Thinking of building a UDS

[DJBenz]

Alright matey, hope my write up helped.

It certainly did. With all the info that's out there it was the closest thing to a step by step guide that I found. Thanks for taking the time to write it up, I'm sure it's been a help to more people than you know!

Your fire basket needs to be full of holes for air circulation, this is why most people use expanded metal. You would have to cut so many holes in a kettle to use it as a fire basket there would be more holes than kettle. My washing machine drum just needed the axle grinding off and some holes cutting in the bottom with a holesaw for allowing ash to drop out.

Ah yes, good point. I was thinking to use the donor bowl as the ash pan, and then stand the fire basket on its grill - but of course I still need something baskety to put the coals in. Funny how your mind blanks these things out when you mentally construct it.

Oh one other thing, most designs call for 3 inlets. If I were to make another, I would use four.

Interesting, is that so you can achieve higher top temps or so you have more control at the bottom end (matron)?

[CyderPig]

Hi
4 inlets will let you have more control over temp plus allow you to cook at hotter temps, best of both worlds,
It also helps speed up the time it takes to get the drum up to cooking temp.
With 3 inlets you space them every 2ft around the drum, with 4 every 1 1/2 ft.
Cheers
Si

[Tiny]

Afternoon chaps,
Never likely to build an UDS as not licenced to operate power tools but 1 question about them has dogged me so I have to ask........

Fire basket, how does it get into the drum?

Is the drum an tube that you simply stand over the lit and thriving fire basket or do you have to lower in said basket on some kind of chain arrangement through the top of the drum or have you all been telling fibs and you have to cut some kind of complex door based arrangement in the side of the drum.

Probably obvious but this has vexed me for some time and I can stand it no longer!

Cheers
Tiny

[CyderPig]

Hi Tiny
Re Questions Posed.
Ugly Drum Smoker, the making of.
1 Get said Drum
2 Cut off top
3 Drill 1 inch holes two inches from the bottom of the drum spaced every 2f
4 ( the best bit) Light a fire in said drum and burn the hell out of it!!!!!
5 Drill 3 holes , 2ins down from top of drum , spaced every 2ft to support grill.
^ Repeat above 7 inches from last insruction(2nd Grill ).
Fire Basket
This is like a WSM or ProQ type set up and has to be lowered into the drum, all of mine are homemade from items like old doner BBQs, Washing Machine drums, Beer Kegs etc.
Lid
Use an old 22.5 BBQ lid or a Loosehead type drum lid.
Temp Control
Use magnets to partialy cover holes to restrict air ,or use pipes and nipple caps with a ball valve for fine tuning.
Hope this helps
As you can't use power tools, I am more than willing to drill out a drum for you and burn it out ready to use, just add fittings.
Pm me if interested.
Cheers
Si