This is a future project but getting in early as a bloke up the road was selling these drums for $20 each.  They are the clip on lid type so I have a lid without having to make one.

They are basically new having just had apple juice in them being transported from China here to Australia, so hasn’t had any nasty chemicals in it.

To the smoker. 

I was originally going to buy a kettle style like the Weber but in thinking about it I believe I would be limited if I wanted to hang sausages and something like a whole duck.  I also entertained the idea of buying a smoker but wanted to stay away from gas or electricity.

I have seen what people cook and smoke in the UDS and this is going to be it for me.

I now have to prepare it and this involves burning off all of the paint inside and out.  Then to add a couple of air intakes and an exhaust outlet in the lid.  Will be able to do all of this without welding.

It will need a fire basket inside, some hanging rails and a cooking grate.  The Weber grates fit these perfectly so will look for second hand.  Have seen a number of home created fire boxes online so no big issue there.

The UDS is also suitable for cold smoking.

Stay tuned for updates.

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This is the concept of it.  Image from the internet

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Stage 2. 

I put an advert on Facebook For Sale page wanting an old Weber Kettle.  Got a message saying this lady had one in the shed that hadn’t been used for years and she only wanted $50.

Couldn’t wait to go and see it.

Turned out to be in great condition and complete.  All I have done on the photos is wipe the dust off the lid. 

On the Weber model charts it is a model EO which puts it as manufactured in 1995 so 30 years old.  It has the old wooden handles which I like.

The lid fits perfectly on my drum as in the photo and the round grill will go inside.

Apart from the parts for the smoker I also have a perfectly good Weber Kettle to use of I want.

Only spent $70 so far.  :)

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hi Derek
Looks good. it has been well looked after.
Good luck with the project
Kev

The new grill for the Weber arrived today.  This one is stainless steel.

It will end up being the top grill in the UDS and the original Weber one the second grill.

This one has the removable centre piece to fit a cast iron grill or a vortex cone for a better spread of heat and also fold up side panels to access the coal baskets.

Slow progress through to the new year.

I shall be burning it in New Year Eve with a roast.

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This was always going to be a slow progress but all good.

Received the bottom two stainless steel vents I ordered from China today.  They have been a while on a slow boat I think.   ;D ;D

They are quite neat and the opener is spring loaded.

Got them for around an eighth of the price I would have paid locally and no doubt the same thing from the same factory.

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A bit of progress today.  Burnt the drum out.  Reason being is to remove the spray on liner inside and burn off the outside paint.

I cut the two bottom air holes out before I started to keep the heat flow going.

Didn’t do too bad.

Will get into it with the pressure washer tomorrow and then a paint flapper on the drill.

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Would you believe that after going to all that effort to burn off all the paint, or most of it, early this morning we got a shower of rain on all that nice bare metal and you know what happens when water hits bare metal.   ;D ;D ;D ;D

A bit of character to it mate.

Sometimes a plan can come together pretty quickly. 

My research showed that a 20 litre stainless beer keg makes a good firebox in the UDS so around lunch put a post on local Facebook page asking oniony had a cheap one.

Couple of hours later a bloke contacted me and yep got a good one and I got it for $20 and he even delivered it to me on his way to pick up his kids from school.  Said he originally bought two and was going to cut it down as a choofer but life got in the way.

It still had the ball valve in the top so pushed it down and got sprayed with stale beer.  She’s still under pressure .  ;D ;D

It fits the drum perfectly now just need to cut it to size and get a grate for the bottom.

Still showery here so all in the shed for another day.   :)

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Bear wrote on May 25^th, 2026 at 1:19pm:

A bit of character to it mate.

You sound like Maggie.  She is always saying that.   :D

The older I get the less available energy I have. 

Today I donned the necessary safety gear - goggles, ear muffs and dust mask and attacked the drum with an angle grinder and flapper disk to remove the surface coat.  Even after burning there was still a lot of paint residue left.

It all had to come off as didn’t want that melted paint smell in the food ultimately.

Have had a shower to rid bushes of residue and now resting before dinner as I am buggered.

Still another part of the job done.  I do think though I will again light a good Heatbeads fire inside to make sure the liner is gone completely.

It actually looks quite good like that but I shall paint it with pot belly black.   :)

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What smoker did you settle on mate?

Still undecided.

Bear wrote on May 31^st, 2026 at 7:27pm:

What smoker did you settle on mate?

Just ordered one of these.  Can light it from one end for a light smoke or both ends for a heavier smoke.

Will sit nicely at the bottom of the drum.

Need to look for a supply of pellets now.

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If it does the job then why not.