gas fired uds ?

[curious aardvark]

Okay pretty much decided on a big uds. Got all the bits being sorted, drum not a problem ;-)

But after looking through these threads it occurs that you lot are using a helluva lot of charcoal.
Now - particularly at the moment - running costs are a pretty major consideration for me. And lump wood charcoal is quite pricey. Charcoal briquettes are cheaper. But given the quantities that seem to be being burnt round the forum - it probably wouldn't work out much cheaper than running the bradley (about $1.50 an hour) - but with less actual capacity.
Propane is cheap, burns very efficiently and on an hourly basis got to be cheaper to run.
I also like the convenience of having an on off switch.
Plus see no reason why a gas uds couldn't also have a charcoal basket for it as well.
So I'm thinking a dual fuel hybrid kind of thing.

So: anyone made a gas fired uds and if so, how does it differ from a charcoal one.
Cheers :-)

[Joneser]

I can get away with at least 12 hours @ 250° with about 10 lbs of lump. I imagine you could get away with LP, but the beauty of a UDS is it's fuel efficency.

[curious aardvark]

yes and no 10lbs of lumpwood charcoal runs at about £5 a bag with charcoal briquettes being about £3 a bag.
Although the briquettes do give of unpleasant smoke to start with - so I'm not keen on using them in a smoker.
My average smoke to date has been around 4-5 hours.

Given that it's going to be bloody difficult to add more charcoal if needed (say I stop being a chicken and do some pulled pork ;-).
You're pretty much always going to burn more charcoal than necessary.

Okay for a long burn it's probably going to work out more economical than the bradley - but I still reckon gas would be cheaper still.
Plus you get the option of going with either.

[DDave]

I can get away with at least 12 hours @ 250° with about 10 lbs of lump. I imagine you could get away with LP, but the beauty of a UDS is it's fuel efficency.

What he said.^^

Given that it's going to be bloody difficult to add more charcoal if needed (say I stop being a chicken and do some pulled pork ;-).
You're pretty much always going to burn more charcoal than necessary.

No need to add more fuel during a cook.

I did 10 pounds (there abouts) of pork butts on about 6 pounds of charcoal. Held 250ish for 10 hours. Don't know how that would work out price wise for ya.

One thing that may be tricky is getting/keeping enough oxygen in the bottom of the drum to keep the burner going. Would take a little bit differnet set up than the "standard" (if there is such a thing) UDS intake and exhaust configuration, I imagine. I know on my SnP, when I had too many tuning plates in place it actually caused problems with draft and the burner would starve for air and go out.

Maybe one of the propane burner gurus can chime in.

Dave

[gooose53]

I bought a "Afterburner" for my Charbroil H2O and have thought about using it in my drum. Here's the website if you don't already have it. Would love to see how it works..

http://gassmoker.com/v-burner.htm

[Gunslinger]

yes and no 10lbs of lumpwood charcoal runs at about £5 a bag with charcoal briquettes being about £3 a bag.
Although the briquettes do give of unpleasant smoke to start with - so I'm not keen on using them in a smoker.
My average smoke to date has been around 4-5 hours.

Given that it's going to be bloody difficult to add more charcoal if needed (say I stop being a chicken and do some pulled pork ;-).
You're pretty much always going to burn more charcoal than necessary.

Okay for a long burn it's probably going to work out more economical than the bradley - but I still reckon gas would be cheaper still.
Plus you get the option of going with either.

£3 for how many lbs of briquettes? Because if it's 10 lbs, that's less than I pay. And £5 which should be around 7.30 US, is a lot less than I pay for lump.

And what do you mean by "say I stop being a chicken and do some pulled pork?" All the stuff you've smoked and posted here and at SMF and you're afraid of a pork butt? Dude, you can't mess up a butt.

I do like the idea of having the option though. That link I gave you for the log lighter would be perfect.

[Bbq Bubba]

You want to put gas in a drum is fine but PLEASE don't use the UDS name because thats not what your building.

!0 lbs of charcoal will last 14-16 hrs easy...what can't be done in that time besides maybe a chuck roll?

If you install gas, you'll need a whole different venting set-up that won't work with charcoal.

[Gunslinger]

If you install gas, you'll need a whole different venting set-up that won't work with charcoal.

Wouldn't you just close the intake vents?
I'm sure his plan would be to install some type of wood chip pan.
I'm just trying to help. But, never mind, I'm not ready to reveal.

[Richtee]

You want to put gas in a drum is fine but PLEASE don't use the UDS name because thats not what your building.

Bubba- the dudes drive on the wrong side of the road too... gotta be a conncetion, ya think?

[Slanted88]

EZ,er to do the Coffin. As a Funeral Director look at all the viewings you will have!

[gooose53]

You want to put gas in a drum is fine but PLEASE don't use the UDS name because thats not what your building.

I thought UDS meant Ugly Drum Smoker....not sure I understand why it can't mean using charcoal or gas. There's certainly nothing in the title to indicate charcoal in my opinion.

[JimmyJoeBob]

I don't have drum yet (working on Groth's list about shoes but expect damage on that one unless I lie) but I have read a bunch here and am convinced that that charcoal\Lump and enough meat to make it worth your time will bring down the total cost without experimenting with gas, coal, oil or Nuclear and not being satisfied using a proven system that works well. IMHO and still working on the basic sell.

[Bbq Bubba]

KISS= keep it simple stupid.

[Gunslinger]

EZ,er to do the Coffin. As a Funeral Director look at all the viewings you will have!

That's funny. Funeral Director......you're killin' me.

[DDave]

CA if you're doing it to save on the cost of fuel, that's one thing but if you're doing it because you think it will be more convenient, I gotta tell ya, -- once you get a charcoal UDS lit, it is almost like cooking with gas. They run for a very long time and you don't have to futz with 'em much if at all.

I believe Bubba once posted somewhere:

1. Light drum
2. Insert meat.
3. Close drum.
4. Walk away.

Try it with charcoal first. I think you'll be amazed. You could always switch it to gas afterward.

Just my 2 cents.

Dave