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Barbecue Tricks

BBQ Tips and Tricks

October 20, 2012 Featured

Now You Can Have a Star Wars Smoker for less Than 200 Bucks

star wars grill

R-2-B-Q

One trick to great BBQ smokers is that you can build a cooker all on your own for less than $200 by constructing an Ugly Drum Smoker. A “U.D.S.” as some call them.

“If you don’t include the lid you’re talking under $100″ says Seth Watari from Southern BBQ Network.  Watari suggests a search on Craigs List to find deals on the Lids.   Best to find cast-offs from Weber 22” Kettles. Thaey are just the right size for the 55 gallon drums.

Watari very successfully competes in cook-offs throughout the South East and the UDS cookers work great.   His “R-2-BQ”  Star Wars themed smoker recently brought home the grand championship in Best Of Berkeley.   One suggestion: Use high temperature paint where you can to customize. “I use a paint that withstands up to 500 degrees and if your cooker gets over 500 degrees – the paint is the least of your worries.”

One more advanced modification is the thermometer / fan control.  One very popular brand is the BBQ Guru.  The gizmo has advanced features including smart phone control.

The Ugly Drum Smokers are common on the BBQ circuit and you can find more details on how to construct your own HERE.

Categories: Featured Tags: r2bq, Smoker, UDS, Ugly Drum Smoker, weber

About Bill West

Bill West a BBQ enthusiast, Best-Selling Author, and Country Music aficionado in Charleston, SC.

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Previous Post: « The Money Muscle Secret
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jerry Rebel says

    September 16, 2015 at 5:08 pm

    Love your idea. I bought the weber smoker but cannot get the paint to stick to the WSM porceline. What did you use to remove the porceline to make this paintable.

    Thanks, in advance for your help. And may the force be with you. Jerry

    • Jerry Rebel says

      January 10, 2016 at 11:01 am

      Hydrofluoric acid. It is sold as wheel cleaner.

Trackbacks

  1. Star Wars Thursday: Grill It Up Edition | The Fandom Post says:
    May 30, 2013 at 8:20 am

    […] able to assist his friends in almost any way. So I’m sure he’d be thrilled to know that you can create your very own R2-D2 smoker in his honor. Visit the Barbecue Tricks link to find out how to make it! Pulled pork with a side of […]

  2. Geeky Picnic Supplies - Geek Fuel says:
    June 12, 2015 at 4:56 pm

    […] how freaking SWEET is it?! It’s going to take a little work to get this one, as you have to make it, but the same principle for painting can easily apply to one of the cheaper, portable grills you […]

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Hey Y'all... Thanks for stopping by. I'm Bill West. I blog about BBQ and occasionally country music. When it comes to BBQ I try to find solid time saving tips and tricks to make the grilling life a bit easier. It's life hacking for the backyard cooker. Read More…

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