My second UDS is complete

[Sterlingsmoker]

I will be giving this to my brother.
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/ ... eo1020.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/ ... eo1021.jpg
http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i299/ ... eo1022.jpg

[ChileFarmer]

Looks to me like it should do a fine job. I have never used one does it cook like the weber kettle? CF

[Sterlingsmoker]

Looks to me like it should do a fine job. I have never used one does it cook like the weber kettle? CF

It cooks very much like a WSM. It is a set and forget just like a WSM. I get 12 hr plus on a ring full of charcoal and still have charcoal left over for other cooks!

[JamesB]

Yeppers, a goodly built UDS will have the temp control of a WSM and will produce that oh so good fat in the fire flavor...

Good looking UDS ya got there!

James.

[OSD]

Good job. Looks like a quality build.

[DATsBBQ]

Seems like the UDS are the latest craze. I want one, but the Mrs would have a fit. Maybe in a few months after we move, might have a bigger yard for the Yard Art

[JamesB]

Seems like the UDS are the latest craze. I want one, but the Mrs would have a fit.

Yeppers, got to have an understanding Mrs... 'cause when you get right down to it, it's still just a barrel in the yard... even if it does have smoke and heavenly smells emanating from it...

[DATsBBQ]

Seems like the UDS are the latest craze. I want one, but the Mrs would have a fit.

Yeppers, got to have an understanding Mrs... 'cause when you get right down to it, it's still just a barrel in the yard... even if it does have smoke and heavenly smells emanating from it...

Might have something to do with my burn barrell. A toy I picked up that adds good old heat to outdoor parties. Your basic 55 gal drum with big opening in the bottom front.

[TX Sandman]

Seems like the UDS are the latest craze.

I hadn't heard of drum smokers until a couple years ago, IIRC. That's when Rocky started offering the Big Drum Smokers (BDS) for sale. Only the last 6-8 months or so do I remember the big "build your own" craze.

But I have a contact, now, and I plan on building 1 (or 2, 3, or more) in the near future.

But I'm lucky. I have a couple places in my yard I can hide drums until I need them.

[JamesB]

Well, I've told this story before, but...

I'm sure folks have been cooking in these metal barrels since the barrel was invented. I've heard stories of folks cooking and competing with upright barrels for years and years, so the concept ain't all that new.

I know I made my first barrel about 10 years ago used it as a high heat chicken cooker. About 5 years ago. after talking with Bigwheel and another fella about the benefits of direct cooking, I made the one in the link below so I could direct cook briskets over coals w/o having to build a brick pit. Worked pretty good way back then too...

Now the difference in the current crop of UDSs (ugly Drum Smoker) and my UBP (Ugly Barrel Pit) is the method of temp control. With my first barrels, Temp was controlled by the amount of coals shoveled into the bottom of the barrel. Todays UDSs are managed by regulating oxygen intake to the fire. Much easier these days I believe...

It appears from the reviews that Rocky builds a nice barrel, but his wasn't the first... The currect rash of UDS builds seemed to stem from a thread on the BBQ Brethren Forum.

Believe me, build yourself one and you won't regret it!

UBP and old weber kettle used to burn wood down to coals


Link to old UBP pics
http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg31 ... /Pits/UBP/

[Grillatarian]

I will be giving this to my brother.

You are a good brother. Please call mine... anytime!

Just curious--what is the ball valve at the bottom for

[Sterlingsmoker]

The ball valve is for air inlet. I have 3 total around the bottom.

[Grillatarian]

The ball valve is for air inlet. I have 3 total around the bottom.

Ah see! I was confused.... I thought the blacked out areas at the base were actually cut outs... and they aren't. They are part of the graphics. Man, guess the wife is right, I do need glasses.