2013 Gratuitous Grill Thread

[Caleb]

I filled mine to the top with seasoned firewood twice. Make sure you drill the intake holes first so the fire can breathe.

Lot of wood it seems...how many holes? How big?

 

[chezuki]

Lot of wood it seems...how many holes? How big?

3 holes 1" diameter each. I spaced them evenly around the bottom of the barrel 2" up from the base.

After about half a barrel of wood, the liner was at least 80% gone. When it reached a certain temp, it rather dramatically turned to little ribbons of ash and sloughed off leaving bare metal. I filled the barrel to the top with some big well-seasoned logs (12+" diameter) and got it roaring again. It should burn well into the night and I suspect by morning there will be no trace of a liner to scrub out.

I wish I'd taken a pic once it was build back up, it was an inferno.

 

[Caleb]

What if I don't want holes there after burning it in

 

[chezuki]

What if I don't want holes there after burning it in

Then put them wherever you do want them when it's done. If you don't want holes, then I suggest you either buy brand new unlined barrels or pay to have them blasted to bare metal. Any fire hot enough to burn out the liner is going to need vent holes for oxygen (and so is the finished smoker).

 

[Caleb]

Hmm...maybe a cast iron pipe pumping in oxygen

 

[Caleb]

Ok...I'm working on some ideas for a smoker, I want my meat section to be vertical and have a firebox underneath or offset...I was planning on 2x 55 gal drums. thoughts?

 

[chezuki]

Ok...I'm working on some ideas for a smoker, I want my meat section to be vertical and have a firebox underneath or offset...I was planning on 2x 55 gal drums. thoughts?

What are you trying to accomplish? I've never seen a 2 barrel smoker in a vertical orientation, only in offset or stacked. Any pics of what you're thinking?

Stack.

Offset.

 

[Caleb]

What are you trying to accomplish? I've never seen a 2 barrel smoker in a vertical orientation, only in offset or stacked. Any pics of what you're thinking?

Stack.

Offset.

I was debating between an offset setup, a double vertical stacked setup(2x 55gal drums), or a L shaped setup(horizonal firebox, vertical meat section sitting above one end of the firebox furthest away from the firebox door)....thoughts?

 

[Caleb]

Planning out where to put my racks in my UDS...I like to get 2 or 3 racks in my smoker...how much space to give between each rack? How far away from fire source? I'm going to go with a one and a quarter or one and a half 55 gallon drum setup, with the cut down drum to be my firebox.

 

[steveh_131]

I aimed for 24" from the bottom of the charcoal basket to the bottom grate. Ymmv.

I have maybe 6" between the two grates.

 

[Caleb]

I aimed for 24" from the bottom of the charcoal basket to the bottom grate. Ymmv.

I have maybe 6" between the two grates.

6" good for pork shoulders? should I make it top access only or cut doors into the side to open to each rack?

 

[steveh_131]

Actually I think I got 8 between them. That's all the space I had. Should be enough for some good sized shoulders.

Top access works well for me. You shouldn't have to touch the charcoal until the cook is over. You can add a side door if you want, but in my opinion you'll lose some of the efficiency and ease of use that the uds is known for.

 

[Caleb]

Actually I think I got 8 between them. That's all the space I had. Should be enough for some good sized shoulders.

Top access works well for me. You shouldn't have to touch the charcoal until the cook is over. You can add a side door if you want, but in my opinion you'll lose some of the efficiency and ease of use that the uds is known for.

No side door for firebox as well?

 

[chezuki]

No side door for firebox as well?

Nope. You shouldn't need to access the coals once it's burning. Any extra holes/doors are going to screw with efficiency and make temp control more difficult.

 

[Caleb]

Nope. You shouldn't need to access the coals once it's burning. Any extra holes/doors are going to screw with efficiency and make temp control more difficult.

can you smoke 16 hours without reloading the firebox?

 

[steveh_131]

can you smoke 16 hours without reloading the firebox?

Yep. Should last quite a bit longer than that. Build a big charcoal basket like the one chezuki made.

 

[chezuki]

can you smoke 16 hours without reloading the firebox?

Definitely. My charcoal basket is overkill. If I filled it up I'd have no problem keeping it going for well over 24hrs.

 

[Caleb]

Definitely. My charcoal basket is overkill. If I filled it up I'd have no problem keeping it going for well over 24hrs.

how big is your basket if you don't mind me asking

 

[steveh_131]

Definitely. My charcoal basket is overkill. If I filled it up I'd have no problem keeping it going for well over 24hrs.

Mines just a folded up $20 piece of expanded steel and it should last 16 hours easy. Not sure how it will go in the winter though. I intend to find out!

 

[chezuki]

how big is your basket if you don't mind me asking

12"x15"