UDS build complete - comments suggestions?

[mfrano]

I have completed my UDS. Time to take it our for a burn! I have posted a few pictures, I welcome any constructive feedback. 

Grill on! 

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• mfrano
• Apr 9, 2014

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• mfrano
• Apr 9, 2014

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• mfrano
• Apr 9, 2014

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• mfrano
• Apr 9, 2014

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• mfrano
• Apr 9, 2014

 

[mfrano]

55 gal drum - $20

Sandblasting and paint $30

expanded steel and pizza pan $ 25

Misc hardware and temp guage $30

Charcoal grill Masterbuilt pro 22.5 grill, special clearance at homedepot $25.00 ( I took all my parts from this grill including grates and handles) 

Im total $130 in, not bad I think.

 

[sign guy]

IMO .... Very Nice!!  How many hours of time do you have in that beast?

Sign Guy

 

[fwismoker]

Nice looking unit!   Maybe cut down your basket by about 1/2  so you have room for another rack or  to have a diffuser pizza pan or something would be my suggestion. 

 

[mfrano]

Thank you. Maybe 10 hrs I think. I have been tinkering nights weekends when ever my 3 year ill sleeping lol.

 

[mfrano]

Hello, the basket is 12 inches tall, you think it should be shorter? I have two racks in there now, I put adjustable rails for clips so I could possibly fit 3 racks and diffuser.

Also, I have question the adjustable rails are Zinc coated, no food is touching them, is this ok inside the smoker?

 

[mchar69]

rails are Zinc coated, no food is touching them, is this ok inside the smoker?

You're gonna die!  I used stainless, but I think it's a bunch of hype,

the temps never get too hot.

One guy soaked his zinc in vinegar and it wore off.

SEASON (spray insides with PAM or lard or bacon grease)

run a 225 fire for a few hours before any meat.

 

[fwismoker]

Hello, the basket is 12 inches tall, you think it should be shorter? I have two racks in there now, I put adjustable rails for clips so I could possibly fit 3 racks and diffuser.

Also, I have question the adjustable rails are Zinc coated, no food is touching them, is this ok inside the smoker?

Yea it is way tall, mine is about 13 x 7 1/2 and can burn about 17-18 hours @ 275....bottom line is you don't want to ever put charcoal in it that high.  Now people do have tall baskets, i'm not a fan of that because the charcoal  is going to ash up and you need that ash to be able to fall away.   You could chop off 4-5 "'s off that easy. 

I don't have any zinc but i do think it's over hyped.  Just take a  harbor freight flame thrower over it or something and  burn it off just to be safe. 

 

[kc5tpy]

Hello.  Great looking unit.  Can see some really great Q coming from that.  My friend FWI has you sorted on the Zinc.  Many folks will say IF, MAYBE, SHOULD BE.  Zinc/galvanize is nothing to play with.  You wouldn't let your kids play with a gun even IF you thought it was unloaded.  When I was welding I had a MILD case of galvanize poisoning;  NOT NICE.  Why take that chance with family and friends?  Burn it all off and ensure you have plenty of ventilation when you do.  Keep Smokin!

Danny