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how hot does the exterior of a UDS get during a cook?

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upjeeper

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how hot does the outside of a UDS get during a cook?

reason I ask, is that I want to build a cart for my smoker and i'm thinking 2x4's are probably not the best solution
i've got a MIG welder and it's not problem to make it from angle iron.
 
I'd say purty hot. About as hot as the air temp inside of it. I'd think if you kept a clearance gap you'll be OK. Even a fireplace flu only requires inches of space for code. Also, I doubt the drum's ever going to get so hot that the lumber will combust.
 
got it.
will make the cart out of angle iron.

wifey saw my working on my USG the other day,then she made a comment about how i need a plasma torch... :)
 
I wouldn't worry as long as there is an air gap. If you're nervous, get some light gauge aluminum and bend and tack it to the surf=ace that would contact the drum.
 
It gets as hot as inside, but, it only takes an air gap if a couple of inches to protect against fire.
 
It gets very hot around the bottom of the barrel. Hot enough to burn your hand. like everyone else said, either allow for a few inches of air or use some cheap aluminum
 
Naw, all of you suggesting all that is needed is a small air gap are completely wrong.... sorry for the accusation.

Upjeepers is exactly right, he definitely needs to make it out of angle iron because of the latent fire damage when the UDS is unsupervised during the run to the refrig for more refreshments.

I managed to convince my wife that I needed a welder using the same logic that I needed to build something….. forget what it was, but I’m sure it was important at the time…. Ujeeprs, you definitely need a plasma torch, cutting the steel with the band saw, angle grinder, hacksaw, or chop saw is NOT the best way.

– Ujeepers, if you need any support please let me know!!

J

RMR
 
upjeeper said:
how hot does the outside of a UDS get during a cook?

reason I ask, is that I want to build a cart for my smoker and i'm thinking 2x4's are probably not the best solution
i've got a MIG welder and it's not problem to make it from angle iron.
Click to expand...

do you have a good source for drums in the Madison area? I may want to build a UDS at some point...feel free to PM me if you'd prefer.
thanks!
 
The International Mechanical Code would consider it an unlisted appliance and would require a clearance of 36" to combustibles. Use angle iron; it's not worth the risk.
 
When looking at the side of a 55 galllon barrel, divided by the two or three strength rings temps are as follows on my design: top third 165, milddle 167 and bottom is 174 degrees with very little variation. My design uses firebricks for the lower third, so unlined without bricks will be significantly higher. The lids measured 173. This is when cooking at 250 inside. Steve.
 
N8man said:
this morning @19* I was hugging mine for warmth...
I bet the neighbors thought I'd finally lost it......
Click to expand...

Your wife or your drum??? My wife would think I'd lost it if I hugged her in the morning instead of my drum :biggrin1:

As for clearance...yeah, go with the angle iron.
Some time ago, someone posted pics of a deck that caught on fire after they left a UDS on it unattended after they pulled the meat off of it and forgot to snuff it out.
 
Wood can deteriorate from long term exposure to heat and that can cause it to ignite at lower temperature. I don't recall the time or temperature required but it was covered in a fire science class.

If you decide to go with wood, only ever use it in a location where it will not set your house, garage, car etc on fire should it light up. For that matter, I always keep burning stuff away from the house and garage and cars. I don't want to be one mistake away from burning my house down.

citation: from http://www.inspectionnews.net/home_...83-attic-insulation-around-furnace-flues.html

"Wood exposed to heat, such as wood framing too close to a metal chimney in a building, is chemically transformed in an important way: its ignition point or combustion point is lowered - the wood can actually catch fire at a lower temperature. This means that by pyrolosis, wood and some other combustibles found in buildings are chemically changed by exposure to even relatively low but warm temperatures over time." (emphasis mine)
 
I do not have a pic of what I did with mine, but words should do. Went to Harbor freight and bought a $40 two wheeled hand truck. This one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-hand-truck-95061.html

I bolted the drum to it so the bottom was 4" off the ground. A couple of 4" tall feet were bolted to the bottom of the drum for stability. This set up makes it very easy to move the drum around. No potential fires or fatigue either. Very happy with it. Not only does it work well, my drum has a red Weber top so it looks great too!
 
I dont have pics of mine at the time but I took a cart from an old grill and welded tabs so the drum couldn't run away from it it works great, and I have the table tops on both sides of the UDS
 
Hmm. Strange. The lowest third of my barrel, and the bottom, are always cooler than the top 2/3rds. I use no bricks on the inside, btw. I was showing my 4yr old boy this just yesterday. While running at cooking temp I can touch and hold the bottom and the lower 3rd. But try to go any higher and you immediately have to jerk your hand back.

Don't get me wrong though, I'd never set it directly on wood. I space mine off my deck with bricks.
 
Smokin' D said:
I do not have a pic of what I did with mine, but words should do. Went to Harbor freight and bought a $40 two wheeled hand truck. This one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-hand-truck-95061.html

I bolted the drum to it so the bottom was 4" off the ground. A couple of 4" tall feet were bolted to the bottom of the drum for stability. This set up makes it very easy to move the drum around. No potential fires or fatigue either. Very happy with it. Not only does it work well, my drum has a red Weber top so it looks great too!
Click to expand...

thanks.
this is actually on sale at HF this week. maybe i will pick one up.
feel free to PM me if you want the coupon

and i don't have a source in madison, per se, for drums, but i know a guy in MN who ships food grade barrels with a red liner and i know a guy in madison who does sandblasting...
 
upjeeper said:
thanks.
this is actually on sale at HF this week. maybe i will pick one up.
feel free to PM me if you want the coupon

and i don't have a source in madison, per se, for drums, but i know a guy in MN who ships food grade barrels with a red liner and i know a guy in madison who does sandblasting...
Click to expand...

ahh...it's nice to know a guy sometimes :icon_smile_tongue:
 
Mine gets too hot to touch especially the closer you get to the bottom.
 
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