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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 17 2011 Post subject: My MUDS (Mini UDS) |
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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. _________________ Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe |
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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 17 2011 Post subject: |
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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 |
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erniesshop BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 11 Jan 2009 Posts: 2104 Location: Grants New Mexico
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Posted: Jan 17 2011 Post subject: |
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Nice Looking Lil Smoker !! |
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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 17 2011 Post subject: |
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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 |
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ELM2627
Joined: 28 Jun 2008 Posts: 5
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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 17 2011 Post subject: |
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ELM2627 wrote: | http://tvwbb.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1840039023/m/5870049575 |
Any help on the link would be appreciated. It is 21 pages long. Is there something in there for a solution to the ash clogging the vents? _________________ Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe |
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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 17 2011 Post subject: |
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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. _________________ Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe |
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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 17 2011 Post subject: |
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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. _________________ Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe |
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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 18 2011 Post subject: |
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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?  _________________ Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe |
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BamsBBQ BBQ Fan

Joined: 28 Mar 2009 Posts: 125 Location: Houston,TX
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Posted: Jan 19 2011 Post subject: |
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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 _________________ smokey joe smoker |
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gansomn BBQ Fan
Joined: 16 Mar 2008 Posts: 118
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Posted: Jan 19 2011 Post subject: |
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That is killer. I am going to start mine in a few days. Nice work. |
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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 19 2011 Post subject: |
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gansomn wrote: | That is killer. I am going to start mine in a few days. Nice work. |
Thanks! I hope to use mine again either this week or this weekend. _________________ Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe |
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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 22 2011 Post subject: |
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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. _________________ Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe |
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k.a.m. BBQ Mega Star

Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 26020 Location: Southeast Texas.
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Posted: Jan 22 2011 Post subject: |
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SVonhof, awesome job on your cooker it looks fantastic. I also use Hell Fire Grill's spacer idea with great success. It helps maintain an even burn around the basket.  _________________ Always remember slow and steady wins the race.
Hybrid Cooker |
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El Ropo BBQ Fan
Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Posts: 331 Location: Austin, TX
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Posted: Jan 22 2011 Post subject: |
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Interesting. My head is spinning with ideas. Isn't that what makes this more of a passion, than a hobby? |
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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 22 2011 Post subject: |
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El Ropo wrote: | Interesting. My head is spinning with ideas. Isn't that what makes this more of a passion, than a hobby? |
But of course!
k.a.m., after seeing the small amount of coal needed to use this smoker for 3 hours, I figured this would be a great thing to do to maintain the smoke as it moves around the ring instead of just burning the wood all at once by dumping the lit coals in the middle on top of everything. I may do the same thing with the basket in my UDS if it works like I think it will... _________________ Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe |
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k.a.m. BBQ Mega Star

Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 26020 Location: Southeast Texas.
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Posted: Jan 22 2011 Post subject: |
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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 |
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AJP BBQ Fan

Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Posts: 101 Location: Manhattan, KS
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Posted: Jan 24 2011 Post subject: |
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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? _________________ My amazing UDS!! |
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SVonhof BBQ Super Pro

Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 1420 Location: Central Valley, Ca
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Posted: Jan 24 2011 Post subject: |
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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 |
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AJP BBQ Fan

Joined: 23 Dec 2009 Posts: 101 Location: Manhattan, KS
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Posted: Jan 24 2011 Post subject: |
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SVonhof wrote: | 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. |
I think if maybe you made bigger slots in the ash mod and made it taller it would get more air.
I don't plan to try to force the coals to burn one way just maybe the ash mod. A guy on the weber board tried to make an ash sweeper out of the cut out from the pot. I havent seen more than one or two posts about it yet but I am reading all 22 pages of that thread. _________________ My amazing UDS!! |
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