UDS Lid Problems / Alternatives

[kwazulu]

that basket looks pretty darn good! nice job!

[Geordie888]

Decent idea that Keith! I think I'm going to go 3" now anyway.

While I wait on my mate coming home from holidays to make my proper charcoal basket, I had a go at making one myself out of one of those camping bbq's - complete with ash catcher! It will do me as a secondary basket. The wire mesh isn't that strong, infact I bent with with my hands. But surely it will do the job? It's hardly going to melt away is it!?

Take a look.

Pic: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ro0wl2i90fjr90o/DSC_6886.jpg

Side view: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kla3ef9o2f2vez4/DSC_6887.jpg

It stands quite tall in the drum though, 14" to be precise. I could probably do without the legs on it, that would give me an extra inch or two. But the legs are part of that little bbq, hmmmm. Not sure what to do, i'll have a play with it!

Where did you get your mesh from?

Looking to start my charcoal basket build this weekend...

[Stuarty84]

that basket looks pretty darn good! nice job!

Cheers mate - Quite happy with it myself! I just need to get a handle for it, will probably just use a wire coat hanger or something similar.

Where did you get your mesh from?

Looking to start my charcoal basket build this weekend...

Geordie, my mate works in a construction business. I was explaining to him what I needed and he found a roll of that stuff in one of the sheds which he gave me for free!

Like I said before, I'm using it as a secondary basket because I'm (fingers crossed) getting a real good one made for me. The wire mesh on this one isn't really strong at all, it's really light - it could possibly be aluminium? That or a really light steel.

[keith157]

It's possibly plastering mesh for filling large gaps so could be either.

[kwazulu]

Before Stuarty84 said where he got it from, I thought it had been canabilised from some of the large disposable bbq's

[stretchie_]

Not sure of the measurement but my top food grill is not far under the lip of the drum, I have a kettle BBQ lid so my thinking was that will give any food on the top grill all the room it needs and it's proven to be fine, even with 7 big racks of ribs stood on end on the top shelf it's been fine

[Stuarty84]

i decided in the end to go with 3 inches lads. Like I said before, I really can't see me using more than one rack. Not anytime soon anyway.

So I installed the grill this evening. I used stretchie's 3 bolt method (so I don't have to worry about it being precisely level - cheers mate, good tip). The bolts are aligned with the air intakes so it looks tidy as well!

Pic 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6x9ts9prcaifhwr/DSC_6896.jpg

Pic 2 : https://www.dropbox.com/s/l00ffhs6hl8ifu7/DSC_6895.jpg

Apart from paint, handles and thermometer, that is her basically ready to season! I can't wait! If I get time tomorrow I will paint it.

[Geordie888]

What do you plan on painting it with?

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[CyderPig]

Hi All
Rack height; Top one, where you want it, depending on lid type.
Bottom Rack; Approx 28ins from heat source, Approx.
Diffusers; I personaly don't use them.
Try to find some cheap crappy 47cm BBQ for sale on offer and use that for your FB.
Check out sales for 57's as well.
All is going cheap in Money must be Made land at the moment.
I cooked a whole Goose on a rack set 2ins down, with a cheapo 57cm lid on top no problem( got pic's to prove it ).
Enjoy, a UDS is a thing of Beauty, and all are worth every second of,1 the build,2, The effort, 3, the results you get!!!!!!!
Enjoy
Si
PS Use cheap radiator paint, they don't get that hot, no need for high temp paint even when using forced air draught typie thingies to push temps up to 325f.

[Stuarty84]

My thermometer arrived on Saturday And I painted the drum on saturday as well (high temp paint gloss black) it looks absolutely AWESOME! The black kettle lid that I have didnt really match the black colour on the drum, so I have painted the lid the same colour. I'm just waiting on that paint drying now!

My dad made up 2 handles for me from an old foldable camping chair. So I am literally ready to rock!

Pics to follow (after the paint on the lid dries)