Ugly Drum Smoker

Displaced Texan · Mar 25, 2015

I used a deep fryer turkey thermometer... long probe and correct temp range. I used some small brass compression fittings to mount it to the drum.

Something like this: http://amzn.com/B00SKO7BWI

wdpope1 · Mar 25, 2015

thanks ebijack but I found that I need to clean fire basket between cooks found a burnt chunk of goo which caused bad burn
smoked 2 Butts ( 15 1/2 pounds)all night and temp held 220 233 all night checking hourly intill temp of 203 foiled smaller of the 2 put in cooler covered with cotton towels, larger one took another 1 1/2 hrs to get to 205 put in cooler for 3 hours shredded sauced, lasted an hour at party people didnt even use buns was just piling on plate and I thought I was going to have some for lunch that week

ebijack · Mar 26, 2015

wdpope1 said:
thanks ebijack but I found that I need to clean fire basket between cooks found a burnt chunk of goo which caused bad burn

I clean my baskets and drums before each cook, add fresh coals to the basket, wood then any left over coals and more wood. I don't like using lump due to finding way to many objects that should not be in there in every brand I have tried. The last bag of RO I had I found wall insulation pieces and a couple of rocks/hard objects in the bag.
Just to be noted in this long UDS build thread:
I am able to swap my flat/dome lids between both drums during cooks. Something I haven't been able to figure out is why the dome lid requires a bit more intake to reach the same temp as the flat lid. I would think the dome lid should flow better.

wdpope1 · Mar 26, 2015

making butt pron sat night cousin and family coming up from Tenn
his mom has bragged about it so now he wants to try some
now that i got my head on straight

Bbqallday · Apr 12, 2015

nathan said:
View attachment 107082
Finished my 1st. build today. Excited to get this thing smoking.

Hey Nathan is that a blue paint on there? Where did you get the paint from?

Clay-b-que · Apr 12, 2015

Built a UDS. Got a river county thermometer 4" version. Now I know why you DO NOT want a long probe. It makes it very difficult to get the basket out!!! Just an FYI for those of you who are as intelligent as I am.

wdpope1 · Apr 19, 2015

cousin and family eat 17 pds of smoked butt in less than 24 hrs they were very happy and so was my aunt
got to remember how to insert pic

wdpope1 · Apr 19, 2015

before I forget you al got to try smokin a chuck roast it was awsome

Razor800 · Apr 29, 2015

First post, be gentle. Often read that the hardest part of building a UDS is finding a barrel. I found this to be an honest assessment, however after months of searching, I found one. **Pause to let the applause die down** To my dismay it has a red liner. I have always loved everything Baskin Robbins, except inexpensive barrels from them. My plan is to propane weed torch it. Will that work? Follow up plan is Comet and elbow grease. As a noob, am I on the right track?

gaspipe1 · Apr 29, 2015

Razor800 said:
First post, be gentle. Often read that the hardest part of building a UDS is finding a barrel. I found this to be an honest assessment, however after months of searching, I found one. **Pause to let the applause die down** To my dismay it has a red liner. I have always loved everything Baskin Robbins, except inexpensive barrels from them. My plan is to propane weed torch it. Will that work? Follow up plan is Comet and elbow grease. As a noob, am I on the right track?

I never had to deal with the red liner, but be glad you noticed it. From what I read from the farkers here, you need to start a barn fire. I think the magic number was 3 wooden pallets. Drill the vent holes on the bottom since you will need air. I hear some guys used a leaf blower to feed it more air.

In my opinion, It's easier to start a fire and drink a beer rather than stick my head in a drum w/ a weed burner. Good luck and I know you will love it once it's all said and done with!

PS
My advice regarding vents/exhusts. Have 4 holes on the bottom. 3 of them the normal/smaller size 2 with caps and 1 with a valve. And one big one, i went to HD and looked for a metal hole cutter and threaded pipe w/cap to match. Then if you have a bung hole on the lid get like a 3" pipe to thread into that with a cap.

After all that I never had an issue running at any temp I needed.

LifeLongWNYer · Apr 30, 2015

Vent Size Clarification Request

gaspipe1 said:
I Have 4 holes on the bottom. 3 of them the normal/smaller size 2 with caps and 1 with a valve.

The new guy from WNY here again..... so what is the "normal" size? I'm not sure the guy in my plumbing supply store would know what I'm talking about when I ask for the "UDS normal size vent".

Also help me with the math. It says "4 holes" Then "3 normal.... 2 with caps and 1 with a valve." I am guessing that 3 holes, with 2 of them with caps ans 1 of them with a valve is what was intended.

Thanks,

JBP

.

gaspipe1 · Apr 30, 2015

LifeLongWNYer said:
The new guy from WNY here again..... so what is the "normal" size? I'm not sure the guy in my plumbing supply store would know what I'm talking about when I ask for the "UDS normal size vent".

Also help me with the math. It says "4 holes" Then "3 normal.... 2 with caps and 1 with a valve." I am guessing that 3 holes, with 2 of them with caps ans 1 of them with a valve is what was intended.

Thanks,

JBP

.

Read this..
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43943

that should give you all the info you need. Like I said the only thing I did was do a larger hole in the back. I forget the size, perhaps 2". But when you goto HD see what pipe and caps they have, if it's 2.5" then do that, if it's 1 3/4 do that.

funugy · Apr 30, 2015

^^^ I used the same thread as a guide to build my UDS. For those of you that don't weld check out post #40 in the same thread, it shows that you can use conduit locknuts. I've been using them on mine since I built it a couple years ago and have no air leaks. I have had to re-tighten them a couple time is all.

LifeLongWNYer · Apr 30, 2015

Okay, thanks Gas Pipe. I'm still a little overwhelmed with the amount of posts/threads. Once I find something useful, and move on, it is hard to get back to the one that I thought was good. I now am bookmarking them and putting the bookmarks into named folders. Even search didn't work, it brought make TOO many posts.

Take care,

JBP

.

hb2474 · May 11, 2015

PVC Valve

Has anybody tried using a PVC valve with a high pipe. Seems to me that it wouldn't be hot enough up there to melt it. Lot cheaper than metal ball valve.

hrhcsh · May 13, 2015

Found a Drum that is tapered at top

Just by accident I found a drum that is tapered the last 5" at the top... the outside dimension is 22 3/8" a Weber 22.5" lid should fit perfectly without any bending or hammering. I might be able to get more drums ?? If anyone is interested. NE Alabama

12ring · May 13, 2015

My buddy has one like that and it's actually to tapered. The lid didn't fit well. Hopefully yours fits better.

pizzakngjr · May 16, 2015

Lined?

I am reading through all 800+ pages of this post, and bear with me as I am only on page 181 since I started reading last week!

What say you brethren? Is this unlined?

It contained vegetable base for making soap, I was told by the company I bought it from it is food grade, so I went out and took a wire cup to the lid. Only used my hand, didn't put it in a drill.

It still has soap base residue which I will take to the car wash and wash it out, do I still need to do the burns? Or season and cook?

Thanks!

Wahoo95 · May 16, 2015

pizzakngjr said:
I am reading through all 800+ pages of this post, and bear with me as I am only on page 181 since I started reading last week!

What say you brethren? Is this unlined?

It contained vegetable base for making soap, I was told by the company I bought it from it is food grade, so I went out and took a wire cup to the lid. Only used my hand, didn't put it in a drill.

It still has soap base residue which I will take to the car wash and wash it out, do I still need to do the burns? Or season and cook?

Thanks!

Appears unlined to me.

fat_bastard · May 16, 2015

hrhcsh said:
Just by accident I found a drum that is tapered the last 5" at the top... the outside dimension is 22 3/8" a Weber 22.5" lid should fit perfectly without any bending or hammering. I might be able to get more drums ?? If anyone is interested. NE Alabama

Are these the blue ones that had Tomato paste in them? I got one from a guy up on Grant Mtn that had a barn full of them. Note that they have the Red Liner of Annoyance.

Ugly Drum Smoker

Knows what a fatty is.

Is lookin for wood to cook with.

Babbling Farker

Is lookin for wood to cook with.

Got Wood.

is Blowin Smoke!

Is lookin for wood to cook with.

Is lookin for wood to cook with.

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

Full Fledged Farker

Knows what a fatty is.

Full Fledged Farker

Take a breath!

Knows what a fatty is.

Found some matches.

MemberGot rid of the matchlight.

Full Fledged Farker

Knows what a fatty is.

Knows what a fatty is.

Knows what a fatty is.

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