Good Commercial UDS Firebasket Solution.

[jetfxr27]

Have we found one, I am about to make my third out of expanded metal and robbed coal grate from a kettle.

My current labor intensive design.

Examples from a Google search (Metal Wire Basket). Old Milk Crates are hard to find.

http://www.shoestringhome.com/Wire_Round_Basket.html

 

[southernsmoker]

Looks like that will do the trick...

 

[aztecnology]

After looking at your pics I had an epiphany. A jumbo basket from a driving range would probably work perfectly in a UDS...

Something like this:

 

[whodeyQ]

that's funny, that's the same thing I thought when I saw it. :-D

 

[barbefunkoramaque]

View attachment 41298


http://www.enasco.com/product/C06371N

After the coating burns off this egg basket which is made of sturdy, steel wire framework welded at every joint. Holds 15 dozen eggs which should give you a good impression of how many briquettes it will hold. Its 8-1/2" high with 14-1/4" top diameter and 10" bottom diameter. Pretty close to the standard Bigmista suggested design.

The taper to the bottom will allow for a taper of temps as well toward the end of the life of the load.

This egg basket costs 15 bucks

 

[CajunSmoker]

Those all would work prolly, but you still got to put some kind of legs on them or they'll choke out when the ash builds up around them.

 

[jetfxr27]

Those all would work prolly, but you still got to put some kind of legs on them or they'll choke out when the ash builds up around them.

After looking at your pics I had an epiphany. A jumbo basket from a driving range would probably work perfectly in a UDS...

Something like this:

View attachment 41298



http://www.enasco.com/product/C06371N

After the coating burns off this egg basket which is made of sturdy, steel wire framework welded at every joint. Holds 15 dozen eggs which should give you a good impression of how many briquettes it will hold. Its 8-1/2" high with 14-1/4" top diameter and 10" bottom diameter. Pretty close to the standard Bigmista suggested design.

The taper to the bottom will allow for a taper of temps as well toward the end of the life of the load.

This egg basket costs 15 bucks

Y'all some Genius'!! I knew the Brethren would come through. Thanks Funk for the detail.

The feet are the Easy Part. They bolt on!
Here is a KA site that you custom make.
http://www.anysizebasket.com/Default.aspx

I'm gonna hit up the local ranges and see what I can find in the scrap heap!

Heres another that has them from 1 - 2ball size up to 400-500 ball size.
http://www.rangemart.com/baskets-wire.htm

 

[Norcoredneck]

Heres another that has them from 1 - 2ball size up to 400-500 ball size.
http://www.rangemart.com/baskets-wire.htm[/QUOTE]


Site says....
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]We are currently out of all wire baskets.[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]PLEASE NOTE:
Minimum Order of $50 on Wire Baskets [/FONT]​

 

[jetfxr27]

Now any, good ideas for K.I.S.S feet? Besides bolts and fender washers obviously.
I'm thinking maybe a false bottom maybe two and a half inches from the true bottom.

 

[sfbbqguy]

Wow! Great idea on the golf ball basket...man do I feel like an idiot for not thinking of that...I've been in the golf business for over 25 years.

 

[TheRancheroGuy]

I think it's time to go hit a bucket of balls!

 

[jetfxr27]

Wow! Great idea on the golf ball basket...man do I feel like an idiot for not thinking of that...I've been in the golf business for over 25 years.

Awesome, know where to get some that are all used up?!

 

[sfbbqguy]

Awesome, know where to get some that are all used up?!

Most of the courses now days use plastic baskets but if you nose around the maintenance yard where they disguard old stuff or around where they store/wash the range balls you may very likely find an old metal basket suitable for UDS.
I like the basket I built but may have been easier with a range ball basket.

 

[jetfxr27]

Most of the courses now days use plastic baskets but if you nose around the maintenance yard where they disguard old stuff or around where they store/wash the range balls you may very likely find an old metal basket suitable for UDS.
I like the basket I built but may have been easier with a range ball basket.

Yeah, I called all the ranges and sure nuff, all plastic. Hate having to buy one new and pay double for shipping for it not to work out.

 

[expatpig]

Here's my basket, 16"x48" piece of expanded metal rolled and tack welded, 16" Weber charcoal grate, 2 pieces of 1' flat stock, 3 return springs, 16" pizza pan, 2 hitch pins. I made it so I can adjust the height of the grate. I raise it up near the top for grilling and lower it for long cooks. so far, it works great, the only mod that I made was to replace the weber coal grate with one made from expanded metal. I found too much charcoal falling through the Weber grate.

 

[jetfxr27]

Had another idea, how about just dropping a smokey joe down filled with coal?
You get a table top when you need it, a kettle when you need that( considering you use the 22.5" kettle also for the drum), and a smoker. Thats versatility!

Or maybe one of these lodges,

Or one of these cheap guys.

 

[KnucklHed BBQ]

Had another idea, how about just dropping a smokey joe down filled with coal?
You get a table top when you need it, a kettle when you need that( considering you use the 22.5" kettle also for the drum), and a smoker. Thats versatility!

I remember Brian (Swamprb) talking about using one early on and it working well... but it was also labor intensive, I think he punched about 20 - 3/8" holes into the bottom of it... Might be able to just cut 1 - 3" hole in the bottom and leave the lower grate in... ?

 

[moda253]

The problem with all these lil grill options is that you want ash to be able to drop out and you want really good air flow over the coals. Youhave to modify them so much that it's just easier to roll up a piece of expanded metal and bolt it together.