dataz722
Well-Known Member
Ok, after multiple delays I finally have everything together for these kits.
A UDS or ugly/upright drum smoker is a popular, inexpensive, great beginner smoker. They can hold temperature without messing with them for hours upon hours. If you search google or any bbq forums you will find tons of different examples and designs but they all come down to pretty much the same principle. The kit that I have put together will include almost everything needed to make a basic UDS. The only things that you will need aside from the kit are a 55 gallon steel open head drum with lid, a 22.5" round grill grate and a thermometer of some sort.
For the drum it is best to get a "like-new" refurbished unlined open-head drum. If you have the option a non ported lid is best as well. If you are not able to get a refurbished one it will probably have a liner. You will need to burn/grind the liner out. For most of the liners a big fire will get the majority of it then a little scraping will get the rest.
The reason I am putting these kits together is to make the process much easier and cheaper for people. Most of these parts can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes but are far from inexpensive. By purchasing everything in bulk I am able to sell everything much cheaper. It is also very important to not use anything that has been galvanized or coated in zinc and not all HDs or Lowes carry what is needed in stainless steel. In addition all the expanded steel will come precut where as if it was purchased at Home Depot a person would have to have a grinder or some other way of cutting the steel.
I am giving an option of the style of charcoal basket that comes with the kit. There is a round and a square one available. The round holds less charcoal (still will hold more than a full bag) and does also require the separate purchase of a 16" round charcoal grate. The benefit with the round one though is that it will be easier to attach an ash pan to if that is what you would like. Also, some people just prefer a round one. The round basket will be ~15" diameter and 12" tall. The square one will be 12"x12" and 9" tall.
Both kits will include:
3- 3/4" 2" Nipples
2- 3/4" Caps
1- 3/4" Ball Valve
6- 3/4" Conduit Nuts
4- Magnet to cover vent holes in the lid
3- 1/4-20 stainless steel 2" bolts
6- 1/4-20 stainless steel nuts
The round basket will also include:
4- 1/4-20 stainless steel 1" bolts
14- 1/4-20 stainless steel nuts
14- 1/4" x 1.5"stainless steel fender washers
3- 1/4-20 stainless steel 3" bolts
4- Stainless steel zip ties
4 square feet of expanded steel
The square basket will include:
24- Stainless steel zip ties
5 square feet of expanded steel
The price for either kit is $47.50 + actual shipping. The shipping will be no more than $14.95.
Just to give a comparison, if you were to purchase all of these pieces at home depot the cost would be $101.75 for the square and $77.53 for the round one. These prices are what were listed today at my local store on Home Depot's website. The only exception to that are the fender washers and the zip ties. Neither home depot nor Lowes carries either of those so I priced them according to what I was able to find online (not including shipping).
If you have any questions or would like a kit let me know. Thanks
I do not have any pictures yet but I should be able to get them up tonight.
A UDS or ugly/upright drum smoker is a popular, inexpensive, great beginner smoker. They can hold temperature without messing with them for hours upon hours. If you search google or any bbq forums you will find tons of different examples and designs but they all come down to pretty much the same principle. The kit that I have put together will include almost everything needed to make a basic UDS. The only things that you will need aside from the kit are a 55 gallon steel open head drum with lid, a 22.5" round grill grate and a thermometer of some sort.
For the drum it is best to get a "like-new" refurbished unlined open-head drum. If you have the option a non ported lid is best as well. If you are not able to get a refurbished one it will probably have a liner. You will need to burn/grind the liner out. For most of the liners a big fire will get the majority of it then a little scraping will get the rest.
The reason I am putting these kits together is to make the process much easier and cheaper for people. Most of these parts can be purchased at Home Depot or Lowes but are far from inexpensive. By purchasing everything in bulk I am able to sell everything much cheaper. It is also very important to not use anything that has been galvanized or coated in zinc and not all HDs or Lowes carry what is needed in stainless steel. In addition all the expanded steel will come precut where as if it was purchased at Home Depot a person would have to have a grinder or some other way of cutting the steel.
I am giving an option of the style of charcoal basket that comes with the kit. There is a round and a square one available. The round holds less charcoal (still will hold more than a full bag) and does also require the separate purchase of a 16" round charcoal grate. The benefit with the round one though is that it will be easier to attach an ash pan to if that is what you would like. Also, some people just prefer a round one. The round basket will be ~15" diameter and 12" tall. The square one will be 12"x12" and 9" tall.
Both kits will include:
3- 3/4" 2" Nipples
2- 3/4" Caps
1- 3/4" Ball Valve
6- 3/4" Conduit Nuts
4- Magnet to cover vent holes in the lid
3- 1/4-20 stainless steel 2" bolts
6- 1/4-20 stainless steel nuts
The round basket will also include:
4- 1/4-20 stainless steel 1" bolts
14- 1/4-20 stainless steel nuts
14- 1/4" x 1.5"stainless steel fender washers
3- 1/4-20 stainless steel 3" bolts
4- Stainless steel zip ties
4 square feet of expanded steel
The square basket will include:
24- Stainless steel zip ties
5 square feet of expanded steel
The price for either kit is $47.50 + actual shipping. The shipping will be no more than $14.95.
Just to give a comparison, if you were to purchase all of these pieces at home depot the cost would be $101.75 for the square and $77.53 for the round one. These prices are what were listed today at my local store on Home Depot's website. The only exception to that are the fender washers and the zip ties. Neither home depot nor Lowes carries either of those so I priced them according to what I was able to find online (not including shipping).
If you have any questions or would like a kit let me know. Thanks
I do not have any pictures yet but I should be able to get them up tonight.