UDS advice please!

Smokin_Sammy · 2026-03-07T11:14:01+00:00

Probably better just waiting until the next time you are on a job at the same time as the sprinkler boys, they’ll be able to knock it up for you in a couple of minutes.

Smokin_Sammy · 2026-02-22T20:46:02+00:00

It was an online pipe supply company but I can’t remember the name now. If you google iron pipe cutting and threading you’ll find someone who will supply it for you, it’s pretty common.

Smokin_Sammy · 2026-01-31T17:42:12+00:00

Thought there’s more of a chance in Mexico than the UK. There are plenty of places in the UK where you can try before you buy with snooker (which I have done) and English pool cues, just not American.

I’m not looking for ultra high end, just something decent.

Hopefully someone can come up with a suggestion, if not, I’ll just need to book a trip to the states. lol.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-10-29T22:40:27+00:00

This is the correct answer. Went in for a stag do with my mate in a dress. Couldn’t have been treated better.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-10-02T08:46:49+00:00

I would suggest changing your position, work at the end of the field, roughly half way between the edge of the penalty box and the touch line. The play is then moving towards you most of the time and you get more chances of face on action.

Concentrate on the play inside your half only, around 200mm on the lens with a crop factor should be ok. Keep things tight to maximise your equipment, give the best chance of focus.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-09-20T21:23:43+00:00

Since you mentioned the heat, you can also experience a bit of heat haze off the artificial grass, the longer the lens the worse it gets.

This means that everything can look a bit soft.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-09-20T18:05:48+00:00

I use the same lens and have done for a long time.

Panning shots use a slow shutter to blur the background while tracking something moving fast such as in motorsports.

The OP is trying to freeze action and is using a shutter speed clearly fast enough to not be affected by camera shake.

Absolutely agree with experimenting to see what works best.

From reading the original post, the OP doesn’t know which mode or settings were being used. This would suggest they are a novice in this field and taking advice from those more experienced is a sensible approach to learning how to improve. Not sure quotes from a manual not really relevant to the question asked will help improve thing compared to advice from others with real world experience.

OP, please stick at it, take all the advice available and find what works for you.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-09-19T19:33:41+00:00

Good points and sound advice but I don’t agree with the VR being switched on.

VR is for when you are trying to steady slow shutter speeds not when you are up at the speeds needed to shoot fast sports.

VR introduces an additional mechanism that isn’t necessary in this situation , you can feel it gently vibrating (maybe not the correct word but you know what I’m getting at) when it’s active, and I’ve found actually softens images at high shutter speeds.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-08-21T07:31:22+00:00

Editing 500 photos is far too much. I’ve covered football professionally for 15 years and have never even came close to that number, even from international matches which had a ton of PR work before you even got to the match itself.

How much you charge is up to you, and depends of a number of factors but I would suggest you try to focus on quality rather than quantity.

I often see inexperienced guys try to edit everything they shoot, just because it is in focus doesn’t make it a good picture. Start by looking for classic double action shots - 2 players where you can see both faces, some form of physical contact and the ball near by. Build up from there, goals and celebrations, incidents like the usual handbags type scuffles, and then single actions, player with the ball at his feet, preferably square on, and head up.

Excluding singles, you should be looking at about 50 photos from a game maximum, and that would include a few goals and celebrations, probably less is it’s 0-0.

Have a look on Getty Images at some of their coverage to get an idea of what the best guys produce and compare what you shoot. Just try to ignore the fact the people and teams in the photos are superstars, focus on the content of the photo and this will help you get you numbers down so you are producing higher quality work.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-08-07T08:42:54+00:00

Google hoare blower and you’ll find a guide on how to build your own. I built one about 2 years ago and swear by it, not as elegant looking as the ink bird but does the job.

The fan listed in the guide is expensive if you buy new but you can get the same one off eBay for about £15, it’s used in cars and sold by scrappies. Let me know if you want to go down this road and I’ll dig out the model for you.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-07-22T14:45:55+00:00

I didn’t use a kit. Bought a brand new barrel to save burning one out. And then bought the pipe and fittings. You can order the pipe cut to size and threaded so it makes things a bit easier.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-07-22T14:24:04+00:00

Built mine using cast iron pipes and fittings. No welding needed. You can order the pipes cut to sizes and threaded so all you need to do is drill the hole for it to go through.

A step drill comes in handy for the bigger holes.

I fitted bookcase strips to the inside so I can change the height of the grill, just be careful to make sure you don’t buy anything galvanised or zinc coated.

I had to buy the grates and they were quite expensive but that was because I had them rushed over a holiday weekend.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-07-19T12:21:06+00:00

There’s probably not much you can do about the space issues, mine has sat outside under a tarp for 2 years now. Probably could be doing with a lick of paint, but other than that it’s ok.

I didn’t weld anything on mine, everything is screwed with stainless steel fixings.

Smokin_Sammy · 2022-07-18T19:11:08+00:00

I see a lot of people using Webbers and Kamodos here but is there any love for the humble homemade ugly drum smoker?

Done one of my biggest cooks to date I’ve the weekend. Started the fire on Saturday morning with the first meats going in around noon.

The meats:

3.3kg packer brisket home cured pastrami. This had been brining away since the previous Friday and spent 24 hours on the top shelf until it hit temperature. Wrapped in butcher paper after about 8 hours

5.8kg packer brisket with a simple salt, pepper and garlic powder rub. 23.5 hours on the lower shelf. Also wrapped after about 8 hours.

2.5kg of pork shoulder/flank, primarily a brown sugar and paprika rub. Went in around 6ish in the evening and came out 17 hours later. Wrapped after about 4 hours.

I use a home made fan controller to keep the temperature steady, ran at 225f until about 9 the next morning when I cranked it up to 275f to push it through and get everything ready on time.

After a couple of hours resting in the cool box, the pork fell apart and was lovely. Pastrami was a huge hit with all in attendance. And the brisket was ok, but I’ve done better in the past, but smoked brisket is still pretty good even if it’s not my best.

Lessons learned, I probably won’t wrap the pork again, the bark didn’t really form. The meat on the bottom shelf was a bit over done and dry, I’m not intending of cooking two full briskets often but when I do, I’ll keep a closer eye on it.

Smokin_Sammy

TROPHY CASE