Big Poppa UDS Build with Pics

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travisty

Smoking Fanatic
Original poster
SMF Premier Member
Mar 10, 2014
559
169
Salt Lake City, UT
Hey all,

I have decided to go with a Big Poppa kit to do a UDS build, but I am planning to do a few mods on what they offer in the box. For example I don't care for the handles, or the top vent, and I am also looking to maybe add a meat-hanging bar, only because I like the idea of hanging a turkey, and at least trying some hanged meat.

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Anyway, Im starting a bit premature,
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 but I wanted you all along for the ride, especially as I will need some advise as I go.

First couple questions I have as I am going in to it:

-Should a 550 degree paint be okay, or should I go up above 1000?

-I have a food grade barrel, and I am planning to have it sand blasted to save me some time, do you think I should do the sand blasting before or after I do a burn out

I will post some pics of my barrel tonight, then after the blasting and/or burnout. Ill keep the plentiful pics and questions going throughout the whole process. Hoping to be done with it all within a few weeks, but could take longer since I work full time.
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Another question I thought of.... What does everyone think of painting on the inside of the barrel? like a clear coat or something to help with rust and such?
The amazin ribs people reviewed it and said they don't recommend painting the inside of a UDS for fear of possible fumes, but it seems like as long as you do a good season this wouldn't be a problem. Thoughs?
 
Ok, as promised here is my barrel:
Looks like it has the internal enamel coating, but all three I had to choose from had it, and they were free, so I didn't complain.


It was used for an Acai Berry syrup, and has a certified food grade sticker on it too.

Anyway, I'm bringing it over to the sand blaster in the morning to have it done inside and out. They have quoted me $40.

I'll keep the pics and progress coming! Gonna try to accelerate the timeline, cause I have a friend who wants me to cook for her wedding party this summer, and I'd like to get used to the way it cooks before that comes (I can always use my others if I get delayed)
 
I would go with the 1000 degree paint and with the big poppa kit you can really hot with the basket in the upper u bolts. Plus its cheap at a hardware store.

I definitely not paint the inside. Coat with oil and season it. It won't rust.

I have 2 barrel cookers. One is a modded big poppa uds.
 
I would go with the 1000 degree paint and with the big poppa kit you can really hot with the basket in the upper u bolts. Plus its cheap at a hardware store.

I definitely not paint the inside. Coat with oil and season it. It won't rust.

I have 2 barrel cookers. One is a modded big poppa uds.
I am with c farmer on this build also. I would maybe save the food grade drum for other food storage uses before going threw all the trouble of removing the paint inside. That is if you have other drum options? 
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Looks like you will have a fun build, keep us posted, we will want to see some finished product when your done.
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Well, I could look into other drum options, but as I mentioned I will actually be having the inside and out sandblasted. That should easily get all the inside paint off right?


Almost forgot to mention. The fellow I got the barrel off, also offered me some nice fresh eggs!
Nice guy!
 
Well, I could look into other drum options, but as I mentioned I will actually be having the inside and out sandblasted. That should easily get all the inside paint off right?


Almost forgot to mention. The fellow I got the barrel off, also offered me some nice fresh eggs!
Nice guy!
Nice Score on the fresh Farm Eggs! 
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 I just thought a different more user friendly  ready drum would save you a little time and trouble is all. 
 
For anyone interested, Bubba's Barrels has a deal with Big Poppa where they sell the kit and the drum if you need.

Yeah, I looked at they too. They give the barrel for a real steal, the only problem was that they wanted $124 for shipping, so it put it out of the "budget"(which will be blown anyway because I too have a sickness!) I live in SLC, UT so not sure why the shipping is was so much. Other barrel places even offered free shipping, and ones that charged were only a couple twenties.
 
Dropped the barrel at the sandblaster today. They sort of put me on the backburner since they are doing it for so cheap. Said they would be done some time next week, but couldn't say for sure when. The Big Poppa kit is expected to arrive on Friday, and I also ordered a pizza tray to serve as a charcoal dust collector. Got my high temp paint. This is the color I went with, its called "aged copper":


Also grabbed this cast iron pig to serve as my lid handle (I know it will get hot, but apparently the regular ones do anyways, so Ill just keep a trivet on hand:

 
Love the handle idea!! Where did you get it and how much? I might steal this idea lol
 
Love the handle idea!! Where did you get it and how much? I might steal this idea lol
I got it on Etsy. They had some on Amazon that looked just like it, but they were only 2-3 inches long. This one is 5 inches long and 3 inches tall, which I think will be a good size topper. Just go to amazon/etsy/ebay, and search "Cast Iron Pig" and find one that it the size you want. I picked one with wings, cause the logo I have for my soon to come catering business is a flying pig. They also had one with other animals standing on top of the pig, like a cow, then a rooster, and I almost got that one.

Ill have to work out either welding a screw to the bottom of the feet, or perhaps drilling and threading the feet for a screw. Otherwise I could possibly just weld the pig right to the lid... ill see what I think once I have everything together.
 
Is JB Weld good at high temps? I guess I still figure its best to do the most secure option, but ill look into that too.

Also forgot to mention, I don't like the lid damper on the BPS kit, so I went ahead and picked this bad boy up from an ebay seller for $20, that way I don't have to make one myself.  

 
 
Is JB Weld good at high temps? I guess I still figure its best to do the most secure option, but ill look into that too.

Also forgot to mention, I don't like the lid damper on the BPS kit, so I went ahead and picked this bad boy up from an ebay seller for $20, that way I don't have to make one myself.  

I think the exhaust is fine on the BP but you need a flat lid...no curvature.          JB high heat can work ok on high temp but not if there's stress on the connection.
 
I used a 90 on mine and love it .. I rotate my lid based off of the wind direction
 
Ok man, that does look nice! It does rain here a bunch too, so I should have thought of that! On the other hand, I do have a covered patio, I can always put it under if needs be.
 
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