this will be ugly

[ak1]

where would be the best place to put the thermo?  1" below the bottom rack?

Yes. that will give you the cooking temp most acurately.

 

[soafung]

will a 2.5" long stem be enough or should i look for one with a longer stem?

 

[ak1]

I'm using a deep fry thermometer with a 12" stem. It keeps the probe at the centre of the grate.

 

[soafung]

ok.  i think it's about 97% complete.

 

[meateater]

Welcome to the ugly side! All shapes and colors accepted.

 Now lets see some carnage.

 

[tom37]

Now thats a serious lid! 

I want to try something like that with a rib o lator in it. Personally I like my drunken word invention of rotis a rator better but rib o lator is very good as well.

 

[soafung]

ok, so i finally finished my UDS.  i'm currently going through the seasoning process. my UDS is holding temps really well. the TBS has been rolling pretty well, but i've got a few questions.

1.  is it a common "ritual" to have to open up the drum and shake the fire basket?  seems i've had to do that every 2 hours to get the fire back up and get TBS rolling again.

2.  there appears to be quite a bit of ash coming out of the exhaust, so is that just the nature of the beast?

3.  in order to get 225-250 i have both pipe caps off and the ball valve at 50%.  could this be an issue that is related to the huge heavy ass lid i have on the thing?

4.  my paint job is already coming off.  i painted it early this morning and let it sit for a couple of hours.  the veggie oil i sprayed on the inside of the drum and lid is leaking a bit and when i wiped it off, off came the paint.  will the veggie on the outside be ok like i have taken to doing on my offset's firebox?  btw, i decided not to paint the heavy ass lid, just the drum.

thanks in advance.

 

[squirrel]

From a girl smoker's point of view, that is just plain sexy.

 

[tom37]

I read that alot of people had made basket shakers, but after building my drum I never had the need to shake. The basket that is. Oppps did i just say that?

If I am using briquettes I do kick the bottom of the drum once in a while but never if I am using lump.

Not sure what to tell ya about the paint issue other then I am gonna try the oil trick on my firebox.

Is there a chance we can see a pic of the bottom of the lid and how it fits on the drum? Please.

 

[duck killer 1]

lookin good! I gave the one i built to my sister for her wedding present. she married a SUE chef (i don't know how it's spelled but it sounds like that anyway) and he wanted to get into the smokin thing. he loves it.... now i gotta build me another one.

 

[ak1]

ok, so i finally finished my UDS.  i'm currently going through the seasoning process. my UDS is holding temps really well. the TBS has been rolling pretty well, but i've got a few questions.

1.  is it a common "ritual" to have to open up the drum and shake the fire basket?  seems i've had to do that every 2 hours to get the fire back up and get TBS rolling again.

2.  there appears to be quite a bit of ash coming out of the exhaust, so is that just the nature of the beast?

3.  in order to get 225-250 i have both pipe caps off and the ball valve at 50%.  could this be an issue that is related to the huge heavy ass lid i have on the thing?

4.  my paint job is already coming off.  i painted it early this morning and let it sit for a couple of hours.  the veggie oil i sprayed on the inside of the drum and lid is leaking a bit and when i wiped it off, off came the paint.  will the veggie on the outside be ok like i have taken to doing on my offset's firebox?  btw, i decided not to paint the heavy ass lid, just the drum.

thanks in advance.

I've had none of those issues;

1-never

2- never had that problem

3- both caps closed and ball valve around 25%

4- no issues with the original paint burning off, hell it hasn't even discoloured.