Newbie UDS

[scuba-doo]

Hi Guys.
Looking forward to trying out some of your amazing looking recipes and rubs this year if we get a decent summer. I plan on building myself a UDS this year. Does anyone know of any drums in the Northamptonshire area. Thanks..

[robgunby]

Don't let inclement weather stop you!

I can't help with anything local to Northamptonshire, but the place I got mine from (£15) might be able to deliver? http://www.tankanddrum.co.uk/products.asp

All the best with the build, you'll not regret it! If you have any questions there are a lot of experienced UDS builders on this forum - they helped me make one succesfully, and I'm rubbish at these things!

[stretchie_]

Can't help you with Northampton but I just asked all my mates and a couple of local garages when I started and got two for free, also join Freecycle, I got another two or three from there.

I'm making another one soon but this time a horizontal reverse flow one

[robgunby]

I'm making another one soon but this time a horizontal reverse flow one

That sounds quite exciting. Will that involve welding? What about the firebox, will that be offset? If I could weld I would be very tempted to make a huge lidded grill. In fact, please can you start a post about this so I don't threadjack the OP?

To the OP, wherever you source your drum from, if you can, get an unlined one that was used for food (mine was a coconut oil drum). Oh, and one tip, something I overlooked that thankfully someone pointed out to me before I burnt mine out, if you have a removable lid (easier than cutting one from a sealed drum), it will have a rubber seal not only around the rim of the lid, but in the bung holes too. I couldn't get my smaller cap off to get that seal out, but removed the others. Good luck and have fun!

[scuba-doo]

Thanks for the welcome guys.
I used to be in engineering and can weld so not put off by that. I recently spotted a way of getting the lids off sealed drums (seem to be cheaper) by grinding around the edge, cant remember where I saw that. From what I have seen the sealed drums tend to have had motor type oil in them, would that be ok after a couple of burns ?

[CyderPig]

Hi All
There are detailed plans for this type of build on the internet.
Someone is trying to sell them on e-bay, but with the original paint from the drum manufacturors still left on them(no burning out), for £500.
Exhaust is too long, paint still on. drum not welded to base but bolted..
The design of this build is fantastic, but how stable?
I still have thoughts about making one of these, but getting the cut right around the standing drum and then fitting it to the horizontal drum sweetly, the time time to weld it all together has held me back.
Bloody good design, but lots of hard work.
Cheers
Si

[CyderPig]

Sorry Stretch
Shouted before reading properly!!
Thought you were talking about the T type UDS.
Will use my spec's!
Horizontal drums work really well, try welding two together and setting the firebox in the middle, one side hot, the other cooler.
Si

[stretchie_]

Yeah mines going to be a 55 gallon horizontal cook chamber, the offset fire box will be half a 55 gallon drum attached to the right hand side, there will be a baffle in the cooking chamber and the exhaust will come out about the fire box.

I need more cooking space, the UDS just doesn't have enough room even with two shelves, and it can be a pain getting to the food off the lower shelf and I really fancy trying burning using nothing but wood instead of charcoal.

Also it will be good practice for when I get around to building the big trailer smoker (whenever that may be).

I will make a thread with a build guide like I did with my UDS (linked in signature if required)

[robgunby]

I salute your purist approach of using nothing but wood. From what I hear it can be a fair bit more labour intensive, as (from what my friends in Texas tell me) you have to have a separate fire to get your logs to smouldering point, but is well worth it for the flavour!

[stretchie_]

I just want to try it, but need to make sure I get the right wood too, so that'll be a learning curve. Can't see me moving from coal with wood chips on top for a while yet.

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