I have been cooking for a few years on my Charbroil COS, but it’s getting colder out and I have been wanting something better to handle the cold and wind. I’ve read a lot about how the UDS is very efficient and turns out some great bbq. Plus, they are pretty inexpensive to build. So I’m on board. Last week I checked around at work in the scrap metal bins. I’ve got my hands on a good clean 55 gallon barrel with removable lid, a couple of steel pans for making my catch pan and charcoal basket, as well as some 2 inch stainless tubing, 90 degree bend, and a 2 inch brass ball valve. I’m not much of a welder but my dad is the best I know. I want to keep the drum as air tight as possible. We are going to tig weld all the intake tubing, exhaust damper, charcoal basket, tabs for the cooking grates, handles and anything else that pops up. I know most people use multiple 3/4 inch intakes with 1 or 2 ball valves and 1 or 2 pipe caps. So the million dollar question is will I be ok with one 2 inch pipe/ball valve? I plan to have the charcoal basket elevated a couple inches above the ash pan, and that is the height we will mount the intake. Should I add a small nipple on the opposite side with a removable cap? I could even put an adapter fitting on the end of my ball valve to restrict the flow... does anyone else have experience here or have any words of wisdom? I’m all ears. Thanks in advance!
