The Pickled Pig Forums - View Single Post - Pics! Our UDS Cooker (and How to Build One)

The Big Pig · 02-19-2009, 08:49 PM

Parts List

Tools Needed

Step Bit capable of 1” holes (you could use a hole saw instead)
Power drill with several standard size drill bits
Adjustable wrench or sockets
Flathead screwdriver

Getting the Drum
Finding a suitable drum takes a little time. We did not want to spend the hours of manual labor it takes to burn out and then sand out a liner so getting an unlined drum was very important to us. We also knew that our selected design required what’s called an “open head” drum. If you get a closed head drum you’ll have to cut one or both ends off and that seemed to require more tools and skills than we have. After a little research, we knew we were looking for a reconditioned 55 gallon open head carbon steel drum. Reconditioned drums usually do not have a liner but do have a fresh coat of external paint.

We looked on Craigslist and found a few used drums for $10 but they had liners and needed new outside paint. We went to Local.com and searched for “55 gallon open head drum” and one of the returns was called A1 Barrel Company and was located about 10 miles away. A quick call to them confirmed they had what we needed so we purchased 4 re-conditioned drums for $30 each. One thing to note is that not all 55 gallon drums are the same size. Three of ours have a 23” diameter and one has a 24” diameter but is a little shorter. If using our plans, make sure that the Weber grill will fit or you’ll need to come up with another grill solution.

One popular modification that we did not make is to add a second grill grate 1” below the top and use a Weber Kettle lid so you can effectively double the cooking capacity. Since we have many smokers and four of these UDS units, we did not need or want to add a second grate. Working with multi-level vertical smokers is a pain when you have to take one grill out to get to the lower grill and we just didn’t want the added hassle. This modification can always be done at a later time too if our situation changes. If you do decide to add a second grill and use the Weber Kettle lid, make sure and take it with you and test fit it when getting your drum.

I’ve talked to several people that have a hard time finding a drum to use. I can understand the dilemma for those who live in rural areas and can only wish you luck in your search. We live in Kansas City which is the 32nd largest market in the United States. I would think that there is a similar barrel or container company in each of the 31 larger markets. If you don’t mind the extra work involved in burning a drum out and sanding it down, you can call junk yards, salvage lots, feed lots (feed), large restaurants or restaurant supply companies (juices, cooking oils), machine shops (mineral oil) or any other industrial type business that actually uses the drums for material storage. Unless you know for certain, stay away from drums used to store hazardous materials and consult a professional before working with a drum that was used to store flammable or explosive materials. Many companies will give you a used drum for free or a nominal charge.

Below is a picture of our drum:

02-19-2009, 08:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
The Big Pig Administrator BBQ Jedi Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Overland Park, KS	Our UDS Cooker (and How to Build One) - Part 2 Parts List Tools Needed Step Bit capable of 1” holes (you could use a hole saw instead) Power drill with several standard size drill bits Adjustable wrench or sockets Flathead screwdriver Getting the Drum Finding a suitable drum takes a little time. We did not want to spend the hours of manual labor it takes to burn out and then sand out a liner so getting an unlined drum was very important to us. We also knew that our selected design required what’s called an “open head” drum. If you get a closed head drum you’ll have to cut one or both ends off and that seemed to require more tools and skills than we have. After a little research, we knew we were looking for a reconditioned 55 gallon open head carbon steel drum. Reconditioned drums usually do not have a liner but do have a fresh coat of external paint. We looked on Craigslist and found a few used drums for $10 but they had liners and needed new outside paint. We went to Local.com and searched for “55 gallon open head drum” and one of the returns was called A1 Barrel Company and was located about 10 miles away. A quick call to them confirmed they had what we needed so we purchased 4 re-conditioned drums for $30 each. One thing to note is that not all 55 gallon drums are the same size. Three of ours have a 23” diameter and one has a 24” diameter but is a little shorter. If using our plans, make sure that the Weber grill will fit or you’ll need to come up with another grill solution. One popular modification that we did not make is to add a second grill grate 1” below the top and use a Weber Kettle lid so you can effectively double the cooking capacity. Since we have many smokers and four of these UDS units, we did not need or want to add a second grate. Working with multi-level vertical smokers is a pain when you have to take one grill out to get to the lower grill and we just didn’t want the added hassle. This modification can always be done at a later time too if our situation changes. If you do decide to add a second grill and use the Weber Kettle lid, make sure and take it with you and test fit it when getting your drum. I’ve talked to several people that have a hard time finding a drum to use. I can understand the dilemma for those who live in rural areas and can only wish you luck in your search. We live in Kansas City which is the 32nd largest market in the United States. I would think that there is a similar barrel or container company in each of the 31 larger markets. If you don’t mind the extra work involved in burning a drum out and sanding it down, you can call junk yards, salvage lots, feed lots (feed), large restaurants or restaurant supply companies (juices, cooking oils), machine shops (mineral oil) or any other industrial type business that actually uses the drums for material storage. Unless you know for certain, stay away from drums used to store hazardous materials and consult a professional before working with a drum that was used to store flammable or explosive materials. Many companies will give you a used drum for free or a nominal charge. Below is a picture of our drum: __________________ Paul Ostrom The Pickled Pig BBQ Team www.thepickledpig.com CBJ, UDS, WSM, Weber Gasser, Weber One Touch Gold 22" Kettle There is room for all Gods creatures, right next to the potato salad and the cole slaw. Last edited by The Big Pig; 02-20-2009 at 09:32 PM.