First post - Decided to build an UDS and have questions.

[bholtzinger]

Hello guys. I am sure I am in the right place to get help.

My wife was in town and told her to pick me up a 55 gal drum from the feed store. When she got it home the first thing I noticed was the lid is plastic. That never crossed my mind when I told her to pick up a drum. It had tomatoes in it so I know it is food grade.

Is my best option to get a Weber lid or try to build one?
If I need to get a Weber lid what model do I need to get (a link would be nice)?


TIA
Brandon

[ceaves]

Hello guys. I am sure I am in the right place to get help.

My wife was in town and told her to pick me up a 55 gal drum from the feed store. When she got it home the first thing I noticed was the lid is plastic. That never crossed my mind when I told her to pick up a drum. It had tomatoes in it so I know it is food grade.

Is my best option to get a Weber lid or try to build one?
If I need to get a Weber lid what model do I need to get (a link would be nice)?


TIA
Brandon

Goto the dollar store and try to find a knock off weber 22" kettle grill. They work good and you can use a few grates in the UDS build too.

[bholtzinger]

Thanks for the tip, I will check out the dollor stores around my area on my lunch break.

If I cant find one do you know what brand they are or where I can get one online?
I hate to be stuck having to buy a $60+ grill from Walmart,lowes, etc just to get a lid, but if thats what I have to do I guess I will do it.

[BluDawg]

You may be better off purchasing another drum from the feed store and cutting the bottom section off through the center of the lower rib to use for a lid. The extra room gives you the flexibility to do Beer Butt turkeys and large hams.

[tex_toby]

Check craigslist for a used Weber Kettle. You can find them on there sometimes for next to nothing.

tex

[bholtzinger]

I checked all the dollar stores around and nobody had any grills.

I have looked on Craigslist but everything I find is an hour or more away.

Im not against getting another drum and cutting it off at the first rib, but how would I cut it to make it look good? Have any of you guys done this?

My other option is just go to Lowes/HD/Walmart and buy a 22" Kettle type grill for $50-60, but I was not looking to spend that much on just a lid.

[BluDawg]

Saber saw with a metal cutting blade, hand held grinder with a cutting wheel, or have a flat lid fabbed at a sheet metal shop.

[Rooster]

You may be better off purchasing another drum from the feed store and cutting the bottom section off through the center of the lower rib to use for a lid. The extra room gives you the flexibility to do Beer Butt turkeys and large hams.

I gotta keep this in mind when i build a UDS.

[Stan41]

I would just buy another metal drum with a removable metal lid.
Stan

[bholtzinger]

I think that is what I am going to do.

I found a guy close by that sells them with a metal lid for $17.

[bholtzinger]

I just picked up my 55 gallon drum. It looks like it has a liner so I am about to burn it out. The bottom side of the lid looks like it has the liner on it too. Whats the best way to get it off the lid? Once the fire has been going can I just set it on top of the drum and let it burn off?

[JaCK2U2]

weedburner!

[NewBQ]

If you just throw the lid on top, you might want to leave a little crack for air!

[bholtzinger]

What is up with galvenized steel. Did I read somewhere not to use it?

I picked up a galvenized steel stock pan from Tractor Supply to use as my ash catcher......is this no good?

Oh, and what is better......drilling holes in the lid or using a 2 inch pipe for the smokestack? Does one do a better job over the other? I figured the 2 inch pipe would be easier when you are trying to put the coals out after smoking. One bigger hole to cover instead of multiple small ones.

[Stewdog]

Do not use galvanized components. Once they reach a certain temperature, I believe 600. They will emit toxic fumes.