HELP! I need a UDS user's opinions!

new2que

Meat Mopper

Original poster

Jul 1, 2010

173

11

Greenville, SC

• Jul 9, 2010

• #1

Hey guys, we use an offset firebox "reverse flow" big pit but its not on a trailer, and we've decided to leave it at the family lakehouse.  This means I need something for my own home just for my wife and I.  It seems like the UDS is the best option, and i've found a guy that sells some good looking ones for pretty cheap brand new ($175), but I can tell its not as elaborate as some.

My Concerns:

*Only one dampener, and only one exhaust vent

*only one shelf, no shelf for other meat/water tray

*access door halfway up that would make it easier to add wood, but hard to have another shelf.

*as silly as it is, the paint, does it look cheap like it would burn off? 

Check out the link below, its obvious that they are brand new and appear to be a good build, but please address my concerns! 

Also, are the above mentioned things that I could remedy on my own? still making this a good purchase?  thanks.

http://charleston.craigslist.org/for/1831089137.html

 

juecy

Newbie

Jul 9, 2010

2

10

• Jul 9, 2010

• #2

I have one that is much smaller no grate and pan. I have done tri tip, pork shoulder and loin, as well as a few other items. I hang mine on a rod three lions two tri tips, one turkey breast a chicken Etc. I find mine cooks HOT. I love the end product as do others but it is not a low slow process in mine it may be that it is home built and low tech.

I do like the look of that one you have but wonder if  a Webber BBQ would not provide better possible controls.. My two cents..Juecy BBQ

 

pandemonium

Master of the Pit

Aug 4, 2009

1,983

14

Florida

• Jul 9, 2010

• #3

I think that is a really nice build there other than the team but if you like the team i say go for it!!

That is really a nicely built uds everything you said was bad about it was good in my opinion, even has a roof over the vent not to let rain in while cooking, ohh and the price is a steal

 

Last edited: Jul 9, 2010

new2que

Meat Mopper

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 1, 2010

173

11

Greenville, SC

• Jul 9, 2010

• #4

pandemonium said:

I think that is a really nice build there other than the team but if you like the team i say go for it!!

That is really a nicely built uds everything you said was bad about it was good in my opinion, even has a roof over the vent not to let rain in while cooking, ohh and the price is a steal

Click to expand...

Thanks!  I dont think it was "bad" necessarily, just a different type of smoking than i'm used to.    From everything i've gathered from everyone (thanks!)  I dont need a water pan and even a second shelf if I added one wouldnt be too close to the coals.  I can get 10+ hours of 250 degrees from one load of coal, and I only need the one intake and vent... thanks!

We'll just hope you're not a gators fan, pandemonium!  JK, I was recently accepted to Grad school at Carolina, so this is apart of my "celebration"...

Thanks for the help!

 

pandemonium

Master of the Pit

Aug 4, 2009

1,983

14

Florida

• Jul 9, 2010

• #5

yes a uds does not need a water pan and they all only have one rack unless you use dome lid or its one of the taller barrels but really thats a steal !! if you had to pay for all the parts alone that would be around 130 for that one give or take and alot of labor, as for the paint it should be fine for the low temp smoking yes it looks like its plenty big enough that the one vent is all you need and yes you wont believe how long you can cook with so little fuel. hmm just looked at pics again and it looks red inside the barrel so make sure he has removed the liner completely inside or you dont want it, it looks like it could be the liner in pic but hard to see, it should be clean bare metal inside

 

Last edited: Jul 9, 2010

new2que

Meat Mopper

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 1, 2010

173

11

Greenville, SC

• Jul 9, 2010

• #6

pandemonium said:

yes a uds does not need a water pan and they all only have one rack unless you use dome lid or its one of the taller barrels but really thats a steal !! if you had to pay for all the parts alone that would be around 130 for that one give or take and alot of labor, as for the paint it should be fine for the low temp smoking yes it looks like its plenty big enough that the one vent is all you need and yes you wont believe how long you can cook with so little fuel. hmm just looked at pics again and it looks red inside the barrel so make sure he has removed the liner completely inside or you dont want it, it looks like it could be the liner in pic but hard to see, it should be clean bare metal inside

Click to expand...

Thanks! I appreciate the help!

 

deannc

Master of the Pit

Jun 13, 2010

1,153

24

Cradle of Cue, NC

• Jul 9, 2010

• #7

Here's a source I found to get some more idea's on pricing.....http://www.bigdrumsmokers.com/smokers.htm   Standard 23.5" x 36" this place sells for $325.  Or you could go with the stainless for a grand! lol  So as pandemonium said, the CL $175 is good price.  Congrats on getting selected for Grad school!

 

saltbranch

Smoke Blower

Sep 10, 2008

82

10

• Jul 9, 2010

• #8

I just built and used my 1 st UDS last weekend, I have always been a side fire box using wood guy. I was very impressed with the ease of the UDS, the ribs I made were some of the best ever I have made.

I am used to have to add wood during the smoke, moniter heat etc. With UDS it was very simple, get the heat up to where you want it, cap off the intakes to maintain heat and I really had way to much time to drink beer watching the temp guage.

My UDS is very basic, I have 4- 3/4" intakes at bottom and 8-1/2" holes in lid. I capped 2 of the intake holes and it held 250 degrees steady for 5-6 hours. When I pulled the lid to remove ribs, temp spiked over 300, I shutoff 3rd intake and temp came back down to around 250. I used refridgerator magnets to cap the intakes.

After my 1st use I plan on putting some $ into it to make it nice, its worth the investment to me now.

Everything you read about long burn times and holding temps are true, by far the easiest smoker I have ever used.

 

deannc

Master of the Pit

Jun 13, 2010

1,153

24

Cradle of Cue, NC

• Jul 9, 2010

• #9

pandemonium, sorry, I just seen the other thread from last night!  Had I seen it before I posted the above I wouldn't have posted it as something to compare to....hehe I almost choked too when I see the cost!  I've been searching google etc because I'm planning to build me and my son in law one.  

 

meateater

Legendary Pitmaster

SMF Premier Member

Oct 17, 2009

8,983

63

Hendertucky, Nv.

• Jul 9, 2010

• #10

saltbranch said:

I just built and used my 1 st UDS last weekend, I have always been a side fire box using wood guy. I was very impressed with the ease of the UDS, the ribs I made were some of the best ever I have made.

I am used to have to add wood during the smoke, moniter heat etc. With UDS it was very simple, get the heat up to where you want it, cap off the intakes to maintain heat and I really had way to much time to drink beer watching the temp guage.

My UDS is very basic, I have 4- 3/4" intakes at bottom and 8-1/2" holes in lid. I capped 2 of the intake holes and it held 250 degrees steady for 5-6 hours. When I pulled the lid to remove ribs, temp spiked over 300, I shutoff 3rd intake and temp came back down to around 250. I used refridgerator magnets to cap the intakes.

After my 1st use I plan on putting some $ into it to make it nice, its worth the investment to me now.

Everything you read about long burn times and holding temps are true, by far the easiest smoker I have ever used.

Click to expand...

Pics please!

 

pandemonium

Master of the Pit

Aug 4, 2009

1,983

14

Florida

• Jul 10, 2010

• #11

DeanNC said:

Here's a source I found to get some more idea's on pricing.....http://www.bigdrumsmokers.com/smokers.htm   Standard 23.5" x 36" this place sells for $325.  Or you could go with the stainless for a grand! lol  So as pandemonium said, the CL $175 is good price.  Congrats on getting selected for Grad school!

Click to expand...

haha Dean thats just too damn funny hhaa , thanks for the laugh Stainless lol

 

saltbranch

Smoke Blower

Sep 10, 2008

82

10

• Jul 11, 2010

• #12

I got the frum for free, have less than 50.00$ in it. Hardest most time consuming thing make was the charcoal basket ., Should be wearing a coat of Chevy engine paint orange soon.