Ive seen some pictures of UDS firebaskets with solid steel sides and a mesh bottom instead of a mesh sides and bottom. Anyone have thoughts as to what the advantage of that could be? My only thought is it forces the heat to move from the bottom of the basket up as opposed to pulling air from anyplace on the side it can. But does it actually make a difference?
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UDS firebasket with solid sides
- Thread starter Vindii
- Start date
Kave Dweller
Take a breath!
In theory fire only draws in oxygen from the bottom, so don't know that it would make a difference.
erichasaces
Take a breath!
Are you talking about those vortex cone things?
Cook'n with Wood
Knows what a fatty is.
The Hunsaker Vortex is solid sided. With the air inlet in the bottom of the barrel so air is available from 360 degrees, NO HOT SPOTS. It is sweet!
scrub puller
Knows what a fatty is.
Yair . . .
I have never made a mesh basket. Normally I use twenty pound Propane bottles cut off with mesh across the bottom . . . works fine.
Cheers.
I have never made a mesh basket. Normally I use twenty pound Propane bottles cut off with mesh across the bottom . . . works fine.
Cheers.
Yes. And I believe the newer gateway baskets had solid sides too.
I also think the Hunsaker basket has a ash pan under it. So even though the can draws air from the bottom center it still has to go around the ash pan to get to the basket. So I wonder if it even matters vs a side air entry?
Hoping for someone that's tried different baskets and can comment on actual cook differences (if any).
tduffy
is Blowin Smoke!
The gateway basket has solid sides.
LTG
Take a breath!
I wonder why they went to solid sides? Hopefully gettin basted or Tim will see this and answer.
Basted moral support guy
Knows what a fatty is.
It's a shorter, wider, round basket now. This allows you to put your fire basket on the bottom rack and grill steaks without burning up your drum. I'm sure there are other reasons too. Tim was using them in competitions before he released them (as still is, as far as I know), so maybe there are benefits I don't know about.
I obviously don't really know a lot about the drums, I just clean them and light them. :-D
Kentster911
Knows what a fatty is.
Will your foot still fit in these new fire boxes?
Basted moral support guy
Knows what a fatty is.
Fortunately, I haven't found out yet.
tduffy
is Blowin Smoke!
Awesome Idea, I'm gonna have to get a set of grill grates for it and give it a try.
gettinbasted
is Blowin Smoke!
I called Tim every name under the sun when he started playing around with a new basket earlier this summer, and then he started kicking my ass. So I switched, because nobody is happy when that is happening.
Honestly, I can't tell the difference. I've got drums with each kind of fire basket and it never crosses my mind when I'm lighting up.
It does make a mean steak, however. We went through 2 entire SRF gold grade beef tenderloins over the New Years weekend doing some important "research"
Honestly, I can't tell the difference. I've got drums with each kind of fire basket and it never crosses my mind when I'm lighting up.
It does make a mean steak, however. We went through 2 entire SRF gold grade beef tenderloins over the New Years weekend doing some important "research"
cmohr74
Full Fledged Farker
I have asked this question before myself about the solid sides and the answers are spot on.
1. you get the heat focused where you need it to, up, where the food is.
2. when cooking hot and fast, if cooking with mesh sides, you WILL burn the paint off or discolor it if the fire gets too hot.
1. you get the heat focused where you need it to, up, where the food is.
2. when cooking hot and fast, if cooking with mesh sides, you WILL burn the paint off or discolor it if the fire gets too hot.
swamprb
somebody shut me the fark up.
I have the both Hunsaker Smokers Vortex Firebaskets, the only difference is one has legs that support the ash pan and lift it off the bottom of the drum. The other I'm using in a 22" WSM.
So, if I'm understanding correctly, the new Gateway basket is designed to sit on the bottom grate for grilling? Kind of like the BPS basket in the upper level?
So, if I'm understanding correctly, the new Gateway basket is designed to sit on the bottom grate for grilling? Kind of like the BPS basket in the upper level?
swamprb
somebody shut me the fark up.
We got heat shields for 2 of the Hunsaker baskets, they are removable unlike the Gateway heat shields. Not that it matters I suppose, but I've had both my Gateway and Hunsaker clones over 450* without the shields with no paint scorching.
After cooking with the shields they do use less fuel and heat up fast
swamprb
somebody shut me the fark up.
I started using the Vortex firebasket in my Big Drum Smoker clones (55 & 85 gallon) with 3/4" side intakes along with the BPS can with no issues whatsoever.
It worked so well, I built a Hunsaker clone with the bottom intake.
And a kinda sorta Gateway with two tear drop intakes (next one will have down tubes)
And just started playing around with the Vortex for the 22" WSM which we know have side vents.
That should put any fears of using a solid basket to rest??
No one has mentioned the PBC which has a solid ring for the basket.
swamprb
somebody shut me the fark up.
Anyone know if the BPS Gateway cans come with the new basket?
gettinbasted
is Blowin Smoke!
To my knowledge, the inner ring inside of a Gateway are removable for cleaning purposes.
Basted moral support guy
Knows what a fatty is.
The new Gateway basket can be used just like the normal basket for smoking (it runs the same as far as I can tell), or it can be put on the bottom grate for grilling. It's a two-fer...or something like that.
