Newbie UDS

[robgunby]

I'm wondering if it'll be more expensive just using wood also.

Depends where you source your wood - if you're just after, say, oak, or another prevalent native tree, it's often fairly easy to get it for free if you look in the right places. I'm lazy, so will often shell out for a sack of logs, but the recent storms mean the council are clearing a lot of trees (that's my oak for the season sorted) and my uncle just felled a mirabelle tree which I have just put in the outhouse for seasoning.

[scuba-doo]

What a lucky break, managed to pick up 2 drums yesterday for my UDS from someone 5 miles away. Think I better do the lottery tonight. The expanded mesh for the fire basket may be a problem for me. I've only got prices for an 8ft x 4ft sheet at around £50 so far early days...

[robgunby]

Hooray! That means you can make two UDS!

OK, so I had the same problem with expanded metal. I spent 2 weeks trying to find it - and I live in Sheffield, the city of steel.

My solution was to go to a couple of second hand appliance shops and ask for a broken washing machine drum. Some may ask you to wait a few days and they will save you one when it comes in. Luckily the second one I visited had one in stock. The guy removed most of the fittings there and then, but there were a few bits I had to cut off with an angle grinder (5 min job). I then used a holesaw (make sure you get a sheet metal one rated for stainless steel) to cut lots of 1" holes in the bottom for airflow and dropping ash, and put 3x 2" stainless steel bolts in the base as legs. I got a 50p japanned miled steel chain and attached it as a handle.

When I had done all this I suddenly realised I hadnt checked if it would fit past the bolts for the grill. Luckily, it passes by about 5mm!

Result - I have a great firebasket for £5 that took very little effort (plus it's stainless steel, not mild steel, so I can use it as a patio fire).

The only drawback, and this can be easily remedied (I'm lazy so haven't yet), is that the inward facing flange at the top catches quite a lot of fat during a cook and looks a bit minging at the end. Oh well. I look a bit minging after a 24 hour cook....

[scuba-doo]

That sounds like a plan. I managed to grind the lid off one today and got some pilot holes drilled, just need to find my hole saw now for the vents at the bottom. Plenty to do before I need the fire basket.

[robgunby]

Ah, I was lucky enough to get one with a removable lid, they also have a clamp to hold it tightly shut. Good luck with the works!