BBQ help

[crazystuff]

as its summer now and my current BBQ is done for i want to try make my self a new one and was thinking of using either a 45 gallon drum or a beer keg as a starting point but as ive found out kegs have to be returned to the brewery and im finding it hard to get my hands on a drum has any one got any ideas for what i could use instead of these as a starting point so i can make it cheaper than buying a lot of sheet metal but if it comes to it could you also suggest what thickens sheet metal i would need

thanks

 

[rtbcomp]

How about a Calor gas bottle cut in half from top to bottom?

 

[crazystuff]

How about a Calor gas bottle cut in half from top to bottom?

could do but i thought there were deposits on those so they had to be returned if not could use it just have to make sure it was completely empty before i go at it with a angle grinder that could go wrong lol

 

[rtbcomp]

Never heard of anyone getting a deposit back.

Remove the valve and fill it with water to expel all the gas.

If anyone in the Sheffield wants a 13Kg bottle already cut in half I have one free for collection.

 

[crazystuff]

well if that's the case and there's no deposit will try get my hands on one
and thanks for the advise on expelling the gas

 

[down the shed]

Unless you are BBQ'ing for quite a few, an oil drum is over big. I make my BBQ's out of gas bottles as above, scaffold bars for legs. Always seem to find enough that have been dumped to keep me in them. Half a 13kg bottle can do enough jerk pork to keep 15 or so people very well fed!

If you are after an oil drum, ask at a local garage as they get it in 45 gal drums and the place I get them from says they have to dispose of them - normally disposed of to some one that has asked for any old drums!

The biggests PITA I have found with doing BBQ's is the grill - you can buy grill online, but for a piece for an oil drum cheapest I have found is £40. Cheaper to buy the stainless rod, couple of bits of square section and drill the square to hold the rod. Other than that, I have used the grills off fire pits, expanded steel form as long as it is not galved (the stuff you would use on a cage around a forklift for example) and bits from old BBQ's.

Any ideas on what else to use or what would be cheaper would be appreciated.

 

[Ducky]

My brother has made a few out of oil drums, he got a cage they delivered milk in to shops/garages and cut that up to make the trays etc.

 

[Dev]

You might find gas bottles at your local scrap yard. Mine said "we're not supposed to take em but people chuck them over the fence". The last one I got already had the valve removed and had been lying for ages - safer that way.

Oil drums you'll be able to get if you have a harbour near you. Boats go through a huuuuge amount of oil and there will be plenty empty barrels if you are a good negotiator. A friend got 4 last week to use as part of horse jumps or something.

Down the Shed - do you hinge them to use the top as a lid or just straight cut them in half? What about vents?

 

[wheresmejumper]

building a smoker myself soon,its what kickstarted me to learn to weld(still waiting delivery on first plant) and came accross a build thread.
i will be slightly modifying mine to be a dual smoker and bbq.
will compartmentalise mine to suit big or small quantities of meat/people

http://www.theathomewelder.com/2010/01/04/diy-drum-smoker/


easy peasey....in theorey

 

[down the shed]

Down the Shed - do you hinge them to use the top as a lid or just straight cut them in half? What about vents?

Just straight cut them in half, dont bother with a lid as mine gets moved around from place to place and it keeps weight down. When I make them for others, just he same unless they ask for something different to save on steel for me.

Dont put vents on them as I do not routinely make lids but if I did, I would do the same as I have done for making vents on wood burners - short bit of M12 thread, cut hole for vent, weld M12 to a bar to make a T, weld T to inside of hole, cut a disc to cover hole, weld on M12 nut, screw onto bar. The vent has a bit of m6 or m8 welded to it and a bit of drilled out dowel secured with a nut.

See my quick paint lash up.

I also realised the other day the electric motor on my cement mixer hardly ever gets used and it might be better to use it to turn a spit - getting an oil drum this week to try that one out.

 

[dannyp]

gas bottels or 60 ltr oil barrels i find work best

 

[the snooper]

BBQ help

i thought he was inviting us all round for one with all this good weather weve had

 

[Tiggy_dorset]

BBQ help

i thought he was inviting us all round for one with all this good weather weve had

He's gonna need something bigger than an oil drum for that one