History of Monson Cookers...

Just thought I could give a little background into how I got to this UDS cooker into really displacing my Weber smoker and many others.  I've been pretty obsessed with this whole meat smoking thing since 2000, and so this isn't my first rodeo. ;)  Here is a history of my Smoker/cookers and experimentation notes in order:

2000- New Braunfels - Vertical Water Smoker - 3 x 16" Diam racks.  Med heavy, open on bottom like cheap Brinkmanns.  Hard to control charcoal fires.
- Converted using fish fryer burner to propane heat.  Sat over the burner and removable. - Much improved heat control.  This was before all the 3 in 1s that do this now, but same idea.
- Used too much propane and temp decreased as tank pressure reduced on long cooks.
 - Sold 2002

2002- Oklahoma Joe Offset Smoker - Big heavy traditional Off set log burner made of 1/4" steel pipes. 20"x40" heavy cooking grate. 20x20 firebox.  Lots of cooking space!
-Added propane log lighter, cast iron grates, drain ball valve.
- Added half upper rack, tuning plates, got it to about 80% even heat.
- Great cooker, but way too much heat tending. Every 45 min had a inconsistent fire and smoke.
- Sold 2005 when I moved.

- Did a whole small pig in it once for a party. ;)

2004 - 18" Weber Smokey Mountain. 2x18" grates - vert water smoker.

- Added bigger Brinkmann water pan and lid thermo.

- Runs on Charcoal and wood chunks w/pan of water.  Very even temps and easy to use.

- After 30 minute start up, temp locks in, can run 14hrs on just one fuel load.

 - Just an incredibly easy cooker.  WSM is the best commercial smokers IMO. 
- A little small at 18" and water pan gross to clean.

- Sold 2011

2006 - 22" Weber Kettle - Tried smoking with a new grill indirectly.

- Ok for ribs but just too much work and not practical for longer smokes due to fuel usage.
- black one, the Insides rotted out.  Later the Black lid and table became part of UDS.

2007 - Free 15" Orig Japanese Kamado ceramic cooker. (same as Big Green Egg, but before it)

-Needed guts.  Fixed it up and tried slow chicken twice, good results.

- Just too small for even med cooks with just one 15" rack.  Ash cleanup a pain also.

- Almost bought a BGE or a big Kamado, but the owner of one talked me out of it as he had started to use a cooker called the BDS or Big Drum Smoker, and I liked the simplicity of those (like UDS).

- Sold 2007

2008 Upright heavy Vertical smoker, custom made of 1/4" steel with rectangular firebox below rectangular cooking box and 4 tubes connecting them. 2 x 15"X 30" cooking racks.
- Bought as an opportunity for just $80 from a guy who used to do BBQ comp circuits.
- Added Log lighter and side burner.  Still needs tighter air control as too big of gaps.
- Plan to make into super Rib cooker based on perfect size to take about 20 racks of ribs on racks.
- Honestly I have no need for this beast, but I have more BBQ patio, so why the heck not? ;)

2009 - Designed and built my own Ugly Drum Smoker I called a MUDSOG.  Like a bigger WSM but with 2x 22" racks and no water pan.  Design can both Grill or Smoke!
- 55 Gal drum, charcoal basket, 22" Weber grill racks. Uses bigger 22" Weber lid for top.
- Runs on Charcoal and wood logs or chunks.  Goes up to 18hrs on just one fuel load. ;)
- Set it and forget it cooking like a big WSM, but no water pan to mess with.  Excellent!

Anyway that's all of them for now!  Isn't that enough? ;)

Goodby old Weber Friend. ...

Can you believe I sold my old Weber Smokey Mountain?  ... It just left the house last week in a Craigslist ad... kinda sad parting even though I didn't use the Weber anymore for the past 1.5yrs since I created the MUDSOG. We were such good friends as it was my go-to smoker for years since purchase in 2004.

It was hard for sure, and this definitely means I'm all in for the UDS.  I was so close to deleting the CL ad when I was looking at it that morning.  I had to come to the realization that it hasn't been used once in the 18 months since I made the MUDSOG.  I could see the idea of a smaller smoker than the UDS way back in my mind, but I still would probably just make a 3/4 18" size UDS.  I took this sad pic to remember him by. ;)  At least I do have some cash and a guy named Michael will burn meat in it now and gave it a good home...

BTW - Even though I bought it new, I believe it cost me just $25 to own for what had to have been about 7 years.  Way to go USA built Weber! ;)

More MUDSOG crazyness

This MUDSOG cooker is not new for me as I have now useing it for about 1.5yrs and the design has proven its self out time and time again on many group cooks over that time.  I bet as many as 20 of this UDS design have been made at this point by me and friends that I have passed this plan onto.  Over time some additions were made and one was a needed side table for the backyard porch.

Here is what you can do for your backyard MUDSOG if you use an old Performer Weber Kettle and it's Stainless Steel table instead of a reg one:

Something similar could be built as well.  The two are not connected at all so when I take my USD out camping with us it just slips in and out of this.  Basicly to adapt it, I cut off the left lower cross bar, then re-axled the 2 wheels with bolts, then cut the wire rack shorter. Moved the front and back horizontal bars by rebolting them in this new position. With an extra hole under second rack, you can propane light your charcoal in grill mode. :)

Note that this Weber side table has charcoal storage and a propane light assist you can use too!

A whole lot more photos of the MUDSOG features, and this side on table I created out of my old Platinum Kettle:  Photobucket images of Monson_UDS smoker

Monson Ugly Drum Smoker Or Grill (MUDSOG)

Here is one of my best ideas for outdoor cooking that has really been keeping butchers busy all around DFW! ;)  I took a pretty common UDS design and really tried to add some of the best features out there together, while leaving out anything extra.  In addition, I made this smoker convert to a Weber kettle type grill very easily which I did not see anyone do in there UDS for some reason.  By using the two 22" racks it holds loads of meat (as much as 50#!) and the lower rack gets hotter for roasting leaving the top rack a little better for slow smoking.  My MUDSOG build instructions using a used Weber and a 55 gal drum that MUST fit the lid on the bottom end of it (critical dimension):

Typical cost of materials is about $50 plus you need one used 22" Weber kettle grill which can be had for about $40 on Craigslist.  Look of a typical completed UDS:

Drill 1" air holes X 2 on 4 air controls. 4"x1.25 1/8 angle iron or Alum angle.  These top ones are for grilling only and they double as great handles for transport too:

Pic of the fire ring in grilling mode.  It's basicly a 8"x56" cut rectangle of expanded metal wrapped and wire tied around a 16" Weber fire grate.  You can weld it in the cylinder shape or tie with clothes hanger wire:

One of the best tricks of any Ugly Drum Smoker is that you can load it up with fuel and once running it will run for hours with hardly any fiddling with it.  Mine will run an easy 8hrs on a half load of charcoal and wood chunks, or 16hrs on a full load, and all you do is alter the air input to adjust the temp.  My usage instructions:

ENJOY!!

How to make golf alot more fun!

Well were going to add some how to's here that are about camp cooking and what could be better than your most basic cooking using fire and a stick? ;)    But then everyone at camp has a stick so how about something more fun?  Here is what we did with a game we were no longer going to play anyway...

1. Here is a sad girl (my wonderfull helping daughter) with no way to roast anything over the fire:

Wait we can fix this!  It has a great grip and is and good 36" length:

But this end must go :)

Chop and fix with replaceable wire!

Drill or chop to make wire hole and path

Wire time

Finished end and a Happy Camper!!

What are these Disorganized Sports?

I want to keep this more of a useful how-to blog, than a personal blog, but I feel I must give a little bit of background into what this all about, and a little about who these Monson's are.  Our family is right in the middle of parenting three young children and we are spending alot of that quality time in the outdoors.  Myself and my wonderfull wife Lilly (of 16 years!) have a love of the outdoors that we want to form lasting memories around.  We like these outdoor activities because we can do them together, and frankly it was this way camping and canoeing when I was a kid and so that is where my passion for alot of it comes. 

  We're currently involved in Indian Princess (camping Dad/Daughter), Indian Guides (camping Father/Son), hunting, fishing, and boating.  At first it was casual and as the other members of the family started to enjoy outdoor activities we have turned it into a conscious choice to be an outdoor lifestyle family.  In some parts of the country we might be in the majority, but in our suburban DFW area it's a little weird that we're out pitching a tent on a Saturday or wetting a hook together rather than going to soccer games.

  We bring different toys and solutions out to enjoy these activities and that is where I expect some of the how-to articles to come in.  I have noticed that sometimes we Monson's solve something different than anyone else and I want to give a glimpse into all of that.  I love outdoor cooking on these trips for big groups so expect to see some grilling and smoking solutions that I have worked up over time as some of the first posts.

Thanks for coming and reading!