My New Craigslist UDS.

[lyjohn]

So I bought this UDS on craigslist for relatively cheap, considering all the hard work had been done.  My issue is that the guy cut a door into it and I want to seal it tight.  The door itself is just the portion of the drum he cut out.  It does not overlap the drum itself.  Any ideas of what i can do to seal it.  It will most likely never be opened again, I don't have any welding knowledge so I can't do it myself, and I don't want to have to pay someone to weld it for me.



I'm open to suggestions, thoughts, etc.  I've seen the RTV suggestion and the oven liner idea, both of which probably won't work without a new sheet of metal, which is also a possibility, I just don't want to have to do it. 



This is what it looks like currently:

CIMG0111.JPG

• lyjohn
• Aug 22, 2012

obviously, the hinges will be taken out.  i just need some suggestions.  thanks!

 

[forluvofsmoke]

Man, that's a tough closure to do without welding, because of the corrugation of the drum. If you put multiple pieces of strap steel on the inside (overlapping the cut-out) and pop-rivet the strap (you'll need a hack-saw, rivet gun and hand-drill/bits), you could get a solid mount of the door back to the drum. Then, close up the gaps with smaller wood-stove rope gasket held in place with stove-gasket cement.

It won't look real pretty, but it will stop the draft of air getting into the drum and fouling-up your temp control. You still need intakes on bottom and possibly a lid vent, if it's a tight-fitting lid.

Anyone else? C'mon now, somebody's got another trick up their sleeve...

Eric

 

[peddler]

Inside the drum, put a small peice of metal around the hole to use as a backer...pop rivit in place. Now you can replace the cut out and rivit it in place sealing all with Silicone.

 

[boykjo]

I would just leave it alone.... try running it the way it is........... looks like it would be easier re fuel through the door.
 

 

[lyjohn]

Thanks guys. I have been in contact with a local welder on wheels. We'll see what he says. His rates are $60/hr plus parts and he said if he has scraps he can use he won't charge for parts.

I have none of the aforementioned tools minus a drill so by the time I buy it all, I figure i'll be an additional $40 at least so I'll see he says.

The top two holes you see on the smoker are vents. They can be unscrewed. The guy also drilled one single hole towards the bottom so he could run a cord out of the back since he used a hot plate as his heating element. I plan to add my damper there. I will probably drill two more holes for dampers and air control.

I really don't care how it looks either. It is, after all, an ugly drum smoker.

 

[lyjohn]

So I just bought a nonstick wire wok at menards. Will this work for a charcoal basket? Its 12 x 12. $5 !!

 

[lyjohn]

Now that I think about it, the basket might melt is it gets hot enough..... is the nonstick coating an issue though?

 

[forluvofsmoke]

Now that I think about it, the basket might melt is it gets hot enough..... is the nonstick coating an issue though?

If it's really light gauge, it may warp and sag a little. Thing is, in the drum, you're not burning a really hot fire, unless you have draft control issues...that's how they burn for so long on one fueling...efficiency.

The coating should get fried pretty good when you season it with the first burn...when it quits smoking and stinking, toss the lid on to finish seasoning the drum, grates and lid. The alternative would be to toss the basket over a gas grill burner and burn the coating off...I do that with mod components all the time, only with a 54K BTU outdoor cooker burner.

Eric

 

[lyjohn]

So I went in to meet the welder and he told me $60 to weld it, which includes the 12x12 sheet of steel he plans to use. Does this sound reasonable for the weld job I need to get the door patched?

 

[forluvofsmoke]

You might be better off getting another drum and starting from scratch for that much cash...kinda defeats the purpose when your UDS turns into a money-pit.

Eric

 

[lyjohn]

found a guy that can do it for $40.  plus, he's gonna drive out to my place.  additionally, i don't have the tools to make my own, thus, i bought one.  i dont have a drill or any of the necessary tools to finish a UDS.  i can't even burn it in my yard.  the city of madison, wi does not allow for it, so starting fresh is out of the question. 

I just need to know if i'm getting ripped off for the weld job.  if it's a reasonable price, i don't mind paying for it. additionally, the parts it took to get the drum the way it already is, cost more than what i paid for it.  i figure even if i did it myself, it woulda cost me around $100 just for parts.  not including labor and time.  after i finish the weld job, even if at $60, i will have spent $120 for a fully working UDS. 

that's fine by me any day of the week.

 

[bruno994]

For someone with little options, yeah, go with it.  Guys who weld and can travel, should be paid for their skill and machine time.  Whatever the $ figure, as long as your happy with the product, thats all that matters in the end.  Good luck.

 

[rabbithutch]

Got a local high school with a voc-ag. dept.?

Take the barrel and a sheet of steel into the teacher and tell him his kids get to practice and you'll come back and cook 'em a chicken dinner.

It would work around here. Kinda figure Mad Wis might not have a voc-ag.