Building BBQ, have ??

SFO · May 19, 2003

I am building a 55gal drum conventional "Q".
I want a moveable (up and down) grill surface via cables and crank.
I am looking for anyones experience with bbq building, ie actual grill material and gauge, and design tips.

any thoughts on this are appreciated.
Thanks, Bill

BTW< said grill will accompany Denise and I to DW '03 :flame:

Treejumper · May 19, 2003

You can use expanded metal for the grilling surface. What gauge i dont know. We have several sizes and guages, stainless and regular, plus different spacings. Goto your local sheetmetal shop or someone who make chimney caps as they would have it. For your cables and crank, dont know.

Rich Rohrich · May 19, 2003

Originally posted by SFO
BTW< said grill will accompany Denise and I to DW '03 :flame:

I want dibbs on the parking space next to Bill & Denise. :yeehaw: mmmmmmm BBBQ :aj:

Mully · May 20, 2003

Not sure about what gauge, etc, but I do have one suggestion. Make sure that your charcoal ash can fall away from the burning coals. I have a brinkman smoker that just has a pan for the coals and no place for the ash to go. The ash will cover the burning coals, smothering them, and lowers the heat output. Now I am looking at the Weber smoker. This one has a charcoal grate and the ash falls away to a bottom pan. :thumb: Won't use as much charcoal, and you will get a more consistant heat.

Mully

ps, dibs on riding to DW with Rich !!!!! :laugh:

High Lord Gomer · May 20, 2003

I would imagine a lever system with notched stops would wear better than a cable and pulley arrangement.

SFO · May 20, 2003

I have a drum bbq right now that has been around for about 10 years.
It has a cable arrangement for the grill height but Iwas fishing for more better ideas.
The expanded stainless sags under the heat, I think I will fab up the grill surface using ss flat bar 1/4" x1" laid on edge.
I am also trying to figure out how to make the grill convertable from open top adjustable grill height to fixed grill and enclosed for indirect heat, cold smoking.
Maybe I'll need a sub chamber, say a 15 gallon drum, plumbed into the side?
The one I have has a sub floor with a screen for the ash to seperate, should there be bottom vents, like a weber?

Highbeam · May 20, 2003

You're getting into major bbq theory. There is a book, the great american bbq handbook, it has plans. The site barbecuen.net will answer all your questions. I was planning a barrel burner like you, I have a welder and plasma cutter access. I had a plan together and then went to walmart to look for detail ideas. A bbq was already made that was nearly identical in function to what I was going to build and very cheap. The unit is stout and I have made some good pork butt, chuck, and chicken in it. I have a grill for grilling, this is a bbq.

Look at replacement weber grill parts for the actual grill surface. One of them will fit inside a barrel. You need an air inlet at or below the fire grate and a means for ashes to fall off the fire. All of your cuts need to seal tight like a woodstove so that you can control the heat. An exhaust should be large enough and there is no reason to ever choke the exhaust. You will need a thermometer to monitor the heat produced at meat level. You need a means to add/remove meat and to add/remove fuel without disturbing the other, this usually means a fuel door and a fire door.

Really, look at commercialy available bbqs. You will be surprised at the quality and if nothing else you can steal their ideas.

GETMETOCA · May 21, 2003

Leave it to SFO to devise something beautiful out of metal. Can't wait to see it!

yzeater · May 21, 2003

We've got a nice bbq grill at home (upwards of $1500), I'll take some pics so that you might be able to steal ideas from it. The system works very well

SFO · May 22, 2003

I finally groked that grilling is not bbq'ing.
My mouth waters when I think about building a true bbq.
Dang!

I think this is my boy, thanks for all the encouragement...

http://www.oscaruk.fsnet.co.uk/main_page_build_a_pit.html#BuildingPlan

If I make a few of these it will make more sense, are you interested Mighty Aphrodite?

:laugh: :think: :scream:

GETMETOCA · May 22, 2003

Originally posted by SFO
Mighty Aphrodite

The only man who realizes my Goddess potential.  ;)  Good luck with your BBQ, I'm going to have to come over and visit you and Fe one of these days for one of your heralded BBQ shindigs.

Tony Eeds · May 23, 2003

My dad made a really nice Grill/Smoker out of a CI wash tub and 55 gal barrels.

He had an adjustable grate in the bottom of the tub that could raise a grate that held the fire. High for grilling and low for smoking. Additionally there were two different heights of barrels, that stood vertically on the tub. A short one for brisket and a full height barrel for smoking hanging meats or turkeys, etc. The top cover was shaped like a cone and had a stack for adjusting draft. It fit either barrel. There was also a series of holes and a rotating cover on the bottom of the tub to adjust air flow as well.

Dang, I wish I had some photos. Maybe I will draw it up in AutoCAD.

bclapham · May 30, 2003

Originally posted by Rich Rohrich

I want dibbs on the parking space next to Bill & Denise. :yeehaw: mmmmmmm BBBQ :aj:

No, you cant use race gas to get the fire lit! :p

Building BBQ, have ??

SFO

Treejumper

2 wheeled idiot

Rich Rohrich

Moderator / BioHazard

Mully

Moderator / SuperPowers

High Lord Gomer

Poked with Sticks

SFO

Highbeam

GETMETOCA

Can't Wait For Tuesdays

yzeater

SFO

GETMETOCA

Can't Wait For Tuesdays

Tony Eeds

Godspeed Tony.

bclapham

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Building BBQ, have ??

2 wheeled idiot

Moderator / BioHazard

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Poked with Sticks

Can't Wait For Tuesdays

Can't Wait For Tuesdays

Godspeed Tony.

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