Big Poppa Smoker UDS Kit

grimm5577 · Jun 6, 2014

Picked up some Apple concentrate Barrels to make a UDS with.

IMG_2694-768x1024.jpg

grimm5577
Jun 6, 2014

Tried burning out the liner

IMG_2730-1024x1024.jpg

grimm5577
Jun 6, 2014

IMG_2733-768x1024.jpg

grimm5577
Jun 6, 2014

But the liner didn't completely burn off. So I then went to sanding and wire wheel.

IMG_2778-768x1024.jpg

grimm5577
Jun 6, 2014

Got it down to just about bare metal

IMG_2777-768x1024.jpg

grimm5577
Jun 6, 2014

Started Drilling

IMG_2780-768x1024.jpg

grimm5577
Jun 6, 2014

Built:

IMG_2784-768x1024.jpg

grimm5577
Jun 6, 2014

I installed the thermometer on the wrong side (DOH!) oh well.

I then wiped the inside with canoloa oil and started to season it.

IMG_2797-768x1024.jpg

grimm5577
Jun 6, 2014

After a few hours of seasoning i tossed on some burgers and dogs.

IMG_2799-768x1024.jpg

grimm5577
Jun 6, 2014

Happy me next to the new cooker.

IMG_2794-768x1024.jpg

grimm5577
Jun 6, 2014

I gotta say I really love the Big Poppa Smoker kit. I like having an adjustable height charcoal basket. I also want to look into adding another grate above this one and using a 22.5" weber lid for when i need the extra capacity. I wouldn't buy the ash catcher again, it's clumsy and expensive for what it is.

I've only done 2 cooks on it so far but have loved cooking on this thing. Probably going to make another UDS out of the other barrel with out a kit and see if one performs better than the other.

pc farmer · Jun 6, 2014

I built my drum with my own hardware but I bought the Big Poppa basket cause I liked how it is adjustable.

You will have many great cooks on it. Congrats.

dirtsailor2003 · Jun 6, 2014

That's one ugly smoker! I've built two UDS's. Both from scratch. My newest one I made the racks adjustable. I can run them right down on top of the baskets, or anywhere in between. Works great!! Originally I was going to make the basket adjustable too but with the adjustable racks there's no need.

fwismoker · Jun 6, 2014

About as ugly as you can get! Congrats on the cooker. Can't beat the simplicity, versatility and ease of use on the Big Poppa.

ron eb · Jun 6, 2014

Can't get much more ugly

Nice job

chef willie · Jun 6, 2014

Ugly is in the eye of the beholder.....Oh, wait, that's beauty......either one works for that thing.....Congrats and enjoy it.....I recommend a rotisserie setup if feasible.....Willie

kc5tpy · Jun 6, 2014

Hello. Great job on the smoker build! Now the welder in me must come out. Once you heat untreated steel like your barrel, RUST will happen VERY quickly! Since a barrel is very thin metal it won't last long. I just would hate to see your labor rust apart. If you have unlimited free access to barrels then not a problem, if not then I would get some paint on that exterior or wipe it down ( season the exterior ) with cooking oil. If you use the cooking oil option, it will smoke a little when you fire it up but won't affect the taste of your food. No matter if you decide to season or paint, wire brush the outside extremely well. Then build a small fire in your barrel. Just to warm it up. You should be able to JUST hold your hand on the outside. Use High Temp BBQ paint/engine paint for a painted finish. Just use a veg oil for the seasoning finish. The fire MUST be completely out, DEAD! if using spray paint, I mean cold enough for you to hold the ash in your hand, so warm the barrel and then get that fire outta there. The reason I say warm the barrel before the application of paint or oil is that when metal is warm the "pores" open up allowing the coating to penetrate better ( when I say "pores" I am talking about the atoms that make up the metal, but I ain't going there ). Keep Smokin!

Danny

pc farmer · Jun 6, 2014

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Sounds like some good info.

Thanks Danny.

crawls70 · Jan 22, 2015

Does the big poplar kit give you measurements to add a second grill grate

pc farmer · Jan 22, 2015

crawls70 said:
Does the big poplar kit give you measurements to add a second grill grate

Been awhile but I think it does. Go to their site and watch the video. It shows you how to build it.

crawls70 · Jan 22, 2015

Thanks

pappa roach1 · Feb 25, 2015

I think building your own ash pan would be better.

Pizza Pan held on the bottom of the cage with 4 each 1/4 X 4 Bolts.

Use Tubing 3" long as Stand Offs between the basket and Pizza Pan.

Use Fender Washers on both sides of the basket bottom, then a Loc Washer and a Nut.

Now it is solid, and not a Pain to mess with.

I only used part of the Big Pappa Kit on my build. Shield, Bottle Opener, Side Handles, and the Basket Hook.

I used the conventional UDS Charcoal Basket design using the Heavy Duty Weber Charcoal Grate for the bottom, and a ring of Expanded metal welded to the grate in a cylinder. I had a Bale fabricated from a 3/16 stainless steel rod. The Ash Pan was as described above suing SS Tubing for the stand offs.

EDIT: And save your Milk Money, and get some paint on it. That hurts my eyes.

Bob

Big Poppa Smoker UDS Kit

Meat Mopper

Epic Pitmaster

Epic Pitmaster

Master of the Pit

Meat Mopper

Master of the Pit

Master of the Pit

Epic Pitmaster

Newbie

Epic Pitmaster

Newbie

Newbie

Similar threads

Hot Threads