Does your drum have a water pan?

donnylove · Jan 23, 2010

I primarily smoke with 55-gallon and 85-gallon drum smokers that I built. Lately I've been wondering if it would be worthwhile to add a water pan to my drums. Has anyone implemented a water pan on their UDS/VDS? Regardless, what are your thoughts on the advantages and disadvantages?

Thanks!

travcoman45 · Jan 23, 2010

Can't think it needs it. Mine usually has a puddle in the bottom of it anyway, so much so that I drilled a drain hole in the bottom an put a pan under it. Tends ta be a moist enviroment on its own. If ya wan't some additional heat retention, add in a few bricks. Otherwise I don't see the need fer it. Just my two coppers on it though.

mballi3011 · Jan 23, 2010

I have seen and heard of people having water accumulate in the bottom os there smoker but I have never seen a water oan in a UDS either.

rickw · Jan 23, 2010

I tried a water pan in a UDS, it pretty much ruins one of it's best features and that is being a fuel miser. When running the water pan you will use up a lot more fuel than with out it.

ddave · Jan 23, 2010

I think Tip and Rick pretty much summed it up.

I didn't put a drain hole in mine but after a long smoke with a good load of meat, there is quite a bit of condensate in the drum the next morning.

On occasion when I spritz or mop (which is rare anymore on the bigger cuts like butts or briskets) I am stunned at how much moisture is on the meat already.

Dave

rbranstner · Jan 23, 2010

Mine also has tons of moisture in it after smoking. I need to put a hole in the bottom of my UDS.

grizandizz · Jan 23, 2010

I just seasoned my drum last Sunday and the following morning it was still hot and very moist inside, I will not be adding a water pan.

Donnie, your drum looks great can post any other pictures of it?

grizandizz · Jan 23, 2010

I just seasoned my drum last Sunday and the following morning it was still hot and very moist inside, I will not be adding a water pan.

Donny, your drum looks great can post any other pictures of it?

donnylove · Jan 23, 2010

Thanks for the compliment. I don't have a lot of other pics of the 55-gallon drum in action, but here are some pictures of the features:

trig · Jan 23, 2010

My drum is moist days after I use it. No need for water, and I started cooking fatties to 175° and have yet to have one that wasn't hella moist. I'm still incredibly happy I decided to cheap out and build a drum smoker.

Edit, looks like you bought your drum brand new?

donnylove · Jan 23, 2010

I did buy this drum new. There isn't an affordable source for used or reconditioned drums here in Billings, but I was able to get a brand new one for a pretty reasonable price . . .

ddave · Jan 23, 2010

Great looking drum, donnylove.

Man that charcoal basket is HUGE! You ought to be able to smoke all weekend on one load of fuel in that baby!

Dave

grizandizz · Jan 23, 2010

Nice UDS!

Let me take a guess, is your ash tray a pizza pan from Walmart?
If so I have the same one, works great, holds 10lbs of charcoal/wood ash!!

Can I ask where you found those side handles?
I haven't been able to find a handle that works good on the radius.
Thanks!!

donnylove · Jan 23, 2010

Pizza pan is correct, though I don't remember where I bought it. Pretty sure the handles came from Home Depot, though it might have been Ace Hardware.

grizandizz · Jan 23, 2010

Thanks, I looked at HD so I will check out ACE.
Did you buy your Kingsford lid new, if so where?
All I am missing is a lid and haven't been able to track down a donor Weber lid.

ddave · Jan 23, 2010

I'm pretty sure you'll find those handles at ACE. I think they are regular gate handles. I used to have a pair on my UDS. Stick one end in a vise and give a little push and they'll fit fine on a curved surface.

Dave

BandCollector · Jan 23, 2010

Water pan is unnecessary.........UDS does a great job without one.

donnylove · Jan 23, 2010

Dave is right. I did exactly that with the handles in the vice.

I bought the Kingsford charcoal grill at a garage sale for $5. Welded a steel band inside the lip of the drum to provide an edge for the lid to sit on and it seats very well.

donnylove · Jan 23, 2010

And for the record, my drums have served me very well without a water pan, but I've also read several times where certain BBQ "experts" like how steam helps the cooking process for certain meats. Doesn't a WSM basically operate as a drum with a water pan? So I was curious if anyone else had gone that route with their drum.

grizandizz · Jan 23, 2010

Thanks guys, I'll give Ace a try.

Donny, did that original paint on your new drum hold up well through hot smokes?

I'd like to buy a new barrel for my next build, burning and grinding that red liner sucked and I used this monster wire wheel!
That thing will tear you up quicker than a bobcat!

Does your drum have a water pan?

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