O/T Robo Smoker Mods - Great Weekend Project!

[drkeenan]

I added a work table from a cannibalized cheapo grill as well as a new thermometer to my Ugly Drum Smoker. Great addition! I think this Sunday's smoked venison kielbasa tasted just a little bit better than usual!!

[paulaboutform]

Great looking add on doc.. I just use a little 4-8 rack digital Bradley Smoker that plugs in and fits tucked away on my front deck.

[drkeenan]

Great looking add on doc.. I just use a little 4-8 rack digital Bradley Smoker that plugs in and fits tucked away on my front deck.

Thanks Paul,
Several buddies love their Bradley's and I gladly enjoy their BBQ, however I'm a slave to hardwood smoke. I almost pulled the trigger on a VERY expensive charcoal smoker prior to stumbling upon plans for a UDS. (gotta love google) With the addition of a Pitmaster IQ temp control blower I can maintain 225F for almost 16 hours on one load of charcoal.

[paulaboutform]

You're making my mouth water! On one of my trips to Texas the landowner treated us to some real Texas style bbq. I dry rubbed the wild hog and Texas Dall sheep we got and he manned the smoker with the mesquite from the ranch. It was tough sitting on stand when the wind would shift and you're smelling that wonderful barbeque Texas style. Great way to end the day, cold frothy drink andbbarbeque hog and sheep.

Paul

[tharris811]

Man I have 2 of the uds. A 55 & a 30.. They are the bomb..

[Bullzeye]

Agreed, I also have a 30 gal. Your table idea is great, will work awesome for prep work. I see an electrical cable, are you running a rotisserie ??
EDIT: ok, I see you have a Pitmaster, very cool

Since mine is 30gal it fit right into a propane BBQ frame I found in the garbage.


To get you all in the mood lol

[paulaboutform]

Agreed, I also have a 30 gal. Your table idea is great, will work awesome for prep work. I see an electrical cable, are you running a rotisserie ??

Since mine is 30gal it fit right into a propane BBQ frame I found in the garbage.


To get you all in the mood lol

That's awesome!

[drkeenan]

Agreed, I also have a 30 gal. Your table idea is great, will work awesome for prep work. I see an electrical cable, are you running a rotisserie ??
EDIT: ok, I see you have a Pitmaster, very cool

Since mine is 30gal it fit right into a propane BBQ frame I found in the garbage.


To get you all in the mood lol

That looks great. So satisfying to cook on your own build. I built a 55 gallon for added capacity (i can cook 6 pork shoulders at once) but in 2 years have only used both grates simultaneously a single time.

For my next UDS I'm thinking about a 30 gallon barrel with a 18.5 Weber top. I will use the Weber bottom as a fire box. It should be more convenient to tend the fire/ashes by removing the barrel from the Weber bottom than going in from the top and dealing with grates, diffuser, ect. (It gets messy.) My only concern is stability.

[MADMAX2]

Great looking smokers I was looking to get a green egg but after seeing these I think I will do my own any links you could share for ideas.

Thanks.

[Kegbelly]

Nice work on the smokers guys! Darn but those baby backs sure look tasty!!

[Bullzeye]

Dr. Keenan, one thing about my 30gal drum is that my Weber lid did not fit, then I realized it fit like a glove on the bottom of the drum .So after cutting out the bottom and using the bottom as the top it works great . So if you lid does not fit, flip the drum over and try the bottom.

Madmax, the best site I found is "The BBQ Brethren" sign up and go right to this thread.
http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showt ... hp?t=23436

It's the mother of all Ugly Drum Smoker threads, over 500 pages of info, it will take you a week to read lol

[wildcatter]

Nice job guy's like your work. I love to smoke, but after years I as old age is sneeking up, with two charcoal smoker grills on the back deck I added a Cookshack 3 years ago, now the two on the back porch get used very seldom. You guy's are rock'n and tis the season to get smoke'n,,,,,have fun, and if you have any leftovers well be glad to help you out!!!

[drkeenan]

I've gotton several PM's about the UDS build, particularly the lid. Hope this helps anyone else interested!!

The barrel is 55 gallons and the lid is from a 22.5 Weber. The plans/ideas I got mostly from the BBQ Bretheren Forum. There are literally hundreds of pages on building a UDS. The lid didn't fit very well so I bolted on the top 2 inches of the Weber bottom to the drum so the fit would be perfect. I used an aluminum strip and chimney calk as filler followed by rust inhibitor and topcoat. Here are the pics/vid.











I will say that although the domed lid increased capacity and looks cool, the flat lid worked well and was no additional work. All you need is a drill, step drill bit, screw driver and wrench.