Hi from Spain

[Shiv]

Hello all, I´m Alfredo, 39, from Spain. (first BBQbrether here)

I´m newbie into the smoking (so newbie that I don´t have built my UDS yet)

I have questions for the UDSmasters...

1: VENTS
I´ve seen anything about venting it, 3x3/4 + valve , 1x1-1/2 + valve, big hole coverable below, sliding input...

I "decided" to go for:
2 inputs x 1inch + valve (without tube)
(5400 l/h x2)

or

1 input x 1-1/4 + valve (without tube)
(8500l/h max rated)

+
1output 1-1/4 coverable chimney.

What will you choose?
Is the chimney sufficient?



2: -charcoal basket.
I will make a chimney, as a chimney starter, but with a 25l (6.5 gal) metalic bucket.
I think full one should admit about 15l of charcoal

Will it last for about 8-10 hours?



NOTE: the airflow rates are from a maximun rating table for water tubes.
It´s just an approximation of diferences between sizes.

 

[Sid Post]

By metallic bucket, I'm thinking of something like see in a vegetable garden. That type of charcoal "basket" won't last long.

For the air vents, don't overthink things! Part of it might be a language difference or a translation issue from your native tongue. I would suggest something like a 40mm Inner Diameter "black pipe" with two 90degree pieces to vent down with simple flap to control the exhaust exit.

For air intakes, a Brass "Ball Valve" at the base spaced 120degrees apart and a similar 40~50mm Inner Diameter will give you a ton of control for how hot the fire gets. You could probably make it work pretty good with just one air intake.

On the cheap, without welding, put heavy expanded metal on a few bricks (elevated for airflow) with a reasonably heavy piece of steel with the ends bolted together set on to of the expanded metal. Not the prettiest or most elegant but, a lot better than a classic metal "bucket".

Add some rebar rods to hang stuff from with heavy hooks to hold your meat and you will have a real good start to an UDS!

If you want to step it up, there are a few options for "parts kits" with air vents, smoke stacks, wheels, lid holders, etc. to give you a fairly easy "turn key" option but, the expense delivered in Spain may be a bit high.

A lot of this depends on what you have to work with and what your budget is. You can go pretty cheap or very high-end.

 

[CivilTrojan]

Welcome! This is a great group that should be able to help you with what you need. Unfortunately I’ve never used a UDS so have no knowledge that would be helpful…

 

[SmittyJonz]

spend a week or 2 looking at this..........

https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23436

when I did a single intake and exhaust I did 2" pipe
.

 

[Shiv]

By metallic bucket, I'm thinking of something like see in a vegetable garden. That type of charcoal "basket" won't last long.

For the air vents, don't overthink things! Part of it might be a language difference or a translation issue from your native tongue. I would suggest something like a 40mm Inner Diameter "black pipe" with two 90degree pieces to vent down with simple flap to control the exhaust exit.

For air intakes, a Brass "Ball Valve" at the base spaced 120degrees apart and a similar 40~50mm Inner Diameter will give you a ton of control for how hot the fire gets. You could probably make it work pretty good with just one air intake.

On the cheap, without welding, put heavy expanded metal on a few bricks (elevated for airflow) with a reasonably heavy piece of steel with the ends bolted together set on to of the expanded metal. Not the prettiest or most elegant but, a lot better than a classic metal "bucket".

Add some rebar rods to hang stuff from with heavy hooks to hold your meat and you will have a real good start to an UDS!

If you want to step it up, there are a few options for "parts kits" with air vents, smoke stacks, wheels, lid holders, etc. to give you a fairly easy "turn key" option but, the expense delivered in Spain may be a bit high.

A lot of this depends on what you have to work with and what your budget is. You can go pretty cheap or very high-end.

I mean these buckets:

The expanded metal I´ve found in usable measurements is only aluminium <1mm thickness and 6mm holes

I though the bucket will last something more and it´s free, but I´m open minded (in part, because the buckets I have are stained by road-mark paint that will be a pain to remove)



For vents, I mean intakes and exhaust.

Intakes: I want valves. I don´t know how much I need.
(I have a doubt here: will the pfte seals on intake valves burn?)

Exhaust: some diy buttefly valve or cap end to shut off fire.

Like,...

I´m trying to do holes < 40mm basically for 2 reasons:

- I don´t have bigger drill bits.
- Valves and accesories are 5-10 times cheaper below 2 inches (at least here)


The starting point will be grids and v-shape addons soldered to the edge to add removable rebar rods until I get them free.

Something like,...

PS: sorry for my bad english, don´t hestiate to correct me if something is misswritten or indecipherable

Welcome! This is a great group that should be able to help you with what you need. Unfortunately I’ve never used a UDS so have no knowledge that would be helpful…

Thank you anyway.

spend a week or 2 looking at this..........

https://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23436

when I did a single intake and exhaust I did 2" pipe
.

I saw it, but I didn´t ended it:icon_blush:

2" is A LOT more expensive than 1 - 1-1/2 on my local store, so I´ve decided for 1.25 or 1.5 max.

1 inch valve = around 7 eur
2 inch valve = around 35 eur

 

[SmittyJonz]

1.0 - 1.25 or 1.5 - I'd do 2 intakes and exhaust - Too Much - you can close them down some,..........Not enough and it won't burn right.

Bucket with many holes drilled will work for charcoal basket - just ash may not fall as Well as a grate bottom and ash can choke the fire/burn.

Valves - I'd do :

https://www.amazon.com/Everflow-Supplies-600T001-NL-Threaded-Connections/dp/B01BTY6H7A

https://www.amazon.com/Everflow-NPGL1000-10-Industrial-Connectors-Galvanized/dp/B07NDWMJFQ

or

https://www.amazon.com/Smoker-Supply-Teardrop-flangeGY-6-DFG273375/dp/B01LWEOKEC - can be DIY


or

https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Slide-Intake-Kamado-Draft/dp/B0941547FS

.

Some guys have made their own DIY slide intakes, others used 3-4 3/4" intakes (and exhaust) and used magnets to ccover/ partially cover the pipe to regulate air

Spend more time in the thread I linked for ideas - and there's also Hundreds of Youtube videos too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai-CwUaOs9s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4GkxpsKHFo&t=154s




.

 

[Stingerhook]

I built this fire basket, it was tack welded but could easily be tied.

 

[SmittyJonz]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSpgWaCHWfE
.

 

[ronbrad62]

Welcome Alfredo. I built a UDS a few years ago, and while it works great, I will leave you to the guys here that have a lot more experience in that area than I do. Good luck and please post your progress when you start your build.

 

[sandro]

Hey welcome, always nice to see more of us Europeans around. Not sure it helps with your project, but on my Pit Barrel Cooker I'm using a 4" tall by 2" wide exhaust with a sliding teardrop cap; there's a pic on my insta below—I got it from https://udsparts.com/dampers_119/ex...inlet-or-exhaust-for-uds-smoker-w-flange.html a while back and I've found it works wonders. You do need a 2" hole-saw though, a generic ø51mm Wolfcraft from Amazon Warehouse will do as long as you use some cutting oil

 

[Shiv]

1.0 - 1.25 or 1.5 - I'd do 2 intakes and exhaust - Too Much - you can close them down some,..........Not enough and it won't burn right.

Bucket with many holes drilled will work for charcoal basket - just ash may not fall as Well as a grate bottom and ash can choke the fire/burn.

Valves - I'd do :

https://www.amazon.com/Everflow-Supplies-600T001-NL-Threaded-Connections/dp/B01BTY6H7A

https://www.amazon.com/Everflow-NPGL1000-10-Industrial-Connectors-Galvanized/dp/B07NDWMJFQ

or

https://www.amazon.com/Smoker-Supply-Teardrop-flangeGY-6-DFG273375/dp/B01LWEOKEC - can be DIY


or

https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Slide-Intake-Kamado-Draft/dp/B0941547FS

.

Some guys have made their own DIY slide intakes, others used 3-4 3/4" intakes (and exhaust) and used magnets to ccover/ partially cover the pipe to regulate air

Spend more time in the thread I linked for ideas - and there's also Hundreds of Youtube videos too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ai-CwUaOs9s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4GkxpsKHFo&t=154s




.

You are so lucky!

The prices I see on your amazon aren´t here.
The cheapest superstore with 2" valves are about 35 euros, it´s just robbery.

I´ll see if i found it cheaper.

EDIT:
I´m lucky too.
I´ve found 2 2" rusty valves at work.
The handles are stuck, if I can make it work again, I´ll go for 2" and for free!
Now, if I turn it on, it will move the smoker and maybe the house.

I built this fire basket, it was tack welded but could easily be tied.

Thanks! that´s great, but, as said, I can´t find expanded metal like that.
I´ve found only <1mm thikness with 4x6mm holes aluminium.

If I found bigger holes and thicker alu or steel, I´ll go for it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSpgWaCHWfE
.

Thanks!

From that video I get the idea of the bucket.
I´ll follow this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFrLXqZs6ew&t=185

The idea is use the bucket bottom as ashtray and cover the top with an old waiter tray (2mm steel) as difusser.

Welcome Alfredo. I built a UDS a few years ago, and while it works great, I will leave you to the guys here that have a lot more experience in that area than I do. Good luck and please post your progress when you start your build.

Thank you.
No doubt about that, I will post it, but not sure when.
Maybe until spring...

Hey welcome, always nice to see more of us Europeans around. Not sure it helps with your project, but on my Pit Barrel Cooker I'm using a 4" tall by 2" wide exhaust with a sliding teardrop cap; there's a pic on my insta below—I got it from https://udsparts.com/dampers_119/ex...inlet-or-exhaust-for-uds-smoker-w-flange.html a while back and I've found it works wonders. You do need a 2" hole-saw though, a generic ø51mm Wolfcraft from Amazon Warehouse will do as long as you use some cutting oil

Thank you!
Mediterranean power!!

The things from udsparts are great, but european and/or spanish new import rules, taxes and tariffs aren´t.

Using that as example:
ORIGINAL PRICE:
15.35 EUR

MY PRICE:

22.40 (15.35 price + tax)
25.01 (tariff)

EXCLUDING SHIPPING (in my country, shipping charge is added to product to calculate taxes.)

Sooo.

It should be:
15.35(price) + 10 (shipping) + 21% = 30.67
25.01 (tariff)

TOTAL: 55.01 euro for 1 exhaust sold at 15.35
Thats since the new import rules...

I´m tented to ask if they need an european reseller.

 

[sandro]

TOTAL: 55.01 euro for 1 exhaust sold at 15.35

I hear you. Been there, bought that

 

[Shiv]

I hear you. Been there, bought that

Taxes are for roads and medical care, they said... while they collect a life pension for being 4 years in charge.

 

[ShadowDriver]

Welocme, Aldredo!

You've come to the right place and we're glad you're here.

I look forward to seeing your future adventures over in QTalk. Have fun with the build!

 

[ModelMaker]

Welcome, I love your sauce!!
Ed

 

[Shiv]

Welcome, I love your sauce!!
Ed

Espagnole?
The base for almost-all traditional meat dishes

I´m from Madrid.
Our best is brava (Madrid style)

Is some kind of "soft espagnole" with a lot of "pimentón de la vera" (custom smoked paprika, soft or spicy), garlic and vinegar.

 

[frognot]

Welcome aboard Alfredo!

 

[Big George's BBQ]

Glad you are here Hope you post often