Craigslist strikes again AKA I'm going to build a UDS, or two (Q-view for sure)

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dirtsailor2003

Epic Pitmaster
Original poster
OTBS Member
Oct 4, 2012
21,947
4,224
Bend Oregon
I've been really enjoying my Mini-WSM this winter and after reading all the good things about the UDS I decided to look on Craigslist and see what I could find. Wouldn't you know it a buy one get on free deal! Even better the guy wanted them gone so bad that he knocked his asking price down to $5.00. Home came two barrels. Both originally had automotive polishing abrasives in them. The blue one has no liner, the red one has the dreaded red liner. The lid on the blue one doesn't fit as good, but the locking ring works. I probably won't get to busy on these until after the first of February as we are leaving for vacation in a week. So for now I will keep them hidden in the yard debris trailer!!!




I'm not sure which methods I'll use to clean up the interiors and get rid of the liner in the red one yet. In the past I have just burnt them out when I have made double barrel sawdust burners for my shop stoves. We'll see being in town I can't burn like I used to be able to when I lived in the sticks and sagebrush!
 
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i'm in. waiting to see pics. when you get the build going.
 
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i'm in. waiting to see pics. when you get the build going.
It will be a few weeks, have to go on vacation with the fiancee!

That'll give me time to get all the parts ready and find a good place to get the barrels bead blasted!
 
Has anyone tried using either one of these units???

"The Abrasive Blasters from Harbor Freight"

Haven't been able to find a reasonable price to get the drums done here . I may just get the 20# one and give it a whirl. Sure it would work for cleaning smaller metal parts and using it for some other art projects the Fiancee has been talking about.
 
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Well it's time to get this project rolling again! I took the blue drum up to Jetman Dan when I went up to work on the Casa Q . The parts that we made and cleaned up on the Casa Q need to be powder coated. So I am going to have them blast the drum and powder coat the outside. Learned something new, not all powder coating is high temp. The most heat resistant color is black. So that is what everything is going to be coated with. All of this is going in today and it will be ready in a week! Can't wait!
 
Has anyone tried using either one of these units???

Haven't been able to find a reasonable price to get the drums done here . I may just get the 20# one and give it a whirl. Sure it would work for cleaning smaller metal parts and using it for some other art projects the Fiancee has been talking about.
I have the 110-LB model. it works great. The 2 you have listed will work just fine. You will have to load them more often. They use a lot of air. Remember to wear a resperator.

Happy smoken.

David
 
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I have the 110-LB model. it works great. The 2 you have listed will work just fine. You will have to load them more often. They use a lot of air. Remember to wear a resperator.

Happy smoken.

David
Thanks David. I decided to have the Powder Coating shop do it for me. They are only going to charge me $20 to blast and prep the drum.
 
Well it's time to get this project rolling again! I took the blue drum up to Jetman Dan when I went up to work on the Casa Q . The parts that we made and cleaned up on the Casa Q need to be powder coated. So I am going to have them blast the drum and powder coat the outside. Learned something new, not all powder coating is high temp. The most heat resistant color is black. So that is what everything is going to be coated with. All of this is going in today and it will be ready in a week! Can't wait!
Dang Case i'm using the mini more than the Big Popppa drum..lol   I do love the drum but it's just so convenient using the mini, especially for smaller meals, and now i hooked up the ATC to it.

  You might have your drum sandblasted and powder coated before me so let me know how you like it.   The powder coater told me he had black and silver in the high heat so i'm going with the silver like i have now in the high heat paint. $75 to blast and powder coat...can't argue about that but i have to strip down it down, haul it in and i won't have it for a few days.  No big deal now that i have the mini but gotta make time to do it. 

I'd consider making one or both of those drums with an adjustable height basket so you can smoke and pull up the basket and sear....that's what i enjoy the most about it. 
 
Dang Case i'm using the mini more than the Big Popppa drum..lol   I do love the drum but it's just so convenient using the mini, especially for smaller meals, and now i hooked up the ATC to it.

  You might have your drum sandblasted and powder coated before me so let me know how you like it.   The powder coater told me he had black and silver in the high heat so i'm going with the silver like i have now in the high heat paint. $75 to blast and powder coat...can't argue about that but i have to strip down it down, haul it in and i won't have it for a few days.  No big deal now that i have the mini but gotta make time to do it. 

I'd consider making one or both of those drums with an adjustable height basket so you can smoke and pull up the basket and sear....that's what i enjoy the most about it. 
Keith, I will admit that the mini is my go to smoker. But I always need a project or two to keep me going. Ultimately my plan is to sell the UDS, but I'll use it for a while, just to make sure that it works... My powder coat shop told me the same thing. I'm going to go black and add graphics after in silver.

What kind of paint did you use on the mini for your graphics? Any primer? I know there can be issues getting the paint to stick to the Aluminum sometimes.
 
Keith, I will admit that the mini is my go to smoker. But I always need a project or two to keep me going. Ultimately my plan is to sell the UDS, but I'll use it for a while, just to make sure that it works... My powder coat shop told me the same thing. I'm going to go black and add graphics after in silver.

What kind of paint did you use on the mini for your graphics? Any primer? I know there can be issues getting the paint to stick to the Aluminum sometimes.
I used a gold high heat engine paint from Autozone.  Because the pot has the texture it grabs strong..i couldn't scrape off that paint if i tried. 
 
I used a gold high heat engine paint from Autozone.  Because the pot has the texture it grabs strong..i couldn't scrape off that paint if i tried. 
Sounds good.

Yes I do plan on making the fire box adjustable, as well as putting in an adjustable rack system.
 
Dropped the drum off at the powder coating shop yesterday. Blasting inside and out, and coating the exterior. Using hi-temp black as it has the highest heat rating. Get to pick it up sometime next week!
 
You're doing one drum for now to see how it's going to work out?   Case i'll go ahead and let you be the guinee pig on the powder coat before i strip mine down, haul it in and spend $75.   Get er done so i can decide.
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Keith I gave the blue drum to Jetman Dan, who helped me weld up the base for the Casa Q. So I am just a one drum man now!
 
The Powder Coater called and the Drum is done
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!!! Work isn't going to let me get it though until Friday!!!
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I have all the parts ready to put on. Just need to the expanded metal for my basket. Should be able to smoke by Sunday!
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You're making me want to get mine in to the powder coater but it'll be sometime after the 4th for sure.    Silver or black...silver or black....that's the question.    If you tell me the finish will hold up then i'm going with the silver.   Get-er-DONE!!!
 
You're making me want to get mine in to the powder coater but it'll be sometime after the 4th for sure.    Silver or black...silver or black....that's the question.    If you tell me the finish will hold up then i'm going with the silver.   Get-er-DONE!!!
Keith when I talked to the guys here they said that the black had the best chance of surviving
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. So that is what I went with. I'm pretty excited to see how it turned out. I have a 9-10# Picnic in the freezer for the inaugural smoke!!!
 
I'll have to check with this powder coating unit..both the black and silver should be 1100 degree rated.  Now i'm curious how it reacts with the heat...meaning if it'll mark up when it gets hot.  I've got 1100 degree Rustoleum on it but if it get's hot that paint will mark up if i knock it, also get's a little tacky    I can't see powder coating doing that...but that's why you're the guinee pig!
 
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