UDS is almost done...

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ferd66

Fire Starter
Original poster
May 28, 2013
66
11
West Michigan
Well,  My first UDS is almost done.  I'm curious about how low of a temp these drums will maintain.  My dad has been smoking fish for over 50yrs and does some of the best fish ever.  He says never go over 150°.  Will the UDS maintain this low of a temp?

Thanks, in advance, for any responses.
 
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I would say yes. I have never tryed to get mine that low. But I still have room to cut off a lot more air. Post some pics when you get a chance.
Happy smoken.
David
I'm thinkin you can't sustain temps that low with good smoke but I've been wrong before.
David I'm doing that pellet uds I told you about a while back sometime this year and I know I can with that. I'm going to use it for jerky, sausages etc...
 
I'm thinkin you can't sustain temps that low with good smoke but I've been wrong before.
David I'm doing that pellet uds I told you about a while back sometime this year and I know I can with that. I'm going to use it for jerky, sausages etc...
If you lay the charcoal out like a maze and put some wood chips on top. Then light one end. Not fill the basket and dump in a chimeny of lit caol...

I look forward to seeing you pellet UDS

David
 
If you lay the charcoal out like a maze and put some wood chips on top. Then light one end. Not fill the basket and dump in a chimeny of lit caol...

I look forward to seeing you pellet UDS

David
I'm thinking of placing a #10 can ,or something similar, in the center of the charcoal basket and making the lit coals run around the outside edge to see if that will help maintain a lower temp.
 
After I burned it out..twice, and sandblasted it to get the red liner out, I found a local source for new or reconditioned unlined barrels.  This place will sell a clean, reconditioned unlined barrel for $32.  I asked if they would consider selling them with a high heat paint for the same price.  They were gonna run it by the boss.  Sure would be nice to just pick up a barrel, punch some holes in it and go.  
 
Ferd...let me know what they say ...might be worth a road trip if they would do that. where in western Michigan you talking?

Nice Drum!
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Ferd...let me know what they say ...might be worth a road trip if they would do that. where in western Michigan you talking?

Nice Drum!
first.gif
  They are in Marne, MI.  Google "Dewitt Barrel"

And Thanks.  I'm already looking at building a couple more.  Another 55 gallon and a mini 30 gallon.  Dewitt also has 85 gallon barrels...hmmmm
 
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Go Big or Go Home!!!   I'll check the 85 out when I go there.  It's only about a 20 minute drive there.  An 85 laid horizontal might make a nice reverse flow smoker too.  Attach a 30g on the side for the firebox.
 
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Well...I may have figured it out.  I got a couple #10 soup cans from the kitchen at work.  I placed one in the middle of the charcoal rack and put a light layer of charcoal around it..barely covering the grate.   I lit about 8-10 pieces in the chimney and dumped them in one side.  I had to keep one pipe cap open and the ball valve fully open to maintain 230-240 for my fatties.  By the time I got the fatties done, I was nearly out of charcoal but I'm pretty sure that with both pipes capped, I'd be able to get the temp pretty low.   I'll try it again soon.
 
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