30gal Drum UDS?

[pulled pork]

I have a guy that will give me a few free 30 or 33 gallon drums. If I build him a UDS as I build mine. Have any of ya’ll built a UDS using the 30 gallon drum? Do you foresee any major problems using a smaller drum? I like free, but don’t want to build something that won’t work. Thanks for your help.

[DATsBBQ]

OSD has at least one, if not two.

[OSD]

Yep, I have built 4 of them out of 30 gal drums. 1 for myself and the others for other people. They work great.
The grills, grates, and the top from a 18 1/2" Weber grill should work perfect on them. At least the drums I used did.
If you need some measured drawings for them, I have them on my web site for flat lids and Weber lids. They are on the bottom of page 2 under pics.

[pulled pork]

If you need some measured drawings for them, I have them on my web site for flat lids and Weber lids. They are on the bottom of page 2 under pics.

Sweet. Nice drawings. Thanks for taking the time to do that!

[pulled pork]

I made 3 this weekend. 95% done. 2 fire baskets to go and I'm done. Really easy to make.

Questions is: I didn't think about it but these drums are lined. When I searched it I see to use a weed burner to burn it off. I don't have a weed burner or a HF close. What are the best burn off options. Do I need to load a bunch of mesquite or something in to make a real hot fire to burn it off?

[HarvestMoon]

Do I need to load a bunch of mesquite or something in to make a real hot fire to burn it off?

Or oak. That's way it was done before the weed burner.

[OSD]

Do I need to load a bunch of mesquite or something in to make a real hot fire to burn it off?

Or oak. That's way it was done before the weed burner.

Yep, build a big fire in it and let it burn til the liner and the outside paint burn off.

[pulled pork]

Here are a few pics of the 3 I made. I have 2 fire boxes and 2 lids to go. I will take a pic of the fire box tomorrow. It's at the office. I think I might need to cut the pipe couplings down some. These are ones I had laying arounds. With the way they are my fire box will have to be like 13.5 x 13.5 I think (not sure) that I might need a bigger fire box.







Thanks for all ya'lls help!!

[Bluz]

Very nice job PP!

[OSD]

Are you making square fireboxes???

If so, 13 1/2" X 13 1/2" will be too big to fit a 30 gal drum. Measure diagonally across a 13 1/2" square and it will measure about 19 1/4". That is bigger than the diameter of a 30 gal drum.
I have found with the small drums ( 30gal & 15gal ) that round fire baskets work the best. The lower fire grate from a 18 1/2" Weber kettle is a perfect size for the 30 gal drums.

[pulled pork]

Are you making square fireboxes???

If so, 13 1/2" X 13 1/2" will be too big to fit a 30 gal drum.

Yes.

Sorry for not being clear on my size, but 13.5 is the blank. Not including the 1" flange. So it's really 11.5". (I believe) It's at the office so I can't measure it.

I will have to resarch the round fire grate. I jumped into build these with out a ton of thought. Trial and error. I have seen some pics of the rounds. I will look for the build specs.

[OSD]

The drawing on my web site has the measurements for the grate ( 13.5" dia. ) and firebox, including the length of expanded metal for the basket top. The bottom ash pan can be made from a cake pan or even a pizza pan ( pizza pan has no real sides, but works).

[pulled pork]

It does measure to be 11.5 sq. The fuel basket will be 6” deep. I am going to try this one before I make a round one since it’s ¾ complete. My only concern with the one I have made is it not being able to hold enough fuel to handle a long smoke for like a brisket or butt. I think the 13.5 round would be a better fit for this purpose. Is this what ya’ll think?

Like I said. I will try this smaller one and keep a log of the temps.

[pulled pork]

Finished my fire boxes today. Wanted to share.

[pulled pork]

I did my dry run today and want to post the times and temps. I used about 7lbs of charcoal and 6-7 Hickory wood chunks. I started by loading a chimny with coal. Once it was hot I poured it on top of the coal and the wood and closed the lid. And here is what I got.

My intake is 2 -3/4" ball valves with 4 - 3/4" exhaust

10:06 lid on
10:22-200 deg both valves fully open
11:06-210
11:15-225
11:45-250
11:53-275 Closed one valve
12:03-230 (and droping fairly quickly) Opend closed valve to 1/2 open.
12:30-245 Closed valve to 1/4 open
12:50-235
1:45-230
2:00-230 (Had to leave and go to a birthday party)
4:30-200 Opened 1/2 open valve to fully open
4:40-225
5:20-225
5:45-225
6:00-220 (and slowly droping)

Took a little getting used to. But I think will be able to it around 230ish fairly easily now. Ribs tomorrow!!