Can you tell what it is yet?

[timneo]

First post! Never smoked a thing in my life, but really, really looking forward to doing so.

Two weeks ago I wouldn't know what a UDS was...

This week is a different matter!

What do you think I'm building?

16295298_10158146423580187_2040852275_n.jpg

• timneo
• Jan 24, 2017

Didn't make sense to buy a 2nd hand barrel - I'm in the UK - I have two 2nd hand barrels out the back, but without a decent lid.  I'd have to cut into them and therefore having to do some sort of metal working, burn them out, then clean them up.  I did think about getting a food grade barrel from down the road (£9) and pay £30 to sandblast it, however I found this one on ebay.  It cost £50 (so £10 more expensive) and didn't require a trip to pick it up, then a trip to a sandblaster, wait several days then pick it up again.  Instead, delivered in pristine condition ready for the weekend and I only bought it on Sunday!  No lacquer, no sand blasting required.  I assume there's oil on it to stop it rusting, but I'll remove that with some isopropyl alcohol.  Got the plumbing brassware (22mm fittings) and a 22mm copper pipe and hopefully got a step drill good enough for the job.  So next update will be a series of holes followed by painting.

 

[SmokinAl]

Looks like your gonna have a real nice smoker when you get it finished!

Al

 

[timneo]

Fingers crossed but it is a right PITA getting the right pipe fittings to do it!

 

[chilerelleno]

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]

 

[timneo]

Almost got all the parts.  My 54.5cm folding edges weber style grill pan arrived, temperature probe and paint!

All stainless bolts, washers and nuts as well.

Still no idea how I'm going to attach the copper 22mm pipes & valves to the side. British fittings aren't quite as snug as US ones, so I need a 22 wide u-bolt which is 110-115mm long.  Not many of those about as far as I can see!

Bought some brass handles, but frankly they're not a great fit.  I'm going to make my own using some some stainless bolts and some wood.  Push the wood out using some thinner copper pipe.

 

[timneo]

My existing step bits haven't been big enough for the job and I had an "emergency" job to fix a laser cutter which required a large hole enlarging, so I bought a rather expensive step bit from screwfix which did the job.  It looks like it'll probably do this job as well so I'm fairly ready to start.

Have now managed to grab a 57" Weber for £42 - hope to pick it up this weekend and make a start on the build.  Even though the grill looks a little rusty, it'll clean up with a wire brush and I'll oil it up ready for the next stage.  I was very much inspired by a UDS by William Kasper - I liked the pirate sign he put on the front (Keep out, this means you matey!) and I'm off to a community camping event in August where there will be many enquiring people who want to see what's inside.  It's fairly apt considering it'll be in 'the naughty corner - "abandon hope all ye who enter here"'

Having read through a few smoking threads I've seen that you can buy rib stands to really economise on space - with three grills I'll really be able to stack up the meat.  Hoping to do 18 racks of ribs on the saturday and on the sunday I'm planning on doing three large chunks of brisket.  Does the quantity of meat massively affect smoking times?

 

[ab canuck]

Hello and welcome to SMF from the Great white North  

. Browse the forums and ask lots of questions, get involved. There is a an amazing amount of info, recipes and knowledge here that are second to none. Enjoy good luck and share your experiences.  

 Keep us in on your progress. Looking forward to the finished product. Way to go.

 

[timneo]

Managed to fit in a pickup last night for the grill as it's sort of on my 155m drive home.  It's in much better condition than I thought which is good.  I'm going to sort out full photos and I've been reading and gathering my thoughts on everything as well.

 

[smokin monkey]

Hi timneo, Welcome to our "Family" and "Addiction"

Sorry you slipped through the net! Go to Roll Call and introduce yourself.


Plenty of good folk on here, ask any questions you can think of, and you will get your answers.

Please take time to look at the UK Smokers Group,

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/f/3161/uk-smokers

And introduce your self on the UK Roll Call
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/229926/roll-call

The UK Smokers Group Is where UK members can ask and share information that is unique to smoking and curing in the UK and does not obviously fit into any of the main forum categories.

We have had our 3rd UK Smokes weekend, where members attend and cooked over the weekend, planing has are already in place for 21-22 July 2017. Please use the link below to view the website.

http://www.uk-smf.co.uk

Smokin Monkey [emoji]133660013031[/emoji]