Somapop' UDS Build

[YetiDave]

Sounds like it's all turning out well! Regarding the coals burning more on one side - you will get that. It's just the nature o' the beast as the fire will always burn towards the air; I tend to switch the vents around after X amount of hours. If you've got one vent fully open on one side, just close it off and fully open a vent on the other side so you get an even burn

As for your quest for properly done chicken skin - welcome to the club The best way I've found to do it is make sure that the skin is as dry as can be - no rinsing or wet marinades - and give it a rub of oil before using your dry rub. Then just keep those temps nice and high

I've not smoked a gammon joint before, but 275 to 300 should be fine

[somapop]

Glad it's going well. I too have had a few issues with mine but that's because I'm using a PID contoller and am adamant I'll get it working even if it kills me!

I have found mine has got rusty patches already, just surface and they wipe off but a bit gutted. Thinking of just coating with hammerite.

BTW - I meant I may be purchasing the Mavericks thermo's rather than a PID...so far (with a couple of hiccups) I've managed to secure a very stable temperature.

Isn't there a thread on here (I'll try and dig it out) referring to that Halfords gloss paint (high temp)?
I still need to do a second coat (and also paint the 'lip' of the lid as the enamel came off when I adjusted it with pliers) so I might look into a couple of tins of that instead (perhaps there is a cheaper online version of the same paint?)

[somapop]

Sounds like it's all turning out well! Regarding the coals burning more on one side - you will get that. It's just the nature o' the beast as the fire will always burn towards the air; I tend to switch the vents around after X amount of hours. If you've got one vent fully open on one side, just close it off and fully open a vent on the other side so you get an even burn

As for your quest for properly done chicken skin - welcome to the club The best way I've found to do it is make sure that the skin is as dry as can be - no rinsing or wet marinades - and give it a rub of oil before using your dry rub. Then just keep those temps nice and high

I've not smoked a gammon joint before, but 275 to 300 should be fine

Ah, thought it just might be me I use a diffuser anyhow so that perhaps negates any hot spots somewhat.

I'll try the chicken skin method above...we'll all crack it somehow Despite that, the chicken smoked (just using cherry at the moment) has a great flavour. Underneath the glazed skin of those chicken lollipops the chicken had almost melted such was the tenderness. I bet with proper good quality chicken it could taken up to '11'!

Will try gammon out tonight. By all accounts it needs to be kept moist, so will probably do it over a tray and spray/brush with something like apple juice and honey.

I'm keen to try fish soon...shouldn't be much limits on what you can cook with these considering they're technically an oven!

Many thanks.

[somapop]

BTW - picked up another bag of lump wood from Sainsburys last night (v impressed with it actually - mostly large chunks and minor 'pebbles'.). Bloke in there mentioned the start of October when they end of sales of charcoal (panicking a little now...wouldn't mind cooking through Winter) - probably pick up a few more bags before then.
I'll look into online sales too.

[YetiDave]

BTW - picked up another bag of lump wood from Sainsburys last night (v impressed with it actually - mostly large chunks and minor 'pebbles'.). Bloke in there mentioned the start of October when they end of sales of charcoal (panicking a little now...wouldn't mind cooking through Winter) - probably pick up a few more bags before then.
I'll look into online sales too.

Nice one mate, I've been wanting to know when they stopped selling it! I'll be scouring supermarkets at the weekend to get my winter supply together Hopefully going to get my Q on for the first time in a while this weekend. This moving house lark is a lot of effort!

[essexsmoker]

ahh. I keep reading about those. Not sure I can justify the cost as yet. One day maybe.

I think it's just so thin that it's not protecting it. I did 2 coats. Might get the halfords stuff.

[somapop]

ahh. I keep reading about those. Not sure I can justify the cost as yet. One day maybe.

I think it's just so thin that it's not protecting it. I did 2 coats. Might get the halfords stuff.

The Maverick or the Pro Q?
Might not be priority (Maverick) according to some - I think yetidave doesn't tend to use his much now (right dave?!)
Still, it's on my list for next year.

Let us know how you get on with the Halfords stuff. If anyone can link that Halfords paint thread here I'd be grateful (I'll try and search it out in the meantime).

[somapop]

BTW - picked up another bag of lump wood from Sainsburys last night (v impressed with it actually - mostly large chunks and minor 'pebbles'.). Bloke in there mentioned the start of October when they end of sales of charcoal (panicking a little now...wouldn't mind cooking through Winter) - probably pick up a few more bags before then.
I'll look into online sales too.

Nice one mate, I've been wanting to know when they stopped selling it! I'll be scouring supermarkets at the weekend to get my winter supply together Hopefully going to get my Q on for the first time in a while this weekend. This moving house lark is a lot of effort!

The Pro Q? Are you folding the UDS up for the move?! Are you moving far by the way? Might need to double up on charcoal/wood supplies in the future
Good luck with that anyhow...hope you're able to take your operation with you!

Another question: Although I've managed to get the lid to sit pretty good on the drum (using a combination of light hammer taps, pliers and stove rope) I still get a bit of seeping smoke from the lid (and perhaps enticing oxygen into the drum too?!). What I'll probably do is mark a centre point on the lid and drum then make minor adjustments (tapping down) until it's almost spot on...if the drum was 5-10mm wider it would've been perfect!

Cheers.

[YetiDave]

I've just move into the city, only 10 minutes away by car from my old place, so splitting a charcoal delivery is doable! I wouldn't worry too much about a little smoke seeping out, mine does the same and I've not noticed any temp spikes. It leaks less than the Pro Q anyway! I'll be firing up the UDS I reckon, if the weather's nice on Sunday

[somapop]

Excellent. Balcony smoking?!

Might need to order some wood soon from those guys you sourced yours from. I'm sure those net bags will last throughout the remainder of the summer and well into winter. I'm still on 2 x 1KG bags I purchased a couple of months back (limited smokes however).