I bought the kit a couple of weeks ago. Put the drum together last weekend, seasoned with lard and ran it through its paces. Made a brisket yesterday and it was awesome. It is still going to take me some work regulating temps but I will get there.
comments/observations:
1. I really like the kit, its components and the overall design.
2. Directions are easy to use and the video is very helpful. I am not a total spaz but am not what people would call handy.
3. The provided drill bit isn't the best. It took some work to punch through the steel. It ended up overheating and dulling out halfway through, so I had to run to Home Depot for a new bit. The new bit punched through like nothing. Not a real big complain though.
4. There is nothing ugly about this pit so calling it a UDS is a misnomer.
5. Yesterday, I used a 15" ceramic pizza stone as a diffuser. This really worked well, but I really went through the fuel and I had to open the bottom vents to keep the temp up. The food quality was awesome but it took some work. I might experiment with the metal pizza pan with holes. I do want some kind of diffuser. Not really after that "drippings dropping directly into the coals" flavor for long cooks on briskets and butts. For ribs, that is cool. I also don't like the idea of a hot spot in the middle and prefer more consisitent heat through the cooking area.
Overall, this product is a total winner. The flavor is great. It is very much easy to use. You cannot beat the price.
BTW, my other cookers are a Primo Kamado XL Oval and Weber Gasser. I have owned two different New Braunfels Banderas and have cooked plenty on the old school 55 gallon drum pits that you see everywhere (or did).
comments/observations:
1. I really like the kit, its components and the overall design.
2. Directions are easy to use and the video is very helpful. I am not a total spaz but am not what people would call handy.
3. The provided drill bit isn't the best. It took some work to punch through the steel. It ended up overheating and dulling out halfway through, so I had to run to Home Depot for a new bit. The new bit punched through like nothing. Not a real big complain though.
4. There is nothing ugly about this pit so calling it a UDS is a misnomer.
5. Yesterday, I used a 15" ceramic pizza stone as a diffuser. This really worked well, but I really went through the fuel and I had to open the bottom vents to keep the temp up. The food quality was awesome but it took some work. I might experiment with the metal pizza pan with holes. I do want some kind of diffuser. Not really after that "drippings dropping directly into the coals" flavor for long cooks on briskets and butts. For ribs, that is cool. I also don't like the idea of a hot spot in the middle and prefer more consisitent heat through the cooking area.
Overall, this product is a total winner. The flavor is great. It is very much easy to use. You cannot beat the price.
BTW, my other cookers are a Primo Kamado XL Oval and Weber Gasser. I have owned two different New Braunfels Banderas and have cooked plenty on the old school 55 gallon drum pits that you see everywhere (or did).