Sealing my UDS lid and intakes

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njlungbuster

Fire Starter
Original poster
Nov 17, 2012
72
13
Galloway, NJ
I've been rocking my UDS now for a bunch of years. It's getting uncovered and prepped for the nice weather we are getting. The lid isn't sealing like it used to. I noticed it last year before I stopped using it for the winter months. My plan is to run a bead of high temp rtv in the groove of the lid I have. Then cover the edge of the smoker with saran wrap and put the lid on. This should work right? And the three intakes at the bottom were secured with conduit nuts when originally built and I think they're leaking ever so slightly too. I'm thinking about just covering it up with jb weld on the outside so it's nice and smooth and no leaks. Think this would work also? Then I'm gonna sand the whole thing down and repaint it. As for the leaks, Will these two options work? Thanks. ;)
 
I have had better luck using stove rope than rtv. Every time I've used the rtv, it starts to peel off after a while. I see no problem using JB-weld at your intakes.
 
 
I wouldn't use the JB Weld. Even on the outside near an intake, any unknown gasses will be pulled into the CC. 
If you read the specs from JB weld, the product is inert once fully cured and does not give off gases at consistent temps of 500°, short term temps of 600°. It is even approved for use in microwave ovens. I've temped the bottom of my drum where the intake are and even when I have had the thing cranking along at 425° the temp was lower than at grate. There are a few builds out there where guys have used pvc valves on black pipe nipples.
 
That sounds good then dirtsailor. I didn't know, just have smelled it on parts that were heated with a torch or welded on and it smells bad, but after thinking about it, that would be higher temps than a smoker.
 
That sounds good then dirtsailor. I didn't know, just have smelled it on parts that were heated with a torch or welded on and it smells bad, but after thinking about it, that would be higher temps than a smoker.

Yeah welding or hitting with a torch would be like ten times the amount of heat that my smoker would get to I think.
 
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