Max's UDS Build Up To Date

The friendliest place on the web for anyone that enjoys cooking.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

Max1

Head Chef
Joined
Dec 13, 2011
Messages
1,543
Location
Detroit, Michigan
For some reason all my pictures have been deleted, or are just not showing up. So I am re-posting this. All the pictures should be visible now.


I got up early this morning to take a friend back to his terminal to get his truck and back on the road.
So I came back home and had nothing to do at 8:00 in the morning.
So I thought to myself, what a better way to pay my neighbors back for the party they had last week that had blaring music until 4:00am than beating the shit out of 55 gallon drum.
So I got me a cold rolled steel chisel, and a 20 ounce ball hammer and started beating.

Here I have the 55 gallon drum as a whole.
img_265171_0_c7f44485c5ad46d263a7066b36786686.jpg


Cutting around the diameter of the bottom. This side is actually the bottom of the drum.
img_265171_1_0a51df9d459056c4e7a089b2e6a86f38.jpg

img_265171_2_6cfbcb90bb909dc6c78c529d3e548a56.jpg


Half way through I needed a break. I have worked in machine shops before, but this was just torture on my hands.
img_265171_3_a8bfc8e81f0a3c47a6137cb2f2d42b89.jpg

img_265171_4_f786ddd46080dad45bf3ffa63d350f86.jpg

img_265171_5_a18492abc68bda529a447623b1510100.jpg


Starting the rest.
img_265171_6_643184c9c1ea70ef4243e915e153ac18.jpg


Right at the edge of being done with this part.
img_265171_7_20b3ac359ef4678c0964153cc94e749e.jpg

img_265171_8_02911264209e82a96fbcf80cc5a87666.jpg


Bottom out and done.
img_265171_9_ed2aa1764b5cc7922914a203f26651f0.jpg

img_265171_10_a9815072b8ce06454df4528e1b21b382.jpg


What it is going to look like when complete.
img_265171_11_93665044b1662a19d536f10a73d6a3ca.jpg


I figured that since the cops had been called and I needed a break anyway, I got a cold pop (soda to the rest of the nation except Michigan and Ohio) and waited for the cops to show up.
img_265171_12_055150e4063dd192fb2b4750b47e648a.jpg


Got back started after dinner, and worked until my drills battery died. Now while I am posting this am waiting for it to get charged. :P
this is how I installed the fittings, air inlets, and grate hangers.
img_265171_13_429f9a84841a6f1cd0824ecc3214b364.jpg

img_265171_14_459cd8836d37d1087b739595d7b5ec98.jpg

img_265171_15_aead7aa2eb13edafa1a405ff7b9c5648.jpg


I used 1" OD by 1.5" length threaded steel pipe. This is important, DON NOT use galvanized.
img_265171_16_336dc975eeb4461ba8cdbe1121150821.jpg


For the nut I used conduit locking washers, there are avalible at Home Depot, or Lowes.
img_265171_17_a4d7e3a1f1287e69216cb445ed07415b.jpg


Here is a picture of the new bottom in place, with the air inlets in place.
img_265171_18_7958de02507ec4864b5300e41dc14808.jpg


I have an extremly bad back, I had these pipe extensions cut, so I do not have to bend over. In all honesty you do not have to have them, you can just use the inlets. But this was easier for me, and only cost a few dollars.
img_265171_19_9e30f495c8398285a39aa0925c8c7eb7.jpg


This is right side up.
img_265171_20_3de663d932305c47f6aa7f50c577923a.jpg

img_265171_21_54d63705d18dc0898d38cb1bde98a074.jpg


Here is the UDS, with most of the exterior mods done.
img_265171_22_43e8124de6cc15d32bb326760f286277.jpg



Here is a couple of pictures with the brand new Weber 22.5" grates in place, and the grate hangers.
img_265171_23_ab9444c16ffa660ae1f319c34e774d80.jpg

img_265171_24_b8ded6042bfc6127d8566170202d8a49.jpg


Here is my new charcoal, and wood basket. Built from scratch with 4x 4" bolts, 2x 18" lower charcoal grill grates, and 3x 12" by 24" pieces of expanded steel.
img_265171_25_138d6d76cbf4745fa9c024a0ace8b8c6.jpg

img_265171_26_52627f2f3b7066f167b3df46d960490a.jpg


This is the main reason that I flipped the barrel to make this. Ease of use.
img_265171_27_a8f1f15e7aec1b092362c5f182289238.jpg

img_265171_28_8c28066673f7014b963d8492bb04b7c4.jpg


First cook on this was for Thanksgiving in 2013.
img_265171_29_e863c38884f1d45f509e36f5282e27df.jpg

img_265171_30_35da0c44ced3d97730ac47bc1b11fc1c.jpg

img_265171_31_e3777c987ad30674faf9b2b80b0c03e6.jpg

img_265171_32_5de2c96d7eb73bd680c543eb93d2ffa1.jpg


A couple of months passed, and I had come up with a few mods that I wanted to do.
First one was a mounting bracket for my adjustment valve. Everytime someone passed the UDS, they would hit the pipe, and down it went.
img_265171_33_25e2f67f6b8038f94b0fbd4dcb67d072.jpg


Here it is with the new mounting bracket.
img_265171_34_2042ea1b685bddcc4fac949694496df6.jpg


Next was some handles. It is a smoker, and is used at a lower temperature, but it still gets hot.
img_265171_35_95f3b2dca760b2079b46a510d57ac764.jpg

img_265171_36_9ada8243dadaafcc5be73c4d490de920.jpg


Lastly, I wanted the UDS to be more manuverable, so I installed some casters. I installed 4, wish I had done 6. Don't make the mistake I did, install 6.
img_265171_37_0a39a25d466e6a97c84a5393a0c7fc68.jpg

img_265171_38_ea1b7e3ea95505287762295808a996df.jpg

img_265171_39_f925f982dae2e46152749ff6fefa4708.jpg

img_265171_40_bf72568c4bcdca3be098c35862c06892.jpg


I hope my little project helps people out. I had a great time with it.
 
i did the same type of air intake tube {i have 3 air intake tubes} worked great but i found that in early august with outside ambient and a hot fire in the drum that the heat from the barrel heated up air tubes and would not let the cool air drop i fixed this problem by moving air tubes 5.5 inches from the drum and with the combination of ball valves i can maintain temp for 18 plus hours good luck
 
I have been using this UDS for over 4 years now, and have had no issues with temperature control, infact it keeps at 255° no matter the weather. Mine will stay at temp for over 24 hours on 6lbs of charcoal. So I think It's good.....
 
Great info guys. Gathering info and parts for my UDS as your reading this. Still havent FULLY decided on the design nor color.
 
LOL! i thought i was the only 1 who still says 'pop' and has to clearify lol #ohio

For some reason all my pictures have been deleted, or are just not showing up. So I am re-posting this. All the pictures should be visible now.


I got up early this morning to take a friend back to his terminal to get his truck and back on the road.
So I came back home and had nothing to do at 8:00 in the morning.
So I thought to myself, what a better way to pay my neighbors back for the party they had last week that had blaring music until 4:00am than beating the shit out of 55 gallon drum.
So I got me a cold rolled steel chisel, and a 20 ounce ball hammer and started beating.

Here I have the 55 gallon drum as a whole.
img_265171_0_c7f44485c5ad46d263a7066b36786686.jpg


Cutting around the diameter of the bottom. This side is actually the bottom of the drum.
img_265171_1_0a51df9d459056c4e7a089b2e6a86f38.jpg

img_265171_2_6cfbcb90bb909dc6c78c529d3e548a56.jpg


Half way through I needed a break. I have worked in machine shops before, but this was just torture on my hands.
img_265171_3_a8bfc8e81f0a3c47a6137cb2f2d42b89.jpg

img_265171_4_f786ddd46080dad45bf3ffa63d350f86.jpg

img_265171_5_a18492abc68bda529a447623b1510100.jpg


Starting the rest.
img_265171_6_643184c9c1ea70ef4243e915e153ac18.jpg


Right at the edge of being done with this part.
img_265171_7_20b3ac359ef4678c0964153cc94e749e.jpg

img_265171_8_02911264209e82a96fbcf80cc5a87666.jpg


Bottom out and done.
img_265171_9_ed2aa1764b5cc7922914a203f26651f0.jpg

img_265171_10_a9815072b8ce06454df4528e1b21b382.jpg


What it is going to look like when complete.
img_265171_11_93665044b1662a19d536f10a73d6a3ca.jpg


I figured that since the cops had been called and I needed a break anyway, I got a cold pop (soda to the rest of the nation except Michigan and Ohio) and waited for the cops to show up.
img_265171_12_055150e4063dd192fb2b4750b47e648a.jpg


Got back started after dinner, and worked until my drills battery died. Now while I am posting this am waiting for it to get charged. :P
this is how I installed the fittings, air inlets, and grate hangers.
img_265171_13_429f9a84841a6f1cd0824ecc3214b364.jpg

img_265171_14_459cd8836d37d1087b739595d7b5ec98.jpg

img_265171_15_aead7aa2eb13edafa1a405ff7b9c5648.jpg


I used 1" OD by 1.5" length threaded steel pipe. This is important, DON NOT use galvanized.
img_265171_16_336dc975eeb4461ba8cdbe1121150821.jpg


For the nut I used conduit locking washers, there are avalible at Home Depot, or Lowes.
img_265171_17_a4d7e3a1f1287e69216cb445ed07415b.jpg


Here is a picture of the new bottom in place, with the air inlets in place.
img_265171_18_7958de02507ec4864b5300e41dc14808.jpg


I have an extremly bad back, I had these pipe extensions cut, so I do not have to bend over. In all honesty you do not have to have them, you can just use the inlets. But this was easier for me, and only cost a few dollars.
img_265171_19_9e30f495c8398285a39aa0925c8c7eb7.jpg


This is right side up.
img_265171_20_3de663d932305c47f6aa7f50c577923a.jpg

img_265171_21_54d63705d18dc0898d38cb1bde98a074.jpg


Here is the UDS, with most of the exterior mods done.
img_265171_22_43e8124de6cc15d32bb326760f286277.jpg



Here is a couple of pictures with the brand new Weber 22.5" grates in place, and the grate hangers.
img_265171_23_ab9444c16ffa660ae1f319c34e774d80.jpg

img_265171_24_b8ded6042bfc6127d8566170202d8a49.jpg


Here is my new charcoal, and wood basket. Built from scratch with 4x 4" bolts, 2x 18" lower charcoal grill grates, and 3x 12" by 24" pieces of expanded steel.
img_265171_25_138d6d76cbf4745fa9c024a0ace8b8c6.jpg

img_265171_26_52627f2f3b7066f167b3df46d960490a.jpg


This is the main reason that I flipped the barrel to make this. Ease of use.
img_265171_27_a8f1f15e7aec1b092362c5f182289238.jpg

img_265171_28_8c28066673f7014b963d8492bb04b7c4.jpg


First cook on this was for Thanksgiving in 2013.
img_265171_29_e863c38884f1d45f509e36f5282e27df.jpg

img_265171_30_35da0c44ced3d97730ac47bc1b11fc1c.jpg

img_265171_31_e3777c987ad30674faf9b2b80b0c03e6.jpg

img_265171_32_5de2c96d7eb73bd680c543eb93d2ffa1.jpg


A couple of months passed, and I had come up with a few mods that I wanted to do.
First one was a mounting bracket for my adjustment valve. Everytime someone passed the UDS, they would hit the pipe, and down it went.
img_265171_33_25e2f67f6b8038f94b0fbd4dcb67d072.jpg


Here it is with the new mounting bracket.
img_265171_34_2042ea1b685bddcc4fac949694496df6.jpg


Next was some handles. It is a smoker, and is used at a lower temperature, but it still gets hot.
img_265171_35_95f3b2dca760b2079b46a510d57ac764.jpg

img_265171_36_9ada8243dadaafcc5be73c4d490de920.jpg


Lastly, I wanted the UDS to be more manuverable, so I installed some casters. I installed 4, wish I had done 6. Don't make the mistake I did, install 6.
img_265171_37_0a39a25d466e6a97c84a5393a0c7fc68.jpg

img_265171_38_ea1b7e3ea95505287762295808a996df.jpg

img_265171_39_f925f982dae2e46152749ff6fefa4708.jpg

img_265171_40_bf72568c4bcdca3be098c35862c06892.jpg


I hope my little project helps people out. I had a great time with it.
 
Back
Top Bottom