top. gona have to re-read the mega uds thread to get ideas. Will post pics soon of the drums as my camera took a dive in the ocean yesterday.

 

[Bush Pig]

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Work in progress!! I just have to put my exhaust pipes on lid and handle and she will be ready. I call her "Cali Roots".

 

[Bush Pig]

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