Two Piece UDS Build with Pics

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bartsmoker

Newbie
Original poster
Aug 27, 2010
6
11
This is my UDS I built last winter. First of all let me say this was very time consuming and would not do it again. But in the end I have a nice smoker that should last. I started with a heavy gauge food grade drum. From there I got a little carried away.


I made a door to tend to the coals if needed and fill the water pan.



I thought it would be nice to have it come apart into two pieces for clean up.



It closes air tight I left it apart in the next pic so you can see I used two pieces of 1/2" flat steel and rolled them, butted them together and welded it.


I made the coal basket and set it up so you could use it as a water smoker or standard UDS.



I put a lot of thought into a drip pan that would not block the direct heat. This is what I came up with. I might have to figure out a way to close off the ends. I will try it first.


 
Very nicely done.

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Nice looking UDS. Just a question, why would you want to use a drip pan? I think the drippings that fall and hit the coals add a very distinct flavor to foods smoked on the UDS. IMO it gives it a real "old school' BBQ pit flavor.
 
Dripping on the coals gives the meat a burnt taste. From reading other posts on this site some people like that taste and some don't.  I will try it both ways.
 
I have not found any time or good weather to try it. I did smoke some baby back ribs this weekend on my offset smoker. I want to test the UDS on something a little cheaper first,  to see how it holds the temp.
 
I have not found any time or good weather to try it. I did smoke some baby back ribs this weekend on my offset smoker. I want to test the UDS on something a little cheaper first,  to see how it holds the temp.
Instead of cooking something on it, just do a season on it with about a 1/2 basket of fuel. This way, you're not going to ruin any meat and just burn up a couple of bucks for fuel. I did that on mine to see how well it held temp and see how long it would go.Very nice build by the way. A lot of great enginuity put into it.Chad
 
I have not found any time or good weather to try it. I did smoke some baby back ribs this weekend on my offset smoker. I want to test the UDS on something a little cheaper first,  to see how it holds the temp.
Sounds like a perfect choice would be a spatchcocked chicken. I like doing these for test cooks because they are cheap. and can handle a wide range of heat temps. And if the skin doesn't end up crisp, you test out the grilling capabilities too!
 
Yep AWESOME build... i see alot of similarities to the BPS but customized... like it alot.    I saw that concept of a diverter before on another forum when i was looking at heat diverters, i hope it works well for you.   I ended up just doing a pizza pan with holes drilled into it, evens out heat a little if i want it and catches some more of the drippings say for a pork shoulder. 

That shelf is bad to the bone for sure!
 
So far ive takin my uds on two camp trips and to the gulf coast.. i want to build a shelf. But it would beed to be easily removable cause I have to lay it on its side. I love the idea of cutting in two for clean up.. cause I still never put an ash pan in mine yet. I just turn it upsise down for now. Great looking build...
 
Thanks guys, The shelf is removable.  That's the reason I made this thing is so I could bring it camping or to the cabin. I don't have a good smoker that's east to transport. I also made a dolly to strap it to and through it in the back of my truck.
 
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