collegiate uds new pictures and build

aquasport · Nov 5, 2009

Here are some pictures of the newest builds. I am building 3 right now. 1 will be black, 1 is going to be Gamecocks and the other is going to be an Alabama Crimson Tide. I will post pictures as I go and of course the finished product. I can't find the pictures I had of the charcoal basket but I did have 1 of it in the drum but it is not very good. I will take more and post them also.

the cutout for the access door.

assembly line

the access door in progress

the bolts installed to for the grill rack

closeup of the dampers on the clemson uds. There is one on each side of every uds I build. The hole is 1 1/4".

the damper opened.

a not so good picture of the charcoal basket. all this is is a stainless steel grill wok you can buy from Home Depot for $14. It might hold about 10lbs. of charcoal. I use 3" bolts for legs and all thread for the handle. My latest builds use a 16" round pizza pan installed on the legs of the basket as an ash catcher. I will post more pics of the baskets soon.

I will post more pictures as I get them.

dodgeramsst2003 · Nov 5, 2009

Aqua,

Good looking build. What are you using to cut the holes in the sides of the barrels, whiz wheel,grinder?

aquasport · Nov 5, 2009

A jig saw with a good metal blade for the access door cutouts and a metal hole saw for the damper holes.

Barbarian · Nov 5, 2009

Just curious, but why not just make a bigger charcoal basket and avoid putting a door in the side of the drum and risking air leaks??

Mine is 17" in diameter and 10" tall. Have never checked how many pounds of charcoal it will hold, but filled like this will last 12 hours with coals left over. I have never had to refill during a cook.

Next time I open a new bag I will see how much it will hold.

aquasport · Nov 5, 2009

Cost. I have priced it out using expanded and it will cost me more the way steel prices are. Besides, I can get 10 hrs at 225 with this basket. If I'm cooking at 250 around 6 hrs and then have to add more charcoal to maintain 250 but that is only when doing butts. I always turn my butts half way through so that is the time when I add more charcoal. The access door is sealed so no smoke or heat escapes there. It is nice to have. I have been using these for 3 years with good success. When I can't buy the stainless baskets anymore than I will probably switch to expanded.

BobBrisket · Nov 5, 2009

Cool ideas!!

computerbuilder · Nov 5, 2009

Wow these are great! I can hardly wait to see the Gamecock one.

I am almost convinced to try my hand at doing one.

What kind of paint do you use?

Smokey Al Gold · Nov 6, 2009

I so need to make one of these

aquasport · Nov 6, 2009

Here are some more pictures during the build and the almost finished products. I still have to put the dampers on and touch up the smoke stacks from the overspray but they are pretty much finished.

Installing access door

Drilled hole to install smoke stack

Smoke stacks installed

1st UDS in plain black

Gamecock UDS--color is a little off from taking picture in the dark

Alabama Crimson Tide UDS

Still have to touch up the overspray on the stacks

My favorite team and UDS

chinesebob · Nov 6, 2009

Those are freaking AWESOME! Well Done.

NorthwestBBQ · Nov 7, 2009

Great looking drum builds. I can't wait to see some pron of your cooks on them.

aquasport · Nov 7, 2009

More pictures of collegiate builds. Northwest, I have guys buying these so it will be a while before I post any pron. Trust me, I wish I was cooking on them.

I think this one came out a little too purple for some reason. I might have to repaint it. Give me some opinions please.

txags2011 · Nov 7, 2009

Ok, these are awesome. The door is a nice touch especially if it is well sealed, though I have never had to add midway through thus far. I assume the stack doubles as your lid handle? really makes me want to repaint mine...

Hugh Jorgan · Nov 7, 2009

Man! Those are really nice drums! I have been itching to put a door on one for all wood cooking.

I thought you said in a previous thread that you used a sealant or gasket on the door to make it air tight. Do you just use the latch and leave it at that? Can you shut the drum down completely and make the fire die out to save charcoal?

Really nice work! Enjoy the game tonight.

Go Tigers!

aquasport · Nov 7, 2009

Hugh, I use a black rubber seal around the door to make it air tight. I can't shut it down completely because there is no damper on the stack but if I shut off the bottom dampers it does put the coals out but not right away but quick enough that there are still plenty left to use another day.

GusRobin · Nov 7, 2009

Where do you get the paint? Most places I looked mainly carry the rustoleum black.
Thanks

MrJP1957 · Nov 7, 2009

Only problem I see is that the Alabama drum isn't number 1. Oh, and none of them really qualify as an "UGLY" drum smoker.

aquasport · Nov 7, 2009

Gus, after building quite a few of these I have found out that you can use any brand of good quality paint. I stick with Rustoleum, Valspar and Krylon. Any of them hold up to the heat. I accidentally let the Gamecock smoker get up to 410 deg. today because I left both dampers open and it didn't do anything to the paint. Luckily I was just doing a dry run before the guy I made it for came and got it so there wasn't any meat on it or it would have been history.

GusRobin · Nov 7, 2009

They the high temp paint or just the "regular" paint?

aquasport · Nov 7, 2009

Regular paint. IMO, high temp. paint is only if you plan on being above 500 deg. But, if you happen to have a grease fire in your uds then there is a good chance the paint will burn off the drum so avoid any grease fires and you will be ok. Sometimes when I take the lid off the rush of oxygen catches the wood on fire that I have in there but it still isn't hot enough to burn off the paint and usually when you put the lid back on the fire goes right out.

collegiate uds new pictures and build

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