Ok fellow UDS users, i've got a situation that I can't seem to overcome so i'm reaching out.
The setup:
55 gallon drum
Standard 2 inch Bung exhaust extended to 6 inches
Four 3/4 equidistant drilled holes with 1/2 x 6 inch black steel intakes
Three 1/2 end caps
One 1/2 ball valve
The Fuel:
Kingsford Original
Cowboy Lump
The Lighting:
Off brand Chimney Starter, started out counting specific number of coals or a specific weight of lump
The Basket:
Weber 18 inch charcoal grate with expanded metal in the form of a circle 8 inches tall, easily holds 10lbs of fuel, normally sits directly on the four intake pipes
The issue:
Starts good, strong, after about 2-3 hours temps start fluctuating bad, even after shaking the coals/lump, inconsistent for remainder of cook and needs tending often
Corrective Action thus far:
Went out and bought 3/8 x 5 bolts that have 1 inch of threads which after mounting to the bottom of the firebasket, raises it to 4.5 inches off the bottom and 2.5 inches off the intake pipes.
Ongoing Problem:
Can't for the life of me load the UDS with one type of fuel and start it with a chimney of the other fuel
Your comments, suggestions and thoughts are greatly appreciated. (My other smokers run fine, this build was at a specific request, trying to get it right before I release it for general use to the user that asked for it)
The setup:
55 gallon drum
Standard 2 inch Bung exhaust extended to 6 inches
Four 3/4 equidistant drilled holes with 1/2 x 6 inch black steel intakes
Three 1/2 end caps
One 1/2 ball valve
The Fuel:
Kingsford Original
Cowboy Lump
The Lighting:
Off brand Chimney Starter, started out counting specific number of coals or a specific weight of lump
The Basket:
Weber 18 inch charcoal grate with expanded metal in the form of a circle 8 inches tall, easily holds 10lbs of fuel, normally sits directly on the four intake pipes
The issue:
Starts good, strong, after about 2-3 hours temps start fluctuating bad, even after shaking the coals/lump, inconsistent for remainder of cook and needs tending often
Corrective Action thus far:
Went out and bought 3/8 x 5 bolts that have 1 inch of threads which after mounting to the bottom of the firebasket, raises it to 4.5 inches off the bottom and 2.5 inches off the intake pipes.
Ongoing Problem:
Can't for the life of me load the UDS with one type of fuel and start it with a chimney of the other fuel
Your comments, suggestions and thoughts are greatly appreciated. (My other smokers run fine, this build was at a specific request, trying to get it right before I release it for general use to the user that asked for it)