[UPDATE 1-17-12] {COMPLETED!!!} First UDS Build {Completed Pictures}

goodolsmokey · Dec 21, 2011

Hello everybody,

I picked up my 55 gallon drum yesterday and I'm hoping to get this thing up and smoking asap! I don't have a lot of building experience so, I'm hoping I can get some good insight from you all, and I'll be documenting my build (lots of pics) so hopefully this can end up being a resource for future first time uds builders as well.

I picked up what I was told was a food grade drum yesterday and initially I thought it may have had a "tan liner" inside but I tried scraping it today and it seems like maybe it's just paint? IDK, would a liner be that easy to remove? If it is just paint what would be the best way to scrub the rest off? Doing a burn isn't possible (still living with the folks ;) )

The inside of the barrel top that I scraped.

The whole shabang!

dpeart · Dec 21, 2011

I used paint stripper on mine to remove the paint on the outside. I didn't have anything on the inside.

dave

colorado shawn · Dec 21, 2011

Hi I did a build this past summer and documented on video. It was fun to make but I prefer cooking on my Weber Smokey Mountain.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/110518/my-new-uds-build-video-documentary-of-build

goodolsmokey · Dec 22, 2011

Colorado Shawn said:
Hi I did a build this past summer and documented on video. It was fun to make but I prefer cooking on my Weber Smokey Mountain.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/110518/my-new-uds-build-video-documentary-of-build

Thanks a lot, really nice videos.

mballi3011 · Dec 22, 2011

I would just build one heck of a fire in it and let it rip. Then make you a uds smoker.

rbranstner · Dec 22, 2011

When I make mine drums I just burn them out really well and all of the paint just burns right off the outside.

goodolsmokey · Dec 22, 2011

Doing a burn isn't an option sadly. I'm more concerned with the tan paint/liner?? too, i'm not especially worried with the looks at this point, I just want to Q! lol

SmokinAl · Dec 22, 2011

Why can't you burn it out?

goodolsmokey · Dec 22, 2011

I live with my folks and there's no way there letting me start a fire like that in the backyard lol...even if I am going to school to become a firefighter

I picked up a sander from my uncle today and played with it on the lid...this doesn't seam like the liner i've been reading about???? idk though...this was just using a used piece of sandpaper that didn't seem very coarse, gonna scrounge up some change (literally lol) and pick up some rougher kind tomorrow hopefully.

My uncle also gave me some acid, he said it's not that strong, (it was in a jug that resembled a milk jug) and he said I could use that too...idk though, do you guys think that would be safe?

rdknb · Dec 22, 2011

Maybe go to the Fire dept and see if they will let you burn it out there. They could make it into some kind of training for them. Just trying to think outside the box,

rbranstner · Dec 23, 2011

goodolsmokey said:
I ended up finding a place to burn it out at :) Question though...we used some gasoline, that's not an issue is it, in regards it letting off fumes in the future with cooking?

I probably wouldn't have used the gas but if you burned it out really good it should be ok.

goodolsmokey · Dec 28, 2011

Ok, sorry for the delay. But here are the pictures after the burn, a wash and some sanding (by hand)

I'm seeing these light patches in the metal, i'm not sure if it's just a product of the burn or what, any idea how to remove those?

also on the bottom, does that look normal? I don't know if that's a product of using the gasoline and lighter fluid or what.

Anyway I have the holes drilled and I should be getting my bolts and grate soon, the only thing to do now is look for some expanded metal for the fire box.

Also instead of doing another burn with wood, would going over the drum with a torch be enough to steralize it from the gas? because I'm really nlooking forward to scrubbing the soot out of this thing again lol

Is that discoloration towards the bottom rust?

SmokinAl · Dec 29, 2011

Good start!

frosty · Dec 29, 2011

You're doing a great job so far. Keep up the good work.

africanmeat · Dec 29, 2011

Like Al side good start

goodolsmokey · Jan 17, 2012

Well it's pretty much all done, I think i'm going to add a hook on the inside to hang on the side when I need to tend to the meat.

scarbelly · Jan 17, 2012

Looks like you got it nailed

sprky · Jan 17, 2012

africanmeat · Jan 18, 2012

Yes this is a nice smoker .great job you did well done

razorbbq · Jan 23, 2012

Suggestion:

Tack weld 4 short lengths (2-3") of rebar to the bottom of your charcoal grate to raise up off the floor of your cooker. That lets air up under your fuel and gives the ash somewhere to go beside sitting in place and possibly smothering your fuel. Looks great. These are a blast to build IMO. As for the bottom, that is normal. I wouldn't worry about the gasoline issue much, if it burned well, that gas and its fumes are long gone. Plus, when you spray the inside down with PAM or your chosen cooking oil for seasoning, the seasoning process will create a nice coating on the inside and you will be good to go.

[UPDATE 1-17-12] {COMPLETED!!!} First UDS Build {Completed Pictures}

Newbie

Smoke Blower

Fire Starter

Newbie

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

Smoking Guru

Newbie

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

Newbie

Master of the Pit

Smoking Guru

Newbie

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

Master of the Pit

Master of the Pit

Newbie

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

Master of the Pit

Master of the Pit

Newbie

Similar threads

Hot Threads