Well its all your fault guys...My UDS is now cooking its first shoulder!

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The build is going ok.  Pics to follow tomorrow.  We are having a hard time getting a tight seal/connection of the pipe nipples using those conduit nuts.  Are the "teeth" supposed to be facing in?  It seems as if that is allowing there to be slight spaces in the metal.

The welding of the fireboxes went great.  Maybe if we can't get the 3 pipe nipples in tight we'll bring the barrels to our welder buddy to weld those in too.

As soon as we think we had the 3 nipples tight, they loosen up/shift.  This goes for the two with the caps as well as the one with the ball valve.  The size of the holes we drilled are perfect.  They allow for the nipple to screw in snuggly.  However as soon as we put the conduit nuts on things get a little haywire.

Any advise is appreciated.
 
Last edited:
The teeth on the conduit nuts are supposed to contact the surface.

The problem with conduit fittings is that they have a flat thread.  

Pipe fittings have a tapered thread.

They only kinda fit together.
 
It sounds like you have the conduit nuts on backwards.
 
The build is going ok.  Pics to follow tomorrow.  We are having a hard time getting a tight seal/connection of the pipe nipples using those conduit nuts.  Are the "teeth" supposed to be facing in?  It seems as if that is allowing there to be slight spaces in the metal.

The welding of the fireboxes went great.  Maybe if we can't get the 3 pipe nipples in tight we'll bring the barrels to our welder buddy to weld those in too.

As soon as we think we had the 3 nipples tight, they loosen up/shift.  This goes for the two with the caps as well as the one with the ball valve.  The size of the holes we drilled are perfect.  They allow for the nipple to screw in snuggly.  However as soon as we put the conduit nuts on things get a little haywire.

Any advise is appreciated.
 
OK.  She's built.  I'll load up some pics today.  I've got about 10 pounds of coal no wood chucks in there.  I've got all three valves and the chimney wide open.  Its been running near 400 degree for about an hour now.  I just wanted to see how hot it would go using the minion method. 

My question now is how do I properly season it.  I sprayed it with some cooking spray before lighting the chimney starter.  Now that its been 400 for a while should I start closing it up until I find the cooking temps I like?

Thank you everyone and I promise pictures today.  Just know, she is ugly.
 
Went to the store for milk and they had pork shoulders on sale for .99 a pound!  I took that as a sign.  So I ran home and threw some chunks of apple wood on top of the coals.  I rubbed the pork and threw it on.  I better go get some more pics to load up.

Qview to follow...
 
1415191d_IMAGE_007-1.jpg
 
Went to the store for milk and they had pork shoulders on sale for .99 a pound!  I took that as a sign.  So I ran home and threw some chunks of apple wood on top of the coals.  I rubbed the pork and threw it on.  I better go get some more pics to load up.

Qview to follow...
Its definitely a sign from the Smoke God's. Can't wait to hear how you like smoking on the UDS.
 
526905b0_IMAGE_006.jpg


196acac1_IMAGE_008-1.jpg


Next time I'll find a better way to roll the expanded steel.  These came out a little lop sided...

c2bb08f0_IMAGE_009-1.jpg


ad78036c_IMAGE_011.jpg


This years wood.  Guy wanted 50 I gave him $60 and told him I want to be his only customer each year!
 
Last edited:
Hopefully you guys can see the Qview.

I already see plenty of things I'll change in my next build.  But I'm going to smoke on this one for a long time before version 2.0 comes out.

Thank you ALL for your help.

Going to go check my temps.  Nothing like learning a new smoker!!!!!!!!!!
 
8 hours in and the shoulder is at 175.  I'm not going to foil.  I want to see what this drum will put out.

BTW the cooker has been lit for 11 hours now and still holding strong.  Wow!
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Hot Threads

Clicky