My first UDS build but definitely not my last! (pic heavy)

mnmgri4

Here is my first attempt at the UDS.
I started with an open top food grade barrel and took it to a local Sandblasting shop and had the inside and outside blasted for $20.00. I figured it was worth it, seeing all the trouble it takes to burn it out and then clean it.
The weber lid (a craigslist find) didn't quite fit on the barrel, it was slightly smaller so I ended up welding a piece of 1 1/8" flat stock around the inside lip of the barrel. My welding skills are beginner level at best and I learned quickly that to hot of a set up will burn through the barrel like it was a styrofoam cup. So I just tacked the strip all the way around and then filled the seam the rest of the way with RTV high temp sealant. The lid then fit pretty well but I decided to add a Rutland rope gasket aroung the seam for added seal to the lid.
I used four 3/4" black pipe inlets for air flow , I capped three of them and put a 3/4" ball valve on the other.
The basket is your basic expanded steel/pizza pan set up. It is 16" wide and 6" deep. I also made attachments for it to hang from the bolts under the first cooking grate (as seen in the pictures) to use for high heat grilling if need be.
I painted it with 2 coats of Rustolium 1200 degree grill paint, then 2 coats of semi gloss 500 degree engine enamel, then the orange stripes and finally 2 coats of 500 degree clear.
I added 2 brass barbed pipe fittings for thermostat holders each 1" below the cooking grates. These really work slick!
The only thing left to add is handles and maybe a shelf.
I seasoned it today and decided its maiden voyage should be a rack of St.Louis cut ribs.
This project was a blast. I already have another barrel for my next one.

Thanks to everyone who has posted pics of there UDS's along with ideas, I used many of them.
Thanks to K.A.M. for answering some of my questions, you were a big help.

Enjoy the pics.

Wire hooks I made to hang the basket for high heat grilling.

Hell Fire Grill · Posted: Sep 26 2010 Post subject:

Nice work. What you gonna cook first?

mnmgri4 · Posted: Sep 26 2010 Post subject:

Thank you! I did some St. Louis cut ribs right after seasoning and they were DELICIOUS!

pxc · Newbie Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 94

Looks good. I just found some CL ads for food grade drums so I may be taking the UDS plunge myself. If I can get mine sandblasted for that cheap I will do it, seems like it's worth it.

Question: why have a charcoal basket with a grill grate bottom, then the pizza pan a few inches below that? I know that is common but I don't know what the point is.

Enjoy your new smoker!
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cityevader · Posted: Sep 26 2010 Post subject:

the pizza pan is so that you can lift up the ashes along with everything else. Makes cleanup a heckuva lot easier.
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cityevader · Posted: Sep 26 2010 Post subject:

I like cookers with color.

I totally love the hanging basket idea for grilling!
I had wanted to something to make my uds more versatile, but didn't want a low lower rack. Your idea is perfect.....except i already got two used Webers to make up the grilling half of the balcony.

For what it's worth, mnmgri4, if you end up having a second grate for larger cooks, I'd highly recommend sizing the upper rack bolts. Slide the grate as far away from each mount so that the grate can't fall in by itself, then cut the bolts just a bit longer than that. It'll make the lower grate easier to remove.
_________________
Since Christ DIED for us, we should LIVE for Him!

To make the ° temperature symbol, hold the Alt key while typing 248 on keypad.
.

mnmgri4 · Posted: Sep 26 2010 Post subject:

Thanks for the compliments.

cityevader, I will definitely look into resizing the bolts for the upper rack. I have to tilt the lower one a fair amount right now in order to remove it.

k.a.m. · Posted: Sep 26 2010 Post subject:

mnmgri4, awesome job on your cooker. Very Happy

Very nice work. Very Happy

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Hybrid Cooker

mnmgri4 · Posted: Sep 27 2010 Post subject:

Thank you k.a.m. .

cityevader · Posted: Sep 27 2010 Post subject:

mnmgri4 · Posted: Sep 27 2010 Post subject:

Hahaha, yea that would raise the blood pressure in a hurry.
The bolts I have in there now are 2 1/2". I was thinking I would just remove the meat off the grate before I removed the grate, but shorter bolts may be a better option.

BBQBryan · Posted: Oct 02 2010 Post subject:

Love your basket...did you hook your expanded metal to your bottom grate with hog rings?
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Teleking · Posted: Oct 02 2010 Post subject:

SVonhof

mnmgri4 · Posted: Oct 11 2010 Post subject:

It is the thermometer out of my turkey deep frier. It is pretty accurate. You can get them at Walmart.

SVonhof · Posted: Oct 11 2010 Post subject: