I've been looking for a site just like this for a while. Some time ago, while living in south Texas (Kingsville) , I discovered slow cooking meats. My first smoker was a piece of old pipe about two feet in diameter and open at both ends. I would lite some mesquite and or charcoal right on the side walk and tip and roll the pipe over onto it. Then I would throw a grill piece on it with my favorite meat and top the whole thing off with a brand new metal trash can. The trash can just happened to be an eighth inch larger in diameter than the pipe. I'd simply adjust the intake by putting different size small wood chunks under the bottom of the pipe and sidewalk. It was My first smoker and still the best one I've had so far. I could cook a whole meal this way. So simple and crude. It had to be a UPS ( ugly pipe smoker) first. We all have to start somewhere I guess. Since then I've tried all sorts of grills and smokers. Some bought and some homemade. Found the UDS designs on YouTube and am now building my first. Found 4 drums on Craigslist for $10 each. Since I'm going all out this time it took about a hundred dollars in valves, pipes, paint, and assorted pieces. Trying to find and old webber grill top I can use with the adjustable vent. I plan to weld a metal strip to the outer lip so it will fit right over the top the the drum. Lots of good ideas on here so ill see where this takes me. Now I'm living in El Paso Texas and getting back into the smoking groove. Can't wait !
:grilling_smilie:
