Uds...Help Please

[bill sutton]

Hi My name is Bill Sutton. I am new to the forum...and new at using a ugly drum smoker. I want to thank everyone for letting me join your forum. I really want to learn to cook pork.

I am a Pedal Steel Guitar picker... And I love to play music. I also love BBQ. I built a uds

to cook pork...mainly Boston Butt. The uds wont hold heat. I cut a door at the bottom so i could shovel in wood coals. I dont wont to use charcoal unless I have to. I drilled 2- 3/4 holes at the bottom for air intake...and a 2-1/4- exhaust in the lid. I get the heat up to

250-degrees.It will hold for about 5 minutes before it starts to drop.I dont know what to do.

Can anyone help me. Thank you very much.

 

[bdskelly]

Howdy Bill.  WELCOME!!

My son is a UDS guy. In fact just built a new one.  I'll get him to PM you. He drives a train for a living and works odd hours so it may be a day or two before you hear from him. b

 

[dirtsailor2003]

Sounds like you aren't getting a good bed of coals going. If using just wood you are going to need a really good bed of coals. Then add wood to keep it going.

 

[akdutchguy]

Yup what dirtsailor said. Need a big bed if coals. I had a shoulder in my uds for 10 hours and it held 230 for the entire length of time. I run charcoal with chips for flavor. The uds really shines with charcoal. I ran some lump in it. Loved the flavor but it was hard to keep temps down. If you like to use wood only I would start a good size fire and get a big bed of coals then choke it back and get the temps down to where you want them and run with that. The more you open the door the more heat you loose. I wonder if you could get a side firebox mounted in the hole you have? That would be pretty cool
Jason

 

[SmokinAl]

Welcome aboard!

Sounds like the guys have you covered!

Al