Somapop' UDS Build

[somapop]

Yeah - what yetidave says!

Might be worth bearing in mind that one can of that stuff (around £6) might not be enough depending on how you want it to look. I could've done with another can to go over with a second coat as it's a bit patchy in parts.
I'll probably go over it again in the near future. Contemplating a gloss paint (yes...possibly hammerite) so it matches the BBQ lid I'll be using. More for aesthetics though.

Question: The River Country thermometer arrived yesterday - still undecided whether to place it 1" below the bottom grate or 1" above. Generally they seem to be fitted below, but one or two have flagged up problems with food dripping onto the thermometer probe and throwing the temp out somewhat?
With it placed above, then the food (if there's a lot!!) can merely be placed around it (which you could do with it underneath, but chances that one might forget!)?
Overthinking it again?

[Teknik]

Possibly a stupid question but...
You've got a handle from an old bucket on your fuel basket, but your ash collector that sits in the bottom of the actual barrel, how do you get that out without actually getting in the barrel?

[essexsmoker]

Yeah - what yetidave says!

Might be worth bearing in mind that one can of that stuff (around £6) might not be enough depending on how you want it to look. I could've done with another can to go over with a second coat as it's a bit patchy in parts.
I'll probably go over it again in the near future. Contemplating a gloss paint (yes...possibly hammerite) so it matches the BBQ lid I'll be using. More for aesthetics though.

Question: The River Country thermometer arrived yesterday - still undecided whether to place it 1" below the bottom grate or 1" above. Generally they seem to be fitted below, but one or two have flagged up problems with food dripping onto the thermometer probe and throwing the temp out somewhat?
With it placed above, then the food (if there's a lot!!) can merely be placed around it (which you could do with it underneath, but chances that one might forget!)?
Overthinking it again?

Oh ok, thanks. I got the no nonsense stuff from screwfix. Think it's 750ml? I don't really care about looks to be honest. It's a tool to me. I just want to protect it after all the work. Might get another can though just to give it a good coat.

I would say above, since that's where your food is. Plus the drip thing making it yucky.

[YetiDave]

I put mine below the grate bolts - it's a short stem, but it'd get in the way of the grate if I'd have placed it above. Never had food drip on it!

[somapop]

Possibly a stupid question but...
You've got a handle from an old bucket on your fuel basket, but your ash collector that sits in the bottom of the actual barrel, how do you get that out without actually getting in the barrel?

I plan to secure a large metal pan to the underneath of the wash drum - will just use M6 x 80mm (thereabouts) bolts with a few nuts to secure to the actual metal pan and the underneath of the wash drum. Should mean the drum is raised sufficiently (3" or so) whilst also remaining attached to each other...more than anything it would just mean I have to clean the UDS out less often. Bit like in this pic:



Clas Ohlson do a metal pan (pic below) - it's almost perfect as an ash catcher but very tight in the drum: drum is 57cm whilst the pan is 52cm...only gives me a few cm to manoeuvre out when lifting
I'll do this at a later date however...perhaps finding a slightly smaller pan in the meantime.

[somapop]

Oh ok, thanks. I got the no nonsense stuff from screwfix. Think it's 750ml? I don't really care about looks to be honest. It's a tool to me. I just want to protect it after all the work. Might get another can though just to give it a good coat.

I would say above, since that's where your food is. Plus the drip thing making it yucky.

Didn't see the no nonsense stuff...I'll take a look as I'll probably need to paint mine again (not essential, just the ol OCD kicking in). Wouldn't mind it gloss though.
Aye, I'd say you'd need at least two cans.

[somapop]

I put mine below the grate bolts - it's a short stem, but it'd get in the way of the grate if I'd have placed it above. Never had food drip on it!

Didn't see the replies so went ahead and secured it last night - didn't have the perfectly sized drill bit so had to do a bit of filling, but the thermo is now securely in place (about 1" below the grill).

Cheers.

[Teknik]

I've noticed no one seems to put doors or access hatches in the sides, is that generally due to difficulty do you think or is there a reason I'm missing?
Ideally I'd you could get a drum there you could remove or unclip the base as well as the top that would be awesome.

[somapop]

Aye, that stuff's pants. I've never really used good briquettes to be honest. If we both run out or get stuck during winter, we could always split a delivery of some? Just a thought. It'll be cheaper buying in bulk

That might not be a bad idea. Next time I'm in the Unicorn I'll ask how long they'll be stocking that Lancashire lump wood: seemed pretty good to me - fair amount of 'shrapnel' but no fireworks!

No word back from the tree care folks at Gibsons so I'll probably end up using the aldercare guys you found.
Possible we could also split a builders bag (given the prices) in the future?

Cheers.

[YetiDave]

They're not really needed with these smokers. They're so fuel efficient that you won't need to top up during a cook (I got over 30 hours of cook time out of 10kg of fuel) and less cutting = a more airtight, efficient cooker. I have seen people with drums with clip on lids invert them and cut the base off, that way you can lift the drum off the charcoal basket, but I think it's unnecessary. The beauty of building your own though is you get to make it just how you like it