My MUDS (Mini UDS)

SVonhof · Posted: Mon Jan 17 11 2:17 am Post subject: My MUDS (Mini UDS)

As others have done, I started with a Smokey Joe Silver and an Imusa brand 32 quart tamale steamer. I had a hard time finding the tamale steamers and finally found on that was dented up, but discounted to $7 (normally about $23).

Here is the banged up tamale steamer:

The first thing to do was assemble the Smokey Joe and make the mod suggested by somebody else on here (can't remember the user) and make a handle for the vent control on the bottom. This was the longest screw I had and will replace it at some point with a longer bolt:

Mark the hole in the pot using the charcoal grate from the Smokey Joe and then cut it out:

Add some 10-24 nuts and screws to the pot to hold the grills:

I decided to use a 12" terra cotta saucer for a diffuser and heat-sinc, and didn't want to use a grill (I only had the one that came with the Weber since the 18.5" replacement charcoal grills were out of stock. So, I used some longer 10-24 screws and nuts to hold the saucer:

The business side of things:

Time for a paint job on the Aluminum pot:

More to come later. I am going to fire it up and smoke some hot links and a mystery piece of meat from the freezer while the normal UDS is going with the pork butt and the beef ribs.
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Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe

SVonhof · Posted: Mon Jan 17 11 6:57 am Post subject:

Loaded up for the first burn:

I didn't realize the high temp paint I grabbed was flat instead of glossy. Gonna have to get another can at some point:

And with it's big brother in the background:

_________________
Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe

erniesshop · Posted: Mon Jan 17 11 7:28 am Post subject:

Nice Looking Lil Smoker !!

SVonhof · Posted: Mon Jan 17 11 9:02 am Post subject:

Mystery meat in the middle and hot links on:

BTW, this thing holds heat really well and doesn't use much fuel. The vents do clog fairly easily though, so I will be looking for a way to fix that.
_________________
Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe

ELM2627 · Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 5

http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1840039023/m/5870049575

SVonhof · Posted: Mon Jan 17 11 12:25 pm Post subject:

SVonhof · Posted: Mon Jan 17 11 12:40 pm Post subject:

Here is the finished picture of the steak:

It's a little dry, I wasn't sure how hot to get it since I wasn't sure what it was. Obviously I got it too hot since it's dry and well done. Tasty, but salty. I simply used Montreal Steak seasoning.
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Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe

SVonhof · Posted: Mon Jan 17 11 11:21 pm Post subject:

One quick note. The bolt I used for the vent on the bottom needs to be longer than it is now. It got just about too hot to handle and if it was an inch longer I am sure would be fine.

I am also going to try an idea passed on to me by BluDawg for controlling the ash plugging the vent. Results and pictures to be posted later.
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Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe

SVonhof · Posted: Tue Jan 18 11 9:07 am Post subject:

Here is the fuel that was left after running her for about 3 hours yesterday:

Here is my clogging intake solution (slightly modified BluDawg suggestion):

I have not tried it yet, but why wouldn't it work? Wink

_________________
Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe

BamsBBQ · Posted: Wed Jan 19 11 9:28 am Post subject:

she is a beauty.

my solution for the clogging was i bought a stainless pot strainer lid from the dollar store. stepped on it so it would flatten to fit under my charcoal grate..works great
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smokey joe smoker

gansomn · BBQ Fan Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 118

That is killer. I am going to start mine in a few days. Nice work.

SVonhof · Posted: Wed Jan 19 11 1:39 pm Post subject:

SVonhof · Posted: Sat Jan 22 11 8:47 am Post subject:

I replaced the short bolt with a longer one today:

And I decided to follow bud-wie-ser's lead and try to force the charcoal to follow a path so less charcoal is lit at once:

bud-wie-ser's charcoal basket:

from this thread: Show me your...

Will try it out Sunday and see how things work.
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Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe

k.a.m. · Posted: Sat Jan 22 11 9:06 am Post subject:

SVonhof, awesome job on your cooker it looks fantastic. Very Happy

I also use Hell Fire Grill's spacer idea with great success. It helps maintain an even burn around the basket. Smile

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Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

El Ropo · Posted: Sat Jan 22 11 9:10 am Post subject:

Interesting. My head is spinning with ideas. Isn't that what makes this more of a passion, than a hobby?

SVonhof · Posted: Sat Jan 22 11 9:45 am Post subject:

k.a.m. · Posted: Sat Jan 22 11 9:52 am Post subject:

SVonhof, it works very well in a UDS. I got the idea from Hell Fire Grill and I love what it does for the
burn in Debbie's UDS.

_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

AJP · Posted: Mon Jan 24 11 7:44 am Post subject:

I have been wanting to build one of these things for sometime for our camper as well. This post prompted me to order the pot and a grill, should be here in a few days, can't wait.

Also how did that ash mod work out?
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My amazing UDS!!

SVonhof · Posted: Mon Jan 24 11 10:18 am Post subject:

The ash mod worked great but one thing I didn't expect was that I had to have the vent all the way open to keep the heat level high enough. I think that was a combination of both the ash mod and the mod to force the coals to follow the path.

BTW after I was done and everything cooled I pulled the tin can vent snorkel out and pulled the pieces apart more to allow more air flow.
_________________
Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe

AJP · Posted: Mon Jan 24 11 10:22 am Post subject: