Afternoon smokingmeatforums memebrrs!
Finally getting around to start on my UDS smoker build. I picked up this 55 gallon drum about 8 weeks ago and haven't had the time to start this project well today is the day I finally get started on the UDS smoker. [emoji]128077[/emoji][emoji]127996[/emoji] Over all length is 35-1/2" top to bottom from the top lip I measured 7" down then made a mark at 14" and another mark at 21". First mark is for the top cooking rack second mark is for the second cooking rack or used for a pan to catch my drippings off my food last mark is for my heat diffuser. Using strandard 22" Weber grill grates and for my heat diffuser I'm using a 16" pizza stone. For my charcoal basket it's going to be 9" high by 16" round using 3/4 x 9 expanded metal I'll make some 3" legs for the basket to sit on of the 18" pizza pan as my ash catcher. Know for the grill grate pins im using 1/4"x 20x 1"eye bolts gives the grates a little more to sit on. For the air inlets I'm using two 1-1/2" ID tubing that I'll weld to the bottom and at the top, using the standard lid that came with the drum and placing a 5" threaded pipe for my smoker stack that has a slide bent control same a the air inlets slide control to open and close. I'm undecided as far as placement of the thermometer not sure I want to place it on top of the lid or on the side just under the first rack. Just finished drilling all my holes and making my charcoal basket still need to add my cross bar and attach a 3/4" washer to the top so I can use my hook to pick up the basket. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get it burned in so I can get all cleaned up and begin the painting process. I'll prime everything with 2000 degree engine paint then add a coat black grill paint made by rust-oleum then I'm using and aluminum color as my finished color this is for the drum for my air inlets same process just using a sunset red as the finished color. Not sure if I want to do the lid on red or aluminum I'll figure that out when I cross that bridge. Anyway here are some pictures so far of what I have completed today.
Finally getting around to start on my UDS smoker build. I picked up this 55 gallon drum about 8 weeks ago and haven't had the time to start this project well today is the day I finally get started on the UDS smoker. [emoji]128077[/emoji][emoji]127996[/emoji] Over all length is 35-1/2" top to bottom from the top lip I measured 7" down then made a mark at 14" and another mark at 21". First mark is for the top cooking rack second mark is for the second cooking rack or used for a pan to catch my drippings off my food last mark is for my heat diffuser. Using strandard 22" Weber grill grates and for my heat diffuser I'm using a 16" pizza stone. For my charcoal basket it's going to be 9" high by 16" round using 3/4 x 9 expanded metal I'll make some 3" legs for the basket to sit on of the 18" pizza pan as my ash catcher. Know for the grill grate pins im using 1/4"x 20x 1"eye bolts gives the grates a little more to sit on. For the air inlets I'm using two 1-1/2" ID tubing that I'll weld to the bottom and at the top, using the standard lid that came with the drum and placing a 5" threaded pipe for my smoker stack that has a slide bent control same a the air inlets slide control to open and close. I'm undecided as far as placement of the thermometer not sure I want to place it on top of the lid or on the side just under the first rack. Just finished drilling all my holes and making my charcoal basket still need to add my cross bar and attach a 3/4" washer to the top so I can use my hook to pick up the basket. Tomorrow I'm hoping to get it burned in so I can get all cleaned up and begin the painting process. I'll prime everything with 2000 degree engine paint then add a coat black grill paint made by rust-oleum then I'm using and aluminum color as my finished color this is for the drum for my air inlets same process just using a sunset red as the finished color. Not sure if I want to do the lid on red or aluminum I'll figure that out when I cross that bridge. Anyway here are some pictures so far of what I have completed today.
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