Need help ASAP!

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bigque

Newbie
Original poster
Jun 29, 2011
10
10
My barrel measurements are H 33 1/2 by 71 around the barrel. Inside of the barrel is 22.5 it's a 55 gal barrel I was told. Now I have the grill grate at 7 1/2 from the top and the intake valves 2 inches from the bottom. I'm using a weber 22.5 charcoal grate as a coal holder and it 10 inches tall, now my problem is that my grate is not 24 in from the coals it's about 20. Is this okay or will I have to install some type of water pan.
 
You should be OK at 20".  A lot of upright smokers have grates much closer than 20".  I prefer to use a water pan in most of my smokes for 2 reasons: 1) it helps keep cook temps stable and shortens recovery times, and 2) it keeps moisture up in the cook chamber helping prevent things from drying out.
 
Even if its not a water pan any type of heat defuser will work for u.
 
I did an update this morning by cutting the coal basket down to 6 instead of 10, now should I move my cook grate up and add a grill lid or add a defuser plate and keep my flat lid. If so what would be the height that the plate or. Bowl would need to be above the basket and what would I use to make it out of.
 
My barrel measurements are H 33 1/2 by 71 around the barrel. Inside of the barrel is 22.5 it's a 55 gal barrel I was told. Now I have the grill grate at 7 1/2 from the top and the intake valves 2 inches from the bottom. I'm using a weber 22.5 charcoal grate as a coal holder and it 10 inches tall, now my problem is that my grate is not 24 in from the coals it's about 20. Is this okay or will I have to install some type of water pan.
The height of my UDS is 20". I made what I call a Fire Pit/UDS or FPDS. My first level grate has a diffuser on it. I use a 14" foil lined terra cotta or clay saucer instead of a water pan or water pan with sand in it. It can hold up to the heat and nearly sits directly over my charcoal basket. My cooking grate is just above the diffuser.

You just need to worry about air intake temperature control, air leaks and how much hot charcoal you start with (assuming you are using the Minion method). check out my pics and see what I mean, my Q tastes fantastic by the way.
 
 
Here's a Wiki that I wrote as a reference, nothing set in stone. It works for me. 
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http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/wiki/uds-ugly-drum-smoker
 
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