uds build

So I have gotten a slightly used 85 gallon stainless UDS. It has been used about la dozen times and I am thinking of making some modifications. It has 4 - 1/2” intake holes and the lid has 8 - 1/2” exhaust holes. To regulate the intake air it uses 1/2” conduit knockout covers. I am...

Hi everyone! I’m building my first smoker-a conventional UDS. I’ve read several threads about cleaning/prepping the barrel. So I got a reconditioned barrel that apparently held food (had a food company logo painted on the side). It didn’t have the plastic liner inside like some I’ve read about...

Hey all so I am looking at a 55 gallon uds build and need some advice/explanations. Is it necessary to have top vents? I mainly ask because I see a number of people here making a big deal out of it and additionally many here and elsewhere endorsing the pit barrel cooker kit which I don't think...

Finally got my hands on a free Craigslist 55 gallon barrel. I have done a little research on building a UDS barrel smoker but now that I have my barre, I am realizing that a sealed barrel is a little more complicated to deal with. I have tools and am confident I can remove the lid, however, I...

I keep reading about people putting legs on the ash pan for their UDS grate. Is there any reason the pan can't just sit on the bottom of the drum?

So I'm new to this whole smoking thing & figured I'd go the cheap route to see if I'd use a smoker enough to warrant anything "better" ( IE: More expensive ). I've got a 55 gallon drum. It's food grade, without a liner, but it has a crimped lid that isn't removable (well, it isn't supposed to...

Built myself a UDS this weekend. Got a 55 gallon bare steel drum, some expanded metal, and put it all together with an angle grinder and nuts and bolts. For the grates and the bottom of the fire box I got 3/4" #9 expanded metal from a local shop and cut it to size with my angle grinder (went...

I just finished my UDS last week. I'm brand new to smoking. I have 3 1" holes about 2" from the bottom and 8 1/4" exhaust vents in the lid. I use ceramic magnets to cover the vents. My thermometer is just below the grill and is about 2" long. I've read that the outside of the barrel tends to be...

Just got a brand new no liner RED 55 gallon drum. The company produced the wrong color. Anyway, The color is perfect. My question is Can I get away without painting this drum or will the it start peeling if I dont paint it. I have always sanded my drums and painted them different colors but...

After talking a bit with Charredapron about how to best get lots of food made for my kids' end-of-year school party, he said the best thing to do would just be to spend a bit of cash and build a UDS. So I cruised around on the threads here for a bit while I waited for my three brand-new...

Ok so I am about to embark on my first UDS build. I have acquired a Drum as well as a Weber kettle off a local classified. I am planning on installing 3 tracks/brackets on the inside so I can adjust the height of the racks. I will use the weber lid, and pipe nipples with uprights and ball...

I'm working through building my first UDS, and it's going well. I'll post some pics soon. I have run into a couple of bumps and wondered if anyone had similar issues in the past. First issue is I am having a hard time finding a large enough piece of expanded metal for my charcoal basket...

Well here we go then First of all sorrie for my englich ill try to keep it so everyone can reed it (im actually dutch) Today was a good day to start my first smoker/UDS build And i started with the heart of the monster the charkole box i had these two stainless grills lying around been...

High Tech UDS Ugly Drum Smoker's Rotisserie Does Its First 20lb Turkey If you haven't followed the high tech UDS, here is the link: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=195690 A 20lb turkey in an electric smoker might be a challenge. First, it has to fit. Second, a rotisserie...

Just finished the build on this UDS that I researched how to do on here and a few other sites. Took me about three weeks to complete. For those of you not familiar with the logo, that's my alma mater, Eastern Washington University. The football team plays on a red field nicknamed "The Inferno"...

Hey everyone...just finished my first UDS build after doing a ton of research on this site and a few others. Turned out great! Can't wait to upload some photos soon to share with all of you and start smoking some tasty animals. :wink: Looking to get some recipes from some of the more...

FINISHED HIGH TECH UDS UGLY DRUM SMOKER Here are details of my high tech DIY UDS. It might give you ideas on how to build your own so feel free to copy anything that might work for you. Construction details follow in the posts below. These are not step-by-step...

Just got a free barrel that held pear juice and it has a liner. Do I need to burn/sand that out or can I just season over it? Thanks, Jes

Hey y'all. I'm Randall AKA 'Thedge', my handle here in the forum(s). Am new and will be lurking around for awhile, learning the ways. Just finished my first UDS and have used it a bit, prolly a hundred pounds of hardwood chunk charcoal. Ribs, beef slabs, burgers, chickens, sausage...

I have been looking at my options since I opened up my gas commercial charbroil and found it crumbling from the inside out. I decided to make a UDS, and that got me here. All I know about BBQ is to put the meat on until i think its done. A long time ago I started out with what looked like a...