BDS Shield

[bbqpigskin]

I built a Drum Smoker a few months back and shared it with the Brethren. I did not especially like the results that I got with it. It seemed to be to much of a direct heat cook for me. I've looked at other designs here and on other sites, and some have installed a type of heat shield. My question is how big and how deep in the barrell should it be installed? I look at my drum smoker everytime I que, and feel like I never gave it enough time to work with it.

 

[smooookin]

I sat a smaller grill on top of my fire basket then sat a Charcoal pan (brinkman?) full of water on the grill. I cooked some great pork butts for deer camp on it.

 

[Mark]

Mike:

You said: "I did not especially like the results that I got with it."

What does that mean? Tasted like burnt rubber?

 

[Single Fin Smoker]

Water pan on the lower grate brother. And I don't care what any says!

 

[bbqpigskin]

Before I built the drum smoker, I had only used an offset. I love the way the offset works and have become pretty consistant in everything that I cook in it. The drum seemed to me to be too much direct heat, also it was more like extended grilling rather than smoking low and slow. The water pan on top of the grill makes sense. I will probably give it a try. I guess you could call it BBQ guilt...I probably did not work hard enough to get good at using the drum.

 

[Norcoredneck]

I thought the ham I cooked could have benefited from a shield. I am going to hang or suspend a couple of layer blanket under grill. This way fat can still roll off and get desired hitting coals effect.

 

[Rookie'48]

I thought the ham I cooked could have benefited from a shield. I am going to hang or suspend a couple of layer blanket under grill. This way fat can still roll off and get desired hitting coals effect.

Huh:?: Explain, please (dumb chitt mod).

 

[biffleg]

I wonder if you could use a terra cot pot like some of the WSM guys sometimes use as a heat shield? Should work right?

 

[Norcoredneck]

Huh:?: Explain, please (dumb chitt mod).

Believe me not you just my explination. I would take 2 sheets of foil fold edges together to make blanket. I woud make ears to wrap up and around grill rods. Would hang unger grate. Don't have descent drawing program but will try to post pic tomorrow.

 

[swamprb]

I wonder if you could use a terra cot pot like some of the WSM guys sometimes use as a heat shield? Should work right?

The guys that build the Magnum WSM's use waterpans, and they are basically just fancied up drums anyway. I use the waterpan in my GOSM propane smoker, I just don't like cleaning it up every time I use it. I have NEVER used water in the pans of the WSM's, started with the claypot base and now am very happy with my "Lava rock/Pizza stone/drypan Mod".
But I have no desire to do anything different with the UDS's, "if they ain't broke, don't fix 'em"!
The whole idea of the BDS design is you want the fats to drip on the coals, why put a pan between them? It's just another thing to clean up too. Try it if you think you need to, but I've done over thirty cooks on mine and have never burnt anything yet!

 

[Norcoredneck]

The guys that build the Magnum WSM's use waterpans, and they are basically just fancied up drums anyway. I use the waterpan in my GOSM propane smoker, I just don't like cleaning it up every time I use it. I have NEVER used water in the pans of the WSM's, started with the claypot base and now am very happy with my "Lava rock/Pizza stone/drypan Mod".
But I have no desire to do anything different with the UDS's, "if they ain't broke, don't fix 'em"!
The whole idea of the BDS design is you want the fats to drip on the coals, why put a pan between them? It's just another thing to clean up too. Try it if you think you need to, but I've done over thirty cooks on mine and have never burnt anything yet!

I agee with you. The only issue I had is I put a half ham cut side down. I can't slice for chit so I bought sliced. First couple of layers dried out. yhis is why I was thinking of sheild. not to catch juice just deflect direct heat. My idea was to let juice roll off sheild and make that lovely sound and smell as it hits coals.

 

[swamprb]

I wonder if you could use a terra cot pot like some of the WSM guys sometimes use as a heat shield? Should work right?

I agee with you. The only issue I had is I put a half ham cut side down. I can't slice for chit so I bought sliced. First couple of layers dried out. yhis is why I was thinking of sheild. not to catch juice just deflect direct heat. My idea was to let juice roll off sheild and make that lovely sound and smell as it hits coals.

You probably should have foiled that part of the Ham, I've done a couple spiral sliced in the GOSM and Kettle and the first couple layers dried out too. I think when I do the next one, I'll put it cut side down in an aluminum pan with some small holes in it so it can drip and not get blasted.