My first UDS build help

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Hello.  I gotta agree with the above, you shouldn't need to brush the indise and I gotta say: THAT WIRE BRUSH IS HARD CORE BROTHER!  I think after about 30 minutes of that and I would be looking for something to slit my wrists!  
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  Keep up the good work!  Keep Smokin!


Danny
You hit the hammer on the head with a nail there danny! Hahaha. I feel for you with that little wire wheel bro.
 
 
You hit the hammer on the head with a nail there danny! Hahaha. I feel for you with that little wire wheel bro.
Haha thanks, I will get there in the end. I have done worse jobs so I am sure I will make it 
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Wish I would have seen this before.  I burned mine out from the outside in with a weed torch, it was a peice of cake.  3 gallons of propane and about an hour is all it took.  The phenolic on the inside literally just fell off when I hit it with the torch from the outside.  I could give it all the heat in the world from the inside, but once I started burning it from the outside in, that resin coating just fell off.

Good luck on your build.  I used a nibbler to do all my doors and sheet metal work.  You might want to look into renting or borrowing one.  You can cut a door in less than a couple minutes.
 
 
Wish I would have seen this before.  I burned mine out from the outside in with a weed torch, it was a peice of cake.  3 gallons of propane and about an hour is all it took.  The phenolic on the inside literally just fell off when I hit it with the torch from the outside.  I could give it all the heat in the world from the inside, but once I started burning it from the outside in, that resin coating just fell off.

Good luck on your build.  I used a nibbler to do all my doors and sheet metal work.  You might want to look into renting or borrowing one.  You can cut a door in less than a couple minutes.
I would caution against a door. You are asking for an air leak that will cause wierd issues with temps and such and is not needed.
 
I guess I missed that it was an unlined barrel. Mine was a food grade barrel with a lining so I wanted to be 100% sure it was all gone. When I finished sanding the inside I looked like I had been trapped in a coal mine for weeks.

Also, @timberjet  is SOOOOOOO right about the door. I will be removing the door on mine. It was a cool idea but there has been no need to add more wood or charcoal during the smoke since I made my basket large enough thus making the door useless. 
 
Primer depends on the paint. The high temp spray paint I bought (by rustoleum) said to not use a primer. If you are priming it make sure that the primer is compatible with the paint and has at least the same temp rating.
 
Primer depends on the paint. The high temp spray paint I bought (by rustoleum) said to not use a primer. If you are priming it make sure that the primer is compatible with the paint and has at least the same temp rating.
Thanks I have a black high heat paint made by rustoleum also. I wont bother buying a primer too. Thank you
 
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I agree!  No primer.  I WOULD use at least 2 coats.  Maybe even 3.  I HATE to paint anything.  I have ZERO patience.  But these barrels will rust easily.  Paint, light sanding and another coat.  You put a lot of work into this thing, you want it to last.  Just my opinion.  Keep Smokin!

Danny
 
I used the rustoleum high heat grill paint and used 3 cans. If you can use a weed burner do it and heat it from the inside to about 150*F and then let it cool to 100*F. Then do about 4 light coats 15 minutes apart.

My paint said to let it sit for 48 hours before recoating. I did so and heated again and then painted 4 more light coats within an hour. It is holding up great.
 
Almost there. Yea a friend took care of the basket and i did the barrel. Hopefully fire it up next weekend
 
Hi, r ya alreete!

Makam here so don't get alarmed we are both still up! Lol! But I've got a Toon Passport as I used to be involved with NUFC in teh 90's in a social way. The Keegan, Dalglish Days. JC is a mate of mine.

Sorry for the late reply as I am a newcomer too. Don't know how far you are on with your UDS but I have a contact in Spennymoor who has clean barrels (just lacquer inside to stop the rust) with lids and a lid clamp. I have just built 2 UDS one for hot smoking and one for cold. His drums are a tenner each plus delivery. I have had 3 off him. I did my research to the extreme so if you need any further info on what and where to buy let me know. Made loads of cock ups on my first but the second was a doddle most of the action was done in a couple of days.Just tarting them up now. Didn't like the Weber lid idea myself but lots use it mostly them that have had to cut the lids!!!.
 
Hi

Sorry read your UK post but replied on here without reading your main forum Post. Looks like you have done a good job but if your planning on doing UDS 2 I can save you a lump of money on the build. Let me know.
 
Hi,

Nice to see a fellow UK northerner on here. I will bear that info in mind if I ever build a second UDS.  Here is an update where my current first UDS is upto, this was on the 9th of May 2015. 

Its come to a standstill at the moment while I wait for my friend to bring over the coal basket to season the drum then lacquer the outside.



 
Hi all,

After doing some seasoning and testing, I think I need a bigger mesh coal basket. The base plate and ash catcher I have is fine I just need more mesh. Is there anyone in the UK that can suggest a good source of Mesh that is not galvanised?? 
 
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