UDS build completed!!! First cook today!!!

dbleyepatches · Newbie Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Nebraska

After looking and reading several posts on here I officially started my UDS build. Today I built the charcoal basket incorporating several of the baskets seen on this site recently. I used the idea of attaching the pizza pan to the bottom to catch the ash, using the sheet metal seperator to force the coals to burn around the basket, and the weber charcoal grate from the 22" kettle.

I won't have the drum until next tuesday so I am at a near standstill until then. I will figure out how to post pics and keep you posted on the build.

I did however find 2 non-selfbasting turkeys that I am going to make as my first smoke with an apple brine that I am just dying to try.

One question, where do you guys find apple of cherry wood for smoking poultry? I can find very small apple chips but I can not find fruit wood chunks anywhere.

k.a.m. · Posted: Nov 05 2009 Post subject:

dbleyepatches, sounds like you are off to a great start Very Happy

I will be watching for some updates. I have the same problem around here on the Apple or Cherry chunks. No one has them.
To post pics here is a link to a tutorial, and if you resize your pics to 640 x 480 they are forum ready.
http://thesmokering.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4096
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Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

spunkymunky · BBQ Fan Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 236 Location: Tulsa, OK

Looking forward to following the birth of a new UDS. Please document with pictres. I can find pecan wood but apple and cherry are nonexistent here in Tulsa. Food Pyramid carries large bags of pecan. Give that a try on your turkeys.
_________________
I came into this world with nothing and proud to say that I have most of it left.
ECB Propane Water Smoker (Modified)
TEC-CharBroil Infrared 5 Burner Grill w/Side
NEW UDS (She's a beauty)
Mod. Smoke Cube & Aussie 2 Burner-Lake House

dbleyepatches · Newbie Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Nebraska

I finished the charcoal basket yesterday and tomorrow I am getting the drum. I have not taked any pics yet but I will take several tomorrow before and after sandblasting.

Two questions. Is it really necessary to use stainless steel bolts to hold the grates? The barrel is not stainless and the grate is not stainless either so I guess I dont see the point in spending the extra money.

Will it be ok to use galvenized pipe for the air inlet? I plan on drilling the holes in the barrel and welding the pipes into place. I was going to paint them with the rest of the barrel. I can't imagine that after the break in cook to season the barrel that the galvenized pipe will give me any problems but I wanted to make sure.

DreChar · Posted: Nov 10 2009 Post subject:

I just gotta say that is one nice looking bully you got there in your avatar

BluzQue · Posted: Nov 11 2009 Post subject:

Sounds like a great start on the UDS dbleyepatches
Lookin' forward to posts of the progress & cooks.

Cool

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" A Touch of Hickory and a Taste of the Blues "

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OLE BOY OFFSET SMOKER
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WHISKEY BARREL SMOKER

dbleyepatches · Newbie Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Nebraska

dbleyepatches · Newbie Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Nebraska

Here are the pics that I promised. I did not get any pics of the barrel before sandblasting since I can barely run the fancy camera that we have by myself Rolling Eyes

Here are the pics of the barrel. This barrel must be a little smaller that most of the ones you guys are getting. I had to add a 3/4" X 1/8" ring to the top to get the 22" kettle lid to fit. Since I did not have to modify the lid, I can still use it on the grill!

This is the charcoal basket that I made. I used a charcoal grate from 22" kettle and expanded metal for the sides. This is the non-slip expanded metal instead of the flat. I would not recommend using this stuff. It is incredibly sharp compared to the flat expanded. I also used the idea of the $3.97 wal-mart pizza pan and the sheet metal divider. I am going to add handles to make it easier to remove from the barrel.

I have a 20 quart stainless steel mixing bowl on order and it should be in today or tomorrow that I am going to use for a water/dripping bowl like K.A.M. did on his wife's build.

This is a combination of all of the builds that I have seen on this site and I appreciate all of the information and help that you guys have provided. I would not have been able to get this far, this fast, without this site.

spunkymunky · BBQ Fan Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 236 Location: Tulsa, OK

Great looking build. I like the basket idea the first time that I saw it here. I plan to do a new basket soon and will incorporate that into my new one. Looking forward to pic of your first cook. Very Happy

_________________
I came into this world with nothing and proud to say that I have most of it left.
ECB Propane Water Smoker (Modified)
TEC-CharBroil Infrared 5 Burner Grill w/Side
NEW UDS (She's a beauty)
Mod. Smoke Cube & Aussie 2 Burner-Lake House

BluzQue · Posted: Nov 13 2009 Post subject:

Man that really worked out for you with the Weber lid not havin' to be altered! I like the looks of your charcoal basket alot! Keep us posted
dbleyepatches The UDS is conin' along great Very Happy

_________________
" A Touch of Hickory and a Taste of the Blues "

GOOD MUSIC GOOD FOOD GOOD BEER GREAT FRIENDS

OLE BOY OFFSET SMOKER
WEBER PERFORMER GRILL
WHISKEY BARREL SMOKER

Jimbob · Posted: Nov 13 2009 Post subject:

Looking GOOD! I can smell that turkey in there already!

Using a metal ring inside, outside or directly on top of the barrel to size it to the Weber lid is the way to go. Like you pointed out, you can still use the lid on the grill. Best of both worlds.
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Ugly Drum Smoker

k.a.m. · Posted: Nov 13 2009 Post subject:

dbleyepatches, your cooker build is looking fantastic Very Happy

I like your basket that is a keeper. I will be watching for more updates. Smile

_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

mtrammel · Posted: Nov 13 2009 Post subject:

That basket is a great idea. Great work!
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UDS

dbleyepatches · Newbie Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Nebraska

I just noticed that most of the UDS builds use 3/4" pipe for the air inlet. I have 3, 1/2" pipe nipples and one 1/2" ball valve that I am planning on using. Do you guys think that the 1/2" pipe will be big enough? I guess that I could add another ball valve and have 2 of them which would help if needed.

k.a.m. · Posted: Nov 13 2009 Post subject:

dbleyepatches, from what I have read and seen on how little air it takes to keep one going I would say you should be fine.
_________________
Always remember slow and steady wins the race.

Hybrid Cooker

dbleyepatches · Newbie Joined: 18 May 2008 Posts: 39 Location: Nebraska

Well she is pretty much finished up. Just finished the charcoal basket and got the paint on.

Here is the finished basket. I liked the idea of having handles on the basket but I didn't want them to be attached perminantly because if I needed to remove the basket while it was hot that could pose a problem. I welded some washers onto the basket and made some handles with hooks to grab onto the basket. Here are the pics:

With 3 coats of green paint (my 4 year old daughter informed me that black smokers are ugly) and the grate bolts installed I think that I am about ready to go. I also added a second pipe and ball valve. I used 1/2" pipe and got nervous that one valve was not going to be enough. They are different heights because I bought a 24" pipe nipple first and that was the only one that they had so I had to settle for an 18" pipe nipple for the second valve. I also used a drilled out 3/4" bolt that is installed just below the grate for the turkey thermometer to mount into (thanks K.A.M.).

In about 10 minutes I am going to fire it up for its break-in. I also had to include the pic with my "helper" Diesel the rescue pit-bull.

Thank you to everyone that answered my dumb questions and also for posting your builds on the site. I never would have taked this project on without the help that I got here.

12TH AV SMOKERS · Posted: Nov 15 2009 Post subject:

Nice build. Sweet basket. What's the reason for the center tube and the sheet metal divider. I'm sure there must be a thread already explaining that??
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FATTIE THROWDOWN CHAMP
(2) WBS- Wine Barrel Smokers
(2) BDS - Brick Drum Smokers
(1) UDS - Ugly Drum smoker
SMS - Vertical - wood / gasser

http://www.youngbergindustries.com/

12TH AV SMOKERS · Posted: Nov 15 2009 Post subject:

Doh! I think I understand. So to answer my own question. Hot coals go in the middle and the sheet metal provides air??
_________________
FATTIE THROWDOWN CHAMP
(2) WBS- Wine Barrel Smokers
(2) BDS - Brick Drum Smokers
(1) UDS - Ugly Drum smoker
SMS - Vertical - wood / gasser

http://www.youngbergindustries.com/

day_trippr · Posted: Nov 15 2009 Post subject:

The center of that basket is not for charcoal - lit or otherwise. The charcoal goes in the outer section, and lit coals are placed on the pile at one side of the divider, and allowed to burn around the "ring", approximating a "Minion Method" burn. The center section is to form the "ring"...

Cheers
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spunkymunky · BBQ Fan Joined: 02 Sep 2009 Posts: 236 Location: Tulsa, OK

Can't wait to see pictures of it all fired up and the first cook. Awesome build and paint job.
_________________
I came into this world with nothing and proud to say that I have most of it left.
ECB Propane Water Smoker (Modified)
TEC-CharBroil Infrared 5 Burner Grill w/Side
NEW UDS (She's a beauty)
Mod. Smoke Cube & Aussie 2 Burner-Lake House