Newbie UDS build.

UDS Plans, Projects and discussions concerning Ugly Drum Smokers.

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Cardenio
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Newbie UDS build.

Postby Cardenio » Thu May 08, 2014 10:49 am

Finished building my first UDS yesterday, and it is ugly for sure.

I got just about every idea off of this great forum, now all I need to do is try it!

DSC08990 (Custom).JPG


> Quaker State closed head drum; top sliced off

> 500 °F engine paint [I thought it was metallic grey, I guess I didn't read the label very well. turned out to be textured imitation cast iron]

> 3/4" brass ball valve, with 3 old bearing races to shim it up.

> 13/16" x 1-3/4" oval start up draft hole

> 14" aluminum "comal" cooking pan for ashes

> Heavy expanded steel basket in form of a doughnut

> Conduit fitting and Wild Turkey cork for temperature probe

DSC08992 (Custom).JPG


> #12 expanded steel grates welded to hoops made of square stock

DSC08991 (Custom).JPG


> Bar stock and old serpentine belt along with 650 °F Ultra Copper form the gasket

> Bung fittings removed because they were plated with cadmium

> Small trowel used to regulate exhaust

> 1" dowel handle

At the moment I am waiting for a new thermocouple for my automotive multimeter to arrive so I can do the seasoning run. I plan to use half a basket at 350 °F.

Somehow I forgot that silicone can't be painted, hence the peeling under the bar stock revealing the orange silicone.
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby jlh » Thu May 08, 2014 11:00 am

Looks like a meat cooking machine! I think you'll be pleased with the way it cooks...
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby BluDawg » Thu May 08, 2014 1:18 pm

Looks like a Hickerbilly hotrod, Redneck Steampunk Meat cookin moechine. word> Keep the Exhaust WFO
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby Boots » Thu May 08, 2014 2:34 pm

I particularly like the masonry trowel top vent valve.

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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby ChileFarmer » Thu May 08, 2014 2:39 pm

Workmanship looks good, nice job. Top grate may be a little to high. Maybe more room between lid and grate might be needed. I am thinking at least 7" from-lid to grate. CF :D
OK, get over it, you lost. God bless America

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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby Big Ed » Thu May 08, 2014 4:02 pm

Nice build. now its time to get er dirty!!! :cheers:
Can't Beat A Drum!!!

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Cardenio
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby Cardenio » Thu May 08, 2014 4:09 pm

Thank you everyone for the compliments!

ChileFarmer wrote:Workmanship looks good, nice job. Top grate may be a little to high. Maybe more room between lid and grate might be needed. I am thinking at least 7" from-lid to grate. CF :D


You're right, I may need to adjust the height of the top rack. I didn't account for the thickness of the rack when I drilled. As it is now there is 1-1/2" clearance between the top of the lid and the top of the upper rack. The racks are spaced 7" apart. I'll probably only be using the lower rack, I don't anticipate needing full capacity often.

I had a couple of new thermocouples ordered from Urrea [Proto of Mexico], but they called and told me they're discontinued. I visited 4 electronics shops today, but no luck. I suspect an oven thermometer would be just about as difficult to source here. For the seasoning run I guess I'll use my 15 year old antifreeze stained thermocouple, and order a new one off of the local version of eBay for cooking with.
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby jerodpb » Sun May 18, 2014 1:09 pm

Hey cool Oaxaca!!

We have some Gonzales' here from Oaxaca

The parents went back, but all the kids stayed here...

If I ever go to Mexico I am flying to Oaxaca City....

Sweet drum build.....
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Cardenio
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby Cardenio » Sun May 18, 2014 2:47 pm

I finally got around to doing the dry run today on the UDS today. Ran it up to 350 °F on half a basket. I ended up ordering a Taylor candy thermometer from Grainger, between work and waiting for the thermometer I took my sweet time getting around to it. I'm thinking about trying a brisket next weekend. I just spoke to my butcher, he said he can get me a brisket for the day after I order it for $2.30/lb.
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby ChileFarmer » Mon May 19, 2014 7:08 pm

Nice price on the brisket, will be looking forward to some photos soon. CF :D
OK, get over it, you lost. God bless America

http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee175/ChileFarmer" target="_blank
Lots of Sub folders to.

http://curingandsmoking.blogspot.com/" target="_blank
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby Grillatarian » Mon May 26, 2014 7:05 am

Awesome job! Those are some killer grates! If ya don't like the color you can always consider that first coat a primer and just hit it again. But the real beauty of a UDS is what's cookin' on the inside! :wink:
"I don't always smoke meat, but when I do...I use a drum. Stay hungry my friends!"
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby Cardenio » Sun Jun 01, 2014 4:22 pm

Well, I finally got around to cooking meat for the first time on the UDS, smoked a 6-1/2 lb. brisket yesterday. I had quite a time comunicating with the butcher what a brisket is, had to use pictures and diagrams, but he got the idea and delivered a picture perfect cut. I did a dry rub with salt, fresh ground pepper and a spice mix the night before. Fat side up 2 hours, then 2 hours down, then 1-1/2 hour wrapped in parchment paper. I tried to keep the drum between 230-250 degrees, used Kingsford mesquite briquettes [I know, sacrilage, they were on sale at Sam's Club, impulse buy]. The brisket tasted a little like ham, and I don't like ham, but it had a tolerable flavor. I ended up eating half of the points end yesterday afternoon by myself. It was a little tough, in retrospect I probably should have allowed one hour per pound. Next time I'm thinking of oak charcoal and just salt and pepper, to keep it from tasting like ham.
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby Cardenio » Mon Jun 02, 2014 9:48 am

Here's a picture of the brisket when I pulled it.
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby ChileFarmer » Mon Jun 02, 2014 8:11 pm

Looks pretty good, how was the taste? CF :D
OK, get over it, you lost. God bless America

http://s235.photobucket.com/albums/ee175/ChileFarmer" target="_blank
Lots of Sub folders to.

http://curingandsmoking.blogspot.com/" target="_blank
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Re: Newbie UDS build.

Postby Cardenio » Wed Jun 04, 2014 5:52 pm

ChileFarmer wrote:Looks pretty good, how was the taste? CF :D


It was just okay. It tasted like ham to me, and I don't care much for ham. It was just a little tough too, could've stood to be in there another hour. That said, I couldn't stop eating it after it rested.

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