ajc91
Part of things
Posts: 164 
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Having wanted to make a BBQ out of an old oil drum for a while I couldn't turn down a free drum when it was very randomly offered to me at a car meet one Sunday afternoon. I started looking online for ideas and came across the UDS or Ugly Drum Smoker. It turns out our friends across the pond have been making these things for a while and they actually turn out such good quality BBQ that people enter competitions with them. On with the pics:  It turns out that drums which have contained oil are not a good starting point. They are coated with a rust inhibititor which is quite toxic so, having washed out the drum (turning the yard into what appeared to be the scene of an environmental disaster) it was time to have a good fire in it (see above for results).  Removing coating from the lid:  New toy:  Once the coating was removed (I hope) it was painted in VHT black:  Made up a charcoal basket:  And found an old grill:  Fitted a thermometer and handle to the lid:  And that's as far as I've gotten. Will update with more pics when I actually get chance to use it. A.J |
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Don't use galvanised it gives off toxic fumes when heated.
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ajc91
Part of things
Posts: 164
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Don't use galvanised it gives off toxic fumes when heated. The charcoal basket? Interesting I didn't realise that cheers! |
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I have seen one's with a water tray in the bottom. It catches any fat that drips off the meat and also keeps the bottom very clean as it's not easy to get to. I have seen smokers made out of filing cabinets too!
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ajc91
Part of things
Posts: 164
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I have thought about a drip tray and I've also seen filing cabinet smokers some of which look really cool. I didn't realise galvanised steel gave off toxic fumes I thought it was just inhaling particles that was poisonous so I'll have to source another charcoal basket. Hopefully the weather will be good enough to try it out soon!
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Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
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I built a UDS a few years back and love it. Join the bbq brethren, the rub recipes are awesome and they are a very friendly bunch more than willing to share the secrets. As it is food I would invest in a food grade drum, they are only about £10, so worth it versus the potential health risk.... Also, look at getting a Weber bbq, think you will need the 52", and use the dome top to let you move the grill higher up the drum. Add a couple,of gas fittings to the bottom so that you can regulate then air flow to get that good slow burn that is required and, if you are going to,use the drum lid, you will need a vent in the top.  Concur with the galvanised issue, I made mine out of steel mesh bent around. A garden roller. The best bit about smokin' is that it is so easy to get really good results. Pulled pork, brisket, chicken....mmmmmmm...... You look like a hero whilst drinking all day and gazing at the temperature gauge regulating it for the perfect 230 degree heat... Also, if you put a garden brolly over the top you can smoke in the rain! It becomes quite addictive..... As you can tell I am a massive fan! Also get Dr Ray BBQ book. Recommended. What is the first cook going to be? P.  |
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Last Edit: Mar 4, 2016 13:09:32 GMT by Paul Y: added picture
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ajc91
Part of things
Posts: 164
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I built a UDS a few years back and love it. Join the bbq brethren, the rub recipes are awesome and they are a very friendly bunch more than willing to share the secrets. As it is food I would invest in a food grade drum, they are only about £10, so worth it versus the potential health risk.... Also, look at getting a Weber bbq, think you will need the 52", and use the dome top to let you move the grill higher up the drum. Add a couple,of gas fittings to the bottom so that you can regulate then air flow to get that good slow burn that is required and, if you are going to,use the drum lid, you will need a vent in the top. Concur with the galvanised issue, I made mine out of steel mesh bent around. A garden roller. The best bit about smokin' is that it is so easy to get really good results. Pulled pork, brisket, chicken....mmmmmmm...... You look like a hero whilst drinking all day and gazing at the temperature gauge regulating it for the perfect 230 degree heat... Also, if you put a garden brolly over the top you can smoke in the rain! It becomes quite addictive..... As you can tell I am a massive fan! Also get Dr Ray BBQ book. Recommended. What is the first cook going to be? P. Good to see another one! I couldn't find a food grade drum for love nor money when I was looking. I know it's lazy but I decided on using this one just because it was free. Having read up about the coatings they have on them I found most people believed it was safe to use these drums providing you get them incredibly hot first. When I burned out the drum it was glowing on all sides and I gave it a good blast with the weed burner so I'm hoping the drum is fine. I've sourced an old "bucket" bbq that was being thrown out, it's on legs and made of steel so it should be perfect for a charcoal basket once it's had a few more holes drilled in it. I do have my eye on a lid like yours but it currently lives in my mates yard haha. As you can tell I'm doing this on the cheap! I have installed a valve like yours and a couple of screw fitting ones to regulate the temperature. Will get some more pics of progress and hopefully the first cook! (I'm thinking a nice pork shoulder) A.J |
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Last Edit: Mar 4, 2016 15:16:13 GMT by ajc91
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Maybe you could use a stainless steel kitchen utensel holder thing ? People used to use one from ikea for making small camping stoves .
As for galvanised , a friend of mine bought be one of those bin incinerator things , you know with holes in ? He thought it was a garden fire pit thing and proceded to light it at the bbq we were having . That was zinc coated and it filled the garden with thick yellow smoke which was terrible .
Its really not worth messing with your health even if it is apparntely safe , you can find something made out of dirt cheap stainless somewhere - pound shops , B&M etc .
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Try an old washing machine drum, they're round stainless and have holes in.
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Last Edit: Mar 4, 2016 18:45:51 GMT by colnerov
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Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
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This is the chap I got my drums from James - 07970559251. Paid £20 for 2 including delivery - that was a few years ago but still a good indicator. P. |
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Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
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And for a little inspiration - Pork Butt and Brisket.... Mmmmmm....  P. |
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I looked at them recently . You can get a food grade one for about £35 shipped to you . I thought that was expensive but then weighed up persuading someone to give me a barrel , picking it up , trying to clean it before cutting it , cleaning it afterwoods etc .
Thats off ebay by the way .
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I tired this a couple of years ago. I bought a drum, it had been used to store black currant juice concentrate. I bought some 25x25mm bar and welded up a frame for it. I then cut it in half and welded some hinges on so it opened up like a pacman mouth. But as soon as I cut it open it became very weak and started flexing. It stood like that for a couple of years and I binned it and bought one. Good luck with yours, it looks good.
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ajc91
Part of things
Posts: 164
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Cheers guys, lots of love for the UDS I can see! I'm hoping to clean up the bbq bucket I found and see how it sits in the smoker. It should be plenty big enough to hold enough fuel for a nice long cook and I know it will stand up to the temp and be safe as its what it was designed for.
As for the drum itself, I will most likely be having another very hot fire in it before I attempt to cook in it just to be sure but I do believe it will be safe especially at the low temps required for smoking. Again, I know i'm being cheap when I could just start out with a new drum but besides the original product (engine oil) I believe all non-food grade drums contain the same rust inhibiting coating and as far as I can tell most D.I.Y ers combat this by burning it off.
Paul you've got me salivating at the pork butt and brisket... If I manage results like that I will be proclaiming myself the BBQ king and firing up the smoker every weekend!
I already have some cherry chunks drying out ready for the first cook. All I need now is some decent weather!
A.J
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anyone wants to make a bbq from one there is a very good step by step on the indestructables site under the no welding bbq .
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SOP here is to chop in half lengthwise, hinge the lid, punch a few holes in it then light a fire and burn meat. literally on every street corner round by me. an old shopping trolley provides ample racks for grilling
paul
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Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
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SOP here is to chop in half lengthwise, hinge the lid, punch a few holes in it then light a fire and burn meat. literally on every street corner round by me. an old shopping trolley provides ample racks for grilling paul Got one of those as well Paul. Could get all technical here and start talking about indirect smoking vs direct but even that is too geeky for me.... P. |
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thats funny i am building one too  |
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Last Edit: Mar 11, 2016 18:49:16 GMT by collector
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BT
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,772
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Is this fully smoked? Or smoked and part cooked or something? And for a little inspiration - Pork Butt and Brisket.... Mmmmmm.... P. I have quite a large smoker but am still struggling a little bit to master the art. |
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