Uds !......why ???

[dick bullard]

Not trying to get any folks uptight..but what's the bit with the UDS ?

I see a lot of effort by a lot of folks trying to build one of these.....searching out parts and etc.

Let's see now.......they are ugly (not too though!)

........not much space on the cooking rack

.......not the easiest to reload charcoal

This is an honest question, not trying to be funny....is it the challenge or what ? Tell me what is missing in the equation......!

I keep wandering..."Should I make one of these ?"...Then that same old question keeps flashing in my mind...."WHY ?"

Rick

 

[bill in mn]

A question from a guy with 5 smokers.Yes build one and have 6.I have loaded my UDS with enough fuel to run 16hrs.not sure what anyone smokes longer than that maybe a whole elephant

It's sure an improvement from my little chief and the price was right because I'm as tight as the bark on a tree.As I learn more I'm sure another type of smoker will be a + and I like to tinker around and this fit the bill perfect.that's why I built one and the look on friends and family when they see where I smoked it is priceless.Bill

 

[chefrob]

i think a lot of us fits that bill.................

now that there is funny!!!!

 

[warthog]

1. Very long smoke time 12-16 hours without a refill.
2. 22.5" cooking rack, plenty of room for a couple of Boston butts.
install a domed lid and you can now have two cooking racks.
3. excellent temperature control.
4. inexpensive, normal builds under $100
5. seems to cook faster.

 

[smokeguy]

Now you have my interest!

I don't have a UDS but how and what type of fuel lets you go that long without adding more? Do you just make a thick layer of charcoal, put hot ones on top and then it just slowly burns down lighting the new coals?

12-16 hours is just amazing! And I thought the MES was an easy-to-use smoker!

 

[rbranstner]

I would take my UDS over my GOSM propane rig any day. I have two 22.5" grates so I can get several whole slabs of ribs on there or put my dome on and have all kinds of room.

 

[bill in mn]

I put in the basket about 8 -10lbs of charcoal brickets , Kingsford type and some fist size chunks of the wood I want to smoke with a start 15 or so and drop them in and you off to the races. my basket is 8" tall and 18" round.(it's the charcoal grate from a 22.5 Webber grill) .I welded some legs to it and expanded metal around it

If your cooking an elephant you will need to re-fuel 1 time.

 

[pandemonium]

Also very easy to maintain temps using charcoal, and probably a better taste than an electric one but since i don't have one i am guessing on that. Ohh and its fun to build and customize, and warm and cold outside air temps don't affect it.

 

[wutang]

Like has been said...
-Long cook times with minimal adjustments,
-Plenty of cook space (mine has 2 racks),
-Great flavor from juices vaporizing on the coals,
-Wide range of operating temps-I can cruise at 240 degrees or 350+ if needed with no problem
-The build project is fun
-Food tastes better on something you built yourself

 

[meateater]

What they all said.^^^ Plus I built it and that makes my food taste better.

Seriously, I can fit it in my balcony closet, once I get a house I'll build a side box from scratch, why, because I can.

 

[taterdavid]

all the above and the weather really has no effect on the drum. i love mine for winter time cooking its awesome

 

[travcoman45]

Cause there relativly easy ta build an can be an inexpensive smoker. Plus they just plain work great! Very economical ta operate.

 

[ddave]

What he said.

Dave

 

[kulok]

ok yall have peaked my intrest in building a Uds. i have a drum /its not food grade is that ok.if so i think the biuld would be fun .and the smoke times are way better than what i get now.but i think i would want a fire box

 

[travcoman45]

What was in the drum?

 

[kulok]

new mineral oil ,is that not good or can it burnt out.

 

[pit 4 brains]

Every uds is different.. You make it, you get to know it and nobody has one just like it.. You smoke to the beat of a different drum!

 

[travcoman45]

Should work out just fine fer ya!

 

[kulok]

the mineral oil was for an electrical transformer but i looked it up and it is the same as regular baby oil just a different name to suite the buyers .the oil is used as a cooler because it is dielectric.

 

[kulok]

ok guys i found the Uds to build ...ready its got 3 drums ,2 for the cooker and one for the fire box...