Ok here are my uds build pics

[suprfast]

that pan looks more like an oil pan or fluid pan for oil and lubricants. I use an aluminum cake pan or even an aluminum pizza pan
kris

 

[pandemonium]

well i bought a pizza pan but it isnt much bigger than the grate and there is no lip to hold the ashes on it
ohh damn galvanized bad crap i forgot

 

[pandemonium]

for real? no one has used galvanized metal? its that bad?

 

[suprfast]

If burned it will release hexavalent chromium and is a carcinogen.

 

[mballi3011]

You did a fine job with thats Uds there.

 

[trashcan]

A great build. I'm jelous. Where are you guys finding all these quality drums!?

Yep. And Aside from that, it starts flaking off and flying everywhere like paper ash, too. I gave a pork butt a metalflake finish in a unit I slapped together out of a trashcan on it's second smoke.

 

[pandemonium]

getting more done

 

[ddave]

Get yourself one of these cheapo tabletop charcoal BBQ grills

http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...637628.1260203

Throw every thing but the bottom in the trash and use the bottom for an ash pan. Works great and the price is right.

Dave

 

[pandemonium]

i'll have to check that out thanks

 

[billbo]

Looking great so far!

 

[michchef]

That 12" x 24" expando from Home Depot makes a great charc basket. Just cut it in half lengthwise and either bolt or weld it together. Here's mine that I did that way. It holds half a 20 lb bag of charc.

 

[suprfast]

Looks a lot more professional than mine. I like that
kris

 

[pandemonium]

so that basket is only 6inches high? how many hours can you get on one load?

 

[pandemonium]

ohh and what kind of bolts do you use on the basket? regular zinc coated?

 

[pandemonium]

i like your basket, looks good, but i already have the 13" rack or whatever size it is so i just bought 2 of the 12 by 24 expanded metal sheets and will bolt them together to fit it. any one think a wire clothshanger will be ok to tie it to the grate?

 

[michchef]

Yup the basket is only 6" high. i haven't had the opportunity to do a long smoke in it yet, but have been told it will do a 12-14 hour smoke. I fired it up for it's test run with all the vents open and let it run wild. it took 1 1/2 - 2 hours to get up to 525º and I let it run that way for awhile, then shut it down to 225º and did a 4 hour smoke. I closed the bottom vents at 10:30 PM and when I went to load it back up the next morning at 9:30 AM it still had hot coals in it. That's 18 hours.

All the bolts are stainless except the leg bolts and those got heated with a torch almost til they glowed.

You can still take one of your 12 x 24 sheets back. you probably won't need one larger than the one that I have. And yes, coat hanger wire will work just fine. I used "L" brackets bolted to the expando and bolted to the bottom of the charcoal grate.

 

[pandemonium]

ok great info john sorry if my questions were off i was on my cellphone looking at your pics and could barely see them, but now on my computer they are much better. that basket looks bigger in the pic than 6 inches, pics can be deceiving. and i couldn't see the grate at the bottom of your basket either until now so that looks like the same one i have. the most i would think of smoking anything would be like 12-14 hours so if the 6 inch high basket will do that then i will take one of the pieces back and save 10 bucks. i like the l bracket idea too might have to do that. my next problem is i am seeing the red liner color inside still after 2 really hot burns so i guess i have to keep going with the grinding brush? or do you think i burned out all the bad stuff?

 

[trashcan]

It'll work just fine. I used one to stitch my basket togather for my chargriller.

 

[pandemonium]

well shes on her maiden voyage, i put one pork chub in to season her up. pics soon, thanks everyone on here couldnt have done it without you guys.

 

[rickw]

Nice, can't wait for your impressions.