My First UDS

[jcollins]

UDS PIC.JPG

• jcollins
• Jun 4, 2015

Am i going in the right direction with this?

Any help, comments or, tips are greatly appreciated.

 

[jcollins]

I couldn't get a good screen shot so i just attached a .pdf .

 

[pc farmer]

If you are going to use the flat lid I would make the top cooking great 7 or 8 inches down from the top.

 

[jcollins]

Well I really want to make the cooking racks as adjustable as I can. I'm still pondering on how to make this happen and work well

 

[gary s]

Just add more angle for the slides then you can set your racks at what ever levels you want.

Gary

 

[jcollins]

Thanks, i was at first thinking about making the racks stackable, but everything i thought of made this project way to complicated and expensive. but another idea is to use that metal wall shelving strips and use that but im worried that these would not be very durable.

 

[bmaddox]

My racks are fixed but I have seen plenty of builds using the shelving racks. If you get the quality metal ones they should hold up fine.

 

[jcollins]

diffuserrev2.jpg

• jcollins
• Jun 4, 2015

this is kind if what i am looking for.

i borrowed this pic from another site

 

[jcollins]

also im not for sure what size pipe to use for the intakes 

 

[bmaddox]

 
also im not for sure what size pipe to use for the intakes 

3/4" or 1" seem to be the norm. I have two 3/4" intakes with caps to help get the fire going and 1 1" ball valve that I use to fine tune the airflow. I can smoke up to 400 degrees with that setup. 

 

[jcollins]

thanks, in relevance to the charcoal basket where would i place these holes?

 

[bmaddox]

 
thanks, in relevance to the charcoal basket where would i place these holes?

My intakes are as low in the drum as possible and space equally around it. 

 

[jcollins]

Capture.JPG

• jcollins
• Jun 4, 2015

Does this one look better?

 

[timberjet]

That looks like it will work just fine. I don't use a diffuser plate. I don't think there is a real need for one and I have had my UDS for 4 years. I have hinged weber grates with one 7 inches down and one 6 inches below that. I like to be able to toss a wood chunk or two down into the basket without taking everything out once in a while if I want to add a little heavy smoke to finish something off or decide to change the flavor with a different wood at the last minute. Make sure you have at least 2 inches from the bottom of the basket to the ash pan for good airflow and room for ash on long smokes. I made mine 3 inches. You will want to have two grates in there so you can put a drip pan below what you are cooking to catch the juices for gravy or whatever and that will act as your diffuser.

 

[timberjet]

 
thanks, in relevance to the charcoal basket where would i place these holes?

You will want the intakes directly facing the gap between the ash pan and the bottom of the basket. Mine are 3/4 of an inch up from the bottom.

 

[jcollins]

thank you.

 

[hugestapedius]

20150412_154701.jpg

• hugestapedius
• Jun 4, 2015

stainless nutts welded to steel strips. Just thread my ss bolts in at which ever height i want

 

[jcollins]

I would love to do something like that, i just dont have access to a welder.