Recent content by smokey tex

About a month ago, I built an Ugly Drum Smoker.  Great experience and I have been able to produce some amazing BBQ.  One of the challenges of a UDS is that it's hard to add any extra smoke once you have started cooking.  I should mention that I use a diffuser plate, which essentially blocks any...

Do you know if it is possible to get more of an offset smoker flavor from an Ugly Drum Smoker.  I'm talking about more of a Texas smokehouse flavor.  My UDS has only been finished for a few days and I have only done one brisket.  I did notice that the juice and fat dripping onto the charcoals...

Some pictures from today.  The first UDS brisket turned out amazing!  Very juicy, tender, and full of flavor.  Also a pretty respectable smoke ring, which became more apparent after letting it sit for a few minutes.  Afterward, since the UDS was still hot, I smoked a few chicken breasts prior to...

Interesting.  You could be right.  Today, I started with more charcoal and gave it longer to heat up before dumping the hot ones into the basket.  It's been running noticeably hotter than last night.  For a while, it was 250 or higher.  Then, after I closed it down a bit, it dropped into the...

Yesterday was the day for UDS seasoning as well as the inaugural smoke.  It held steady around 235 for several hours until I finally shut it down.  Kroger had chicken thighs for 69 cents a pound, so I smoked a couple of packs.  Everything turned out great.  I couldn't get the temp above about...

Alright, so here's the newly finished UDS.  Far from perfect, but it should be good enough to do the job.  I'm seasoning it up this afternoon and cooking a brisket tomorrow.  A little nervous as this will be my first time ever smoking with charcoal.  I've smoked more briskets that I can count on...

Finally done!  Actually, the grate is on order and should be here Thursday. Then I'll just need to season it before we're ready for business.  This was a great experience.  There are things I would do differently next time and there are some imperfections that would be a problem if trying to...

Thank you!  This is great and very helpful.  I've seen the open can in a few pictures, but never knew what this was for.  But this makes sense.  Since I've been using electric for so long, I wouldn't have thought about number 5.  Thanks again... Alan

Good morning, I should be able to finish up my first UDS by this weekend.  Keep in mind that this will be my first time ever to use charcoal rather than gas or electric.  Can someone give me the basic idea of how you manage the temperature.  I get that opening the valves will allow for more air...

Here is my progress to date.  The lid handle spring should come tomorrow.  Also, the thermometer should be here Thursday.  Then, I can drill the last hole and paint the drum.  Shouldn't be much longer!

Thanks!  It's been a good learning experience.  Next time, if I ever did one again, I think it would go a lot quicker. 

Can someone explain how to make a picture show up with your post?  I thought I was doing this, but it's just showing as a JPG that can be downloaded. 

If all goes according to plan, my UDS should be done this week.  The lid and almost all of the pipes and elbows have been painted.  I need to drill a couple of extra holes, then should be able to paint the drum.  Getting close! 

Can you tell me what size drill bit would be sufficient to accommodate a 3/4" steel pipe nipple?  I guessed 3/4" and was clearly wrong as the air intake holes are not big enough.