Stainless Steel UDS

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm stoked to get to work on it. I'm still in the "how exactly am I gonna do this" phase though. I measured the top and a Weber kettle lid will be too small. The OD of the drum is like 33+1/8". I might have to fabricate a lid and it seems that it may be better to do that before I cut out the existing top to help it retain it's shape. Also I need to decide what method to use for intakes. I like the idea of the pipe running up the side to the top with a ball valve. I've seen one build with one large diameter pipe like this as the only intake. I wonder how well that will work vs. a smaller diameter pipe and a couple capped intakes?

OK guys I finally got around to starting my SS UDS. I have a bunch of people coming over next Sunday for Easter. That lit a fire under my butt to get the UDS done. I want to do some baby backs and a few other things for the get together.

I decided that I was going to follow in the footsteps of "HeSmellsLikeSmoke"'s UDS and utilize some parts from a Weber kettle grill. I've been checking Craigslist every day for quite awhile now hoping to score a Weber grill to use for parts. I just missed one last weekend! So I decided WTH I'll just buy a new one. So that's what I did today. I was unable to get the oven/fireplace gasket where I got the grill so I'll have to source that this coming week.

First was to cut out the top of the drum. I ended up using a jigsaw with fine metal blade. It cut like butter and left a nice edge. I tried my sawzall but I didn't have the right blade.

Next I sanded down the edge left by the jigsaw with a rough grit roloc disc on my air powered angle grinder. I didn't have a stone so it was real slow going with the roloc disc but I got it done.

The next step was to cut a band from the bottom of the kettle grill to use as the lid seat. I needed to do this because the SS drum's diameter is too large for the lid to fit and I really didn't want to beat the crap out of the lid to get a not so good fit. Instead the idea as represented by HSLS's pictures is to glue a piece of oven/fireplace gasket around the outside edge of the band cut from the kettle bottom. This is thick enough to center and seat the band inside the edge of the drum. Then the lid seats on it's original lip of the band. I think it should work out pretty well. Anyway, I cut the band easy enough again with the jigsaw and cleaned up the sharp edge with some sandpaper.

That's as far as I got today.

I plan to use the charcoal grate that came with the grill as the bottom of my charcoal basket. I just need to pick up some expanded metal for it. As to the grate supports? I may have a buddy weld some SS angled pieces inside for supports rather than use bolts but I may not have time, we'll see. Now as to air intake? If I can get a BGE vent before this coming weekend that's what I plan to use.

Here's a couple pictures of where I'm at now.













Oh and BTW... I picked up a new 22" Weber replacement rack to use as the second rack when I bought the grill. To my surprise the replacement grate/rack is much more substantial that the original. I weighs noticeably more and uses much thicker material. Here's a couple pictures. I hope you can make out what I mean.

OK some more progress. I still need to decide where I'm going to put a t-stat or two. My buddy should have the charcoal basket welded together for me by tomorrow so I can do a test run on Saturday.









And here are a couple rib racks I'll be using to do ribs for the family this Sunday. The first picture is a Traeger that holds 8 racks the second is a different brand that holds 6.

She's done. I'm doing a seasoning run as I type this. Here are a few more pictures.

Well I have had it running for a couple hours now. I see now what people mean by temp spikes after removing the lid. It's amazing how that works. I know there will be a learning curve but I can tell already how much nicer it will be to cook on this compared to the CSP.

I've got 15 racks of BBRs for tomorrow so I'll be sure to take some pics and post them.