Help with my second grate

[shelton573]

Hello everyone,

I built a UDS this spring and it started out with just a top grate 7" from the top.  I put a second rack on it recently about 7" below that one.  My thermometer is directly in between the 2 grates.  My issue is the food on the bottom grate gets charred if you don't rotate the racks.  My question is, if I put a deflector on top of the fire box will that eliminate the issue or will I just have to keep rotating?  Since my fire box is round (technically not a box then I guess) I thought about putting a pizza pan with holes in it on top of it.  What is everyone's thoughts and is there a fix anyone knows of?  Thanks!

Shelton

 

[bruno994]

Pizza pan works great as a deflector, but with your second grate so close to the fire, you may still have to rotate.  I only run one grate in my UDS because I have a flat lid, if I had a domed one, I'm sure it would work better.

uds2.JPG

• bruno994
• Jun 17, 2015

uds3.JPG

• bruno994
• Jun 17, 2015

 

[shelton573]

Thanks for the reply!  I have read that the deflector will cut down on fire time, is that true?  I have read where some say it will but a full basket from 14 hr fire to about 12 which isn't a huge deal to me.  The last time I cooked, I my ends got a bit crispy on the bottom rack but didn't care about them really.  The sides of ribs on the top rack started to get a bit charred on the underneath side but still turned out great.  Thanks again for the info!

Shelton

 

[bruno994]

I am not sure on the burn time change.  I rarely use my drum for long cooks anyway, mostly burgers, chicken breasts, fatties, stuffed chicken breasts, ribs occasionally.  

 

[shelton573]

I did stl style ribs on mine last time and a half basket got me about 6-7 hrs burn time.  Before that, I did a pork butt for 9 hrs with about 3/4 basket with no problems.  Just curious if I would lose some of that time.  Pizza pans are cheap so I reckon there is one way to find out right?  Thanks for your info!

Shelton

 

[bruno994]

Anytime Shelton.  Yep, the perf pizza pans around here at WM go for around $5.  I have put one in every UDS I have built and seem to work well, just not sure about helping with a lower grate.   Let us know what you find!