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woody350ep
BBQ Fan
Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Posts: 251
Location: South Bend, IN
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 Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: Charcoal basket materials |
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I have been on the hunt for some expanded metal for a basket for the UDS I'd like to build. I've got access to a barrel any time I want it, and I can get it sandblasted for $7. I want to make sure I can get the material to make the charcoal basket though, as that is the thing I am missing out of the whole deal. The rest can be had easily enough.
I haven't been able to find a source for some expanded steel in the size I would be looking for that costs reasonably enough. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to find something like that that I may not be thinking of?
If not expanded steel, what other options might I be looking at for material to make a charcoal basket? I'm not against using anything else, I just don't know what else to use because I think all I've ever seen is the expanded.
Thanks! |
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Uncle Alvah
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Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 232
Location: Duncan NC
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | in the size I would be looking for that costs reasonably enough. |
What size you thinking?
It would help if we had some idea of what price you consider "reasonably enough"? |
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polishdon
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Joined: 05 Aug 2009
Posts: 580
Location: Hamburg, NY
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lostarrow
Newbie
Joined: 09 Sep 2008
Posts: 29
Location: jackson ms.
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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Carbon Steel Expanded Metal Flat Sheet, 3/4" LWD Diamond Openings, 0.134" Thick, 63% Open Area, 24" Width, 24" Length
by Perforated Metals Plus
Ordered from amazon $26 , heavy material , if you'd like I can send you a diagram for making a no weld basket from a 24X24 sheet of expanded metal. |
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Teleking
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 26 Sep 2007
Posts: 4139
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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Got a transfer station in town?? I get all my build parts out of the old grill grates and oven grates for free. I could build 3 or 4 baskets with the pile of free grates in the back of my truck right now.
Cheers
YMMV
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“The Bride of Franken Smoker” |
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woody350ep
BBQ Fan
Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Posts: 251
Location: South Bend, IN
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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| lostarrow wrote: | Carbon Steel Expanded Metal Flat Sheet, 3/4" LWD Diamond Openings, 0.134" Thick, 63% Open Area, 24" Width, 24" Length
by Perforated Metals Plus
Ordered from amazon $26 , heavy material , if you'd like I can send you a diagram for making a no weld basket from a 24X24 sheet of expanded metal. |
That would be cool if you don't mind. Maybe it's my bad image in my head, but wouldn't I need more than 24"x24" to make a basket big enough for a UDS??? |
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woody350ep
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Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Posts: 251
Location: South Bend, IN
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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| Uncle Alvah wrote: |
It would help if we had some idea of what price you consider "reasonably enough"? |
Certainly not the $50+ I'm getting told around town. That seems to offset the whole purpose of making a UDS as it stands. |
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woody350ep
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Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Posts: 251
Location: South Bend, IN
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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| Teleking wrote: | Got a transfer station in town?? I get all my build parts out of the old grill grates and oven grates for free. I could build 3 or 4 baskets with the pile of free grates in the back of my truck right now.
Cheers
YMMV |
Sounds like a good place to look. Now, WTH is a transfer station?  |
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SoEzzy
BBQ Super All Star
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 13183
Location: SLC, UT
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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I use #9 expanded metal from a 5' x 10' sheet, I cut 8" - 10" strip across the 5' way, the 60" will wrap completely around a Weber Kettle charcoal grate 17.5" diameter, and give enough overlap to hold together with a U bolt and plate.
Try any local metal / engineering store and ask if you can look in their drop bins, or if they will look for you.
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I still work here! |
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woody350ep
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Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Posts: 251
Location: South Bend, IN
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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See, I was figuring on needing a 60" piece, but all this talk about 24" squares has thrown me off...
Haven't had a chance to check "drop bins" yet. How much do you pay for a sheet of the stuff you use? Problem is, of course, that I don't need a whole sheet, and won't have any use for the rest either, so the cost effectiveness of a whole sheet is out of the question really. |
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lostarrow
Newbie
Joined: 09 Sep 2008
Posts: 29
Location: jackson ms.
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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Woody SoEasy is correct
Use a weber charcoal grate for bottom & expanded metal for ring around.
My basket is for a square basket for a horizontal smoker. |
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Rare Breed
BBQ Pro
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Posts: 619
Location: Fredericksburg, Va
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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| If you have a tractor supply check there. |
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Soapm
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 2087
Location: Mile High City
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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| woody350ep wrote: | | lostarrow wrote: | Carbon Steel Expanded Metal Flat Sheet, 3/4" LWD Diamond Openings, 0.134" Thick, 63% Open Area, 24" Width, 24" Length
by Perforated Metals Plus
Ordered from amazon $26 , heavy material , if you'd like I can send you a diagram for making a no weld basket from a 24X24 sheet of expanded metal. |
That would be cool if you don't mind. Maybe it's my bad image in my head, but wouldn't I need more than 24"x24" to make a basket big enough for a UDS??? |
Is it possible to post the diagram? |
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Smokenstein
BBQ Fan
Joined: 07 Jul 2010
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Nov 18 2010 Post subject: |
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Weber 7441 22.5" charcoal grate for the bottom. 54" L x 8" h extruded steel. Holds 10 lbs of lump. Ventilates, burns and ashes fine.
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Uncle Alvah
BBQ Fan
Joined: 06 Aug 2010
Posts: 232
Location: Duncan NC
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| Posted: Nov 19 2010 Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | Certainly not the $50+ I'm getting told around town |
That does seem spendy.
So Ez has the deal, a Weber charcoal grate is, IIRC 17" in diameter.
This basket is welded to a grate, taller than needed really, but my welder friend went and bought the EM for the sides and thats what he got. Bending it into a circle would have been easier if the diamonds ran up and down instead of back and forth. There are 4" square stock legs welded on also. Bolting a basket is fine, but the welder was right there available.
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lostarrow
Newbie
Joined: 09 Sep 2008
Posts: 29
Location: jackson ms.
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SVonhof
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 03 Sep 2010
Posts: 1420
Location: Central Valley, Ca
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| Posted: Nov 19 2010 Post subject: |
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If you can get a 24" x 24" piece, you could also cut it into 3 strips that are 8" tall x 24" long and join them together end-to-end with some overlap and end up with an 8" tall, x 60"+ long piece that you can bend into a circle.
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My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe |
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woody350ep
BBQ Fan
Joined: 02 Sep 2010
Posts: 251
Location: South Bend, IN
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| Posted: Nov 20 2010 Post subject: |
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| SVonhof wrote: | | If you can get a 24" x 24" piece, you could also cut it into 3 strips that are 8" tall x 24" long and join them together end-to-end with some overlap and end up with an 8" tall, x 60"+ long piece that you can bend into a circle. |
Yup, that is what crossed my mind when I got to thinking about it. That's the way I'm gonna go. I wish I could find some donor grills around here. I don't think I've EVER seen a weber tossed or on CL in my area. I might bite the bullet and get 2 new weber grates and a charcoal grate at the same time 
I'll still be coming in well under $100 for the smoker though, and that is nice in the pocket book  |
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SVonhof
BBQ Super Pro
Joined: 03 Sep 2010
Posts: 1420
Location: Central Valley, Ca
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| Posted: Nov 20 2010 Post subject: |
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| woody350ep wrote: | Yup, that is what crossed my mind when I got to thinking about it. That's the way I'm gonna go. I wish I could find some donor grills around here. I don't think I've EVER seen a weber tossed or on CL in my area. I might bite the bullet and get 2 new weber grates and a charcoal grate at the same time
I'll still be coming in well under $100 for the smoker though, and that is nice in the pocket book |
If you are getting a drum for free and paying only $7 for sandblasting, you are almost stealing to start with, so paying for a few other things won't hurt you too bad!
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Scott V.
My BBQ's: Weber Silver B (grill), -UDS-, MUDS/Weber Smokey Joe |
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SoEzzy
BBQ Super All Star
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Posts: 13183
Location: SLC, UT
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| Posted: Nov 20 2010 Post subject: |
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| Smokenstein wrote: | Weber 7441 22.5" charcoal grate for the bottom. 54" L x 8" h extruded steel. Holds 10 lbs of lump. Ventilates, burns and ashes fine.
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This is similar to the way I do it, except I don't weld them and I raise the grate 2.5" and use 10" strips of expanded metal.
The part of the expanded metal that is below the grate, becomes the legs for the charcoal basket, you don't need any extra hardware to do the job.
Once made they will hold a bag and a half of charcoal and I use the 20 or 22 lb bags. 
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I still work here! |
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