I'm still learning how to run my UDS

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rbranstner

Smoking Guru
Original poster
OTBS Member
Oct 18, 2007
5,698
39
West Fargo, ND / Northern MN
Well I have been using my UDS a few weeks now and I really like it but I am still learning little tricks on how to run it and keep a steady temp. I am finally learning how to start a small fire so I dont' have a smoker that is way to hot and have to sit there and wait for it to cool down. One thing I ran into today that is really frustrating is that I couldn't open my 1" intake valves. My ball valve was fine but the three capped ones were frozen so I couldn't get them off. There is so much moisture in the smoker that it gets in the threads and since it is around 4 degrees here I couldn't not get them off. Since mine aren't welded to the barrel I just used conduit washers if I torqued on them it would loosen the washers and they would fall off. Finally I got one off so I could get my fire going but what do you other guys do in cold weather? My thought was to unscrew them every time I am done smoking so I can get them off and on again for the next smoke.
 
I never got around to welding the pipes for caps in place, or used the locking rings. The caps froze on the pipes, and it's the pipes that back out (a good fit in that they screw in and out), leaving the full hole exposed. One of those open (valved closed) gives a hotter fire than an open valve alone. And so it goes on up the ladder. I've also messed with refrigerator magnets over the open holes when I want to fine tune it.
 
Just wondering? Instead of caps why not just add another ball valve? I didnt weld mine either, this is only a 1/2" valve on mine, think I'm gonna add another one 180* for cross flow. The best thing working for me is the minion method, best use of junk mail I've found yet!
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