Metal barbecue projects. Simple, but creative: how to make a barbecue out of metal with your own hands. Let's get started

One of the attributes of a suburban area is metal barbecues. Such designs can be made with your own hands if desired. By creating your own drawing, you can make a unique design that will be used not only for its intended purpose, but will also decorate the site. To understand which design is suitable for installation on your site, you should look at photos of similar products.

Types of barbecues

The simplest metal structures are rectangular in shape and small in size. Coals are placed inside the metal barbecue body, creating the heat necessary for cooking meat. All barbecues can be divided into several main types:

1. Stationary structures. Such products are large in size and are installed on a foundation. Stationary barbecues are durable and reliable.
2. Portable products. Braziers of the described type are lighter and can be easily transported in a car. They can be made of thin metal that deforms under physical impact. Such products are convenient and often taken on vacation by many car owners.
3. Mobile barbecues made of metal, made by yourself. Such structures are large in size, but are equipped with wheels, thanks to which they can move around the site. Such barbecues are purchased by land owners who do not want to create a stationary structure for various reasons. An example is a situation where the area is small and a metal grill will not fit harmoniously into the landscape.

You can also find electrical products that have the function of automatically moving the skewers. Thanks to this, you don’t have to worry about the uniform roasting of the meat. In such devices, spiral heating elements are used instead of coals.

Advantages of metal barbecues

When choosing the type of barbecue, you should first decide whether the structure will be stationary or portable. Stationary ones can be made of metal or brick. But most often, site owners purchase portable structures, as they perform their functions and do not take up much space.

Structures made of metal have the following advantages:

1. Possibility of movement on the site. If the grill is foldable, you can take it with you even without a car (provided that the resting place is nearby).
2. Uniform cooking of meat. The metal retains heat well, so the meat cooks fairly quickly.
3. Possibility of creating a design with your own hands. If you have a welding machine, you can make a metal grill yourself.

When creating a metal grill, you can make a structure of any shape and paint it in the desired shade. If you don’t have a welding machine, you can purchase a ready-made metal grill. Such products are usually sold in garden supply stores. It is worth noting that in the absence of a welding machine, you can connect the elements of the barbecue using bolts.

Simple collapsible barbecues

The simplest barbecues are products that consist of two racks in the shape of the letter P. To cook meat, the racks are stuck into the ground, after which coals are placed between them. It is worth remembering that due to the small height of such products, it will not be possible to fry meat while standing. In this case, due to the lack of walls of the grill, heat loss occurs.

But if you are going on a hiking trip, you should take just such a grill. Such products are not heavy and therefore cannot cause fatigue during a hike. To determine which design will be more convenient for you, you need to look at various photos of the products being described. It is also important to determine the optimal location of the product.

Non-removable metal grill

Before creating a barbecue, you need to think in advance about what materials and tools will be needed for the work and make a list. To build a metal barbecue you must have:

• reinforcement and metal corner for creating racks;
• Bulgarian;
• drill
• steel sheet needed to create the main part of the barbecue;
• welding machine

Some site owners do without a welding machine, connecting metal elements with bolts. In this case, it is worth preparing a drawing of the barbecue with dimensions in advance. You can also take ready-made diagrams. The drawing should show the height, length and other design parameters. It is important to indicate the distance between the perforation slots and the chamfers for the skewers.

The distance between the ventilation slots in barbecues is usually about 7 cm. The length of the structure should be calculated taking into account the fact that there should be 8 skewers on the barbecue.

It is important to choose the right metal sheets to create a barbecue. These products must have a thickness of at least 2 mm. The higher this indicator, the more durable the entire structure will be. That is why many people choose sheets with a thickness of 5 mm.

Grill dimensions

When creating a drawing, it is important to accurately indicate the dimensions of each part of the structure. When determining the optimal parameters, you should focus on standard products with a height of 95 cm and a length of legs of about 70 cm. The depth of the roasting pan in this case will be 25 cm, which is quite enough for efficient roasting of meat.

The width of many metal grills is approximately 28 cm. The length of the structure should be about 54 cm. With these parameters, you can freely place 9 servings of shish kebab on the grill. When creating a drawing, you should focus on the number of people who will relax near the grill. If the design is created for a large family, then the dimensions can be increased. If the grill will be used for cooking meat for only 2-3 people, you can create a small structure.

On the top of the structure it is necessary to make gaps for skewers. Thanks to them, you can evenly distribute the meat over the coals. The distance between the gaps should be about 6 cm. In this case, you need to leave space between the outer walls and the gaps. If this is not done, the meat may touch the metal and burn.

It is important to remember that the entire structure must be well ventilated. To do this, holes are created on the side walls of the grill. Their diameter should be about 15 mm. It is important to make them at the bottom of the grill and arrange them in a checkerboard pattern. There is no need to make holes on the end walls.

Having indicated all the dimensions in the drawing, it is necessary to re-check it in order to avoid mistakes when connecting parts of the structure.

Creating a barbecue from several sheets of metal

Most often, a barbecue is created from several sheets of metal, which are connected to each other by welding. For the work you will need 2 sheets 28 cm long and 25 cm wide. You also need to prepare sheets 24x25 cm. In addition, you will need another sheet of metal (54x28 cm), which is needed to create the bottom of the grill.

You can use metal pipes or corners for the legs of the grill. Their length should be 70 cm. To create a barbecue, you need to prepare a welding machine, tape measure and drill in advance. You should also prepare a metal saw or grinder.

The metal structure can be equipped with carrying handles and other parts. For example, many people attach a canopy over the barbecue. This allows you to cook meat even in the rain. Before carrying out work, you need to take measurements again and mark the joints of the sheets. Gaps for skewers are made using a metal saw or grinder.

Important! It is best to make barbecue legs from metal corners. This is justified by the fact that the reinforcement is not reliable and the structure may wobble under load.

Barbecue made of a whole sheet of metal

To simplify the process of building a barbecue, you can make it from one steel sheet. To do this, it is enough to make cuts in certain places, then bend the parts of the sheet and connect them using a welding machine.

The assembly proceeds as follows:

1. First, marks are created on a metal sheet.
2. After this, the future shape is cut out along the marked lines.
3. In the next step, the edges are bent, resulting in a metal box. At this stage, the bent parts of the metal sheet are connected to each other.
4. Then perforations are made in the lower part of the structure. Their diameter should be about 15 mm.
5. After this, chamfers are made on the side walls.
6. At the last stage, the legs are created and welded to the resulting metal box. It is best to make legs from angle iron, as they are more stable than products made from reinforcement.

The brazier obtained in this way will be more durable than one assembled from several metal sheets. To make the structure more stable, the legs should be secured not vertically, but with a slight slope.

Barbecue from a barrel or gas cylinder

If you wish, you can create a barbecue from a barrel or an old gas cylinder. To do this, it is enough to cut such products lengthwise. To maintain the integrity of the structure, the ends should not be cut.

The legs for such a barbecue can also be made from a metal corner. These structural elements are welded to the ends of the barrel. At the last stage, chamfers are cut to accommodate the skewers.

Features of manufacturing a collapsible roaster

Collapsible Dutch ovens are usually designed to be used during road trips. They can also be used when there is a small free space near the house that you don’t want to occupy with a bulky, non-demountable structure.

To assemble the described products, it is not necessary to have welding equipment, since all elements are connected using bolts. Just as when creating a stationary fryer, you first need to make a drawing that will indicate the dimensions of each part. The layout of a collapsible product is more complex, so it is important to carefully make calculations and draw each element correctly.

After preparing each frame element, they are connected using bolts. To make the connections more durable, you should use Grover washers. At the next stage, the legs are fixed to the base. Thanks to the use of bolts, the structure can be quickly disassembled if it needs to be moved. Many collapsible braziers are complemented by forged elements. To make the structure convenient to carry, it is worth attaching the handles to the body.

How to protect a grill from corrosion

When creating any metal product, it is worth remembering that it must be protected from corrosion. Various paints are often used. But when choosing such a composition, it is worth remembering that it must be resistant to high temperatures. You can also use a method such as bluing. After processing, a film is formed on the surface of the material, which helps protect it.

Burnishing is performed as follows:

1. First, the metal is degreased and cleaned;
2. After this, the material is kept in a sodium hydroxide solution. It is necessary to immerse the metal in this composition for one and a half hours.

If you choose paint to protect your fryer, you need to determine the most suitable type of composition. Silver paint is often used for barbecues - a paint that contains aluminum powder.

Heat-resistant powder paints are often used. But it is worth noting that after applying such a dye, it is necessary to process the structure in a drying oven. Before painting the grill, you need to remove any dirt from the surface, as their presence can lead to peeling of the coloring matter. Before choosing a specific shade, you can look at photos showing similar products.

To avoid spending money on purchasing sheet metal, you can use an old gas cylinder. Such products are made from fairly durable and thick material. In this case, a compact fryer is obtained from a gas cylinder. But before use, such products must be burned to get rid of gas condensate.

To create a durable structure, you must follow a few simple rules:

1. Metal cutting should be done as accurately as possible. The tolerance can be no more than 0.5 mm.
2. The workpieces must be secured to the table using clamps. If this is not done, cutting the material straight will be quite difficult.
3. When cutting metal, it is worth using a large angle grinder, as this allows you to make a more even cut.
4. Before performing work, you must find protective clothing, gloves and safety glasses. Failure to follow safety rules can result in serious injury.

Having created a drawing of the future design in advance, you can do all the work yourself and create a reliable roaster.

Metal barbecues with canopy

To be able to cook meat on a roasting pan in any weather, you can make a roasting pan with a canopy. It's important to decide. Will you create a canopy separately from the metal structure or will you attach it to the grill?

The first option is optimal, as it will allow you to comfortably grill kebabs during the rain. At the same time, installation of such a design is simpler. If the second option is chosen, it should be taken into account that the canopy will create additional load on the structure. That is why it is important to make a calculation before starting work.

The canopy should be secured using metal corners. This makes assembly of the product much easier. The canopy canvas should be made of fire-resistant material that is light in weight. Corrugated sheeting is best suited. It can withstand temperature changes and is lightweight.

When drawing up a building plan, you should think about the location of the supports. If they are placed on the corners of the roasting pan, they will interfere with the cooking of the kebab. If you attach additional elements for fastenings, this can lead to a confusion of the center of gravity of the entire structure.

If a canopy is created for a ready-made roaster, it is important to make calculations and determine how additional elements will affect stability. If necessary, it is worth adding additional legs. Structures with canopies are often additionally decorated with forged elements.

Original ideas

Before making a roaster, you should consider several original types of such products. This will help make the grill not only functional, but also a beautiful design.

Some property owners create braziers from old metal barrels. Such products can be with or without a lid. When choosing the first option, the cut out part of the barrel is secured on hinges and equipped with a handle. The lid remains open while the meat is cooking. The legs are welded to the edges of such a kebab maker. They should be positioned in such a way that the entire structure is stable and cannot fall from strong winds.

In some cases, the barrel is designed in such a way that the entire structure looks like a steam locomotive. To do this, just weld metal wheels to the supports and add sheets of metal similar to parts of a locomotive.

You can also style the kebab maker as a metal chest. In this case, the grill is created wider and equipped with a lid with handles. At the same time, corners and rivets are added. Also, such roasters are often equipped with forged elements.

By looking at the photos depicting the products described, you can understand which design would look better on your site. The choice of a specific option should be made only after determining the style of the site.

Many people complement kebab makers with shelves, stands and wheels, which can be seen when looking at the photo. If desired, you can create a brazier in the form of a small car, carriage and other similar structures. Such metal barbecues can significantly change the appearance of the area.

Having made a beautiful metal structure, you can invite guests to a barbecue without hesitation.

The air, in which you can smell meat or vegetables grilled on coals, will not leave anyone indifferent, even a vegetarian. Barbecue cooked on the grill excites memories of a clear spring day or a warm summer evening when we were relaxing on the shore of the lake or at our dacha. There is a desire to repeat this again.

A tradition has firmly entered our lives when not a single picnic or gathering around an evening fire with friends and family is complete without cooking meat over an open fire.

With heartfelt conversations, the waiting time passes faster and the meat delicacy fried together becomes tastier. A self-made grill is our best friend and assistant in this matter!

Types of barbecues: advantages and disadvantages of each of them

The choice of barbecue model is directly influenced by the following factors - frequency of use, its location, the amount you need to invest in when purchasing materials if you want to make a barbecue on your own. Taking these points into account, the most suitable product is selected. There are barbecues:

Stationary. Massive structures that are placed on a base, most often concrete. The non-movable ones are brick and cast iron barbecues. Best suited for country houses and roadside cafes. They are rightfully considered the most solid and heat-resistant. Cast iron products are decorated with carvings and floral designs. If you build a gazebo for such a barbecue with forged elements, you will get a single original composition. The brick grill is decorated with masonry made of facing material, a chimney is built, space is allocated for a cauldron, an oven, and a niche for storing firewood. For convenience, a countertop is installed for cutting food and serving. Such structures will last for many years, but installing them on your site will entail significant financial costs and it may be difficult to find a suitable location.

Portable. They have a metal body, which can be dismountable, for one-time trips to nature, or welded. Welded structures are used in summer cottages and gardens. The advantage of such a barbecue is the ability to move it from one place to another. When the metal barbecue is not in use, it is disassembled and stored in a dry room. These measures will help avoid the appearance of rust on the elements and thereby extend their service life.

Metal barbecues, which are convenient to take outdoors, should be easy and quick to assemble and disassemble, and also be light in weight. This is an advantage, but it also leads to the main disadvantage - it is not durable, so the body quickly burns out and becomes deformed.

Advice! When using a camp grill, it is better to light wood in a fire, and then put ready-made coals in the grill itself, which will extend its service life.

Technical features of the grill: correct dimensions

Which grill is right is up to you to decide, but you need to make it, adhering to certain standard parameters that are adjusted to the requirements of the place of use, the number of eaters and external preferences.

You need to adhere to them so that the meat does not burn, but does not remain raw, firewood is used economically, and the heat does not escape into the air. Product parameters that you need to pay attention to:

Height of barbecue walls. Depth is of utmost importance. Metal and cast iron models can withstand not only the weight of coals, but also firewood. If you think that you will use firewood when igniting, then make the depth up to 30 cm, since firewood takes up more space. When using a grill, the coals should be located closer to it, and if you cook meat on skewers, then the maximum distance from the coals to the meat is about 20 cm. When it is smaller, the pieces will burn, and if it is larger, then there will not be enough heat. This will cause the kebab to dry out on top but remain raw inside.

Length. When calculating it, you should understand that the longer the fryer, the more difficult it is to move it, the consumption of coal will also increase, and it will be more difficult to maintain the optimal temperature. It is customary to take 100 cm as a basis. For most summer residents, 60-80 cm is enough.

The optimal size will help you calculate the formula. The length of the grill is equal to the required number of skewers, multiplied by the distance between them. Example: 6 skewers* 10cm (gap between them) = 60cm (the length of the barbecue we need). This size is quite enough for a company of three people. Cook the meat in one go. The desired gap between skewers is 7-10cm. Then the meat is close, but not tight to each other, which promotes uniform heating and a beautiful crust is formed.

Width. The optimal size is 30-40 cm. A standard skewer holds 5-6 pieces of meat. For a barbecue with such a width, it will not be difficult to choose a grate for. You can find it at any hardware store.

Height of the barbecue from the ground. For portable folding barbecues, the required height of the legs is about 30 cm. If made higher, the structure will be unstable, and lower, dust and debris may get into the food. For stationary products – 80-100 cm will be the best solution.

When you make a grill yourself, you need to adjust the height to suit the person who will be the cook. If he feels comfortable, then the food will be especially tasty.

Models of barbecues: Really do it yourself

The most acceptable option for a beginner to make is a stationary metal grill. Taking into account all the recommendations listed, it is necessary to make a drawing of the product that meets your requirements.

To produce a rectangular model on four legs, prepare a sheet of metal (thickness from 1-3 mm), a welding machine, an angle grinder, metal corners for the legs, a drill (drill holes in the sides), fasteners.

Stages of making a barbecue with your own hands from iron:

• On a sheet of iron we mark the bottom and walls with chalk.
• Using a grinder, we cut out the shape of the barbecue along the basting lines.
• We bend the side walls upward and weld them to each other. It turns out to be a box.
• We make holes in the sides with a drill for air circulation.
• We cut grooves for skewers.
• We weld the legs to the corners of the box. We sharpen it at the bottom for better adhesion to the soil.

To increase strength, you can strengthen the walls with metal, horizontal rods, which are tightened with nuts. You will need to first drill holes in the sides for the screws.

If you have experience, you can make the product more complicated - with an additional grille that reduces the intensity of the flame, shelves for firewood, and add decorative forged elements.

Craftsmen are also converting cylinders into gas grills with a capacity of 40 liters. If you have such a cylinder, it will be ideal because it has thick walls and an interesting shape. The product can be made in 2 versions - with and without a hinged lid.

Approximate algorithm of actions:

1. Using a saw, half the height of the barrel is cut off or its side segment is cut out. The cut off part can serve as a lid in the future.
2. Place the container on a support welded from iron or pipes. To give a neat look, close the cut with a corner.
3. If you are going to use the grill as a barbecue, then inside the cylinder we install runners under the grate.
4. We attach the lid to the barrel using hinges.
5. To increase functionality, a chimney is installed in the side wall and then the installation will work like a smokehouse.

DIY brick grill

Everyone knows that brick retains heat for a long time, and therefore on such a grill it is wonderful to cook barbecue, meat on the grill, as well as pilaf and fish soup. The choice of dishes is limited only by your chef's imagination.

If there is enough free space on the site, it is advisable to combine a brick grill with a gazebo or space for a dining area. The building occupies a decent area, has a foundation and cannot be removed or moved, so choose the location carefully.

The foundation is poured with a strip, going half a meter into the ground. The ideal material is natural stone and stove brick. Laying a fireplace requires knowledge and skills, so entrust this process to a specialist if you are not confident in your abilities.

When you decide to build it yourself, consult a specialist, do everything carefully and slowly.

Bring your ideas to life with confidence. We have on sale all the materials needed to make a barbecue - steel, cast iron, brick and stone. By following building codes and choosing a location in compliance with fire safety regulations, you will organize an oasis on your site, where you can fully relax, recharge your batteries, and be with friends and family. Good luck to you!

Photo examples of homemade barbecues

Everyone's favorite summer dish is kebabs. These juicy pieces with a crispy crust and an appetizing “smoky” aroma are prepared by threading pre-marinated meat onto sharp rods - skewers, and frying on hot coals laid on the bottom of the grill. The design of the barbecue itself is usually a metal box on legs with perforations for air circulation and small recesses on the walls for easy placement of skewers.

Types of metal barbecues

Based on their dimensions, barbecues are divided into:

• stationary;
• portable.

Stationary barbecues equipped in suburban areas. They are often made with forging elements, trimmed with stone or installed on a brick base. This adds aesthetics and exclusivity to the appearance. If the grill is equipped with a canopy or installed in a gazebo, then it is possible to cook kebabs and other dishes on it in almost any weather.

Used on hikes and when going outdoors. They are small in size and weight. Often such barbecues are folded into a metal suitcase.

The simplest model of a portable barbecue consists of two metal frames on which skewers are placed. The disadvantage of small portable grills is the inability to cook a large number of servings of barbecue at once.

More complex, but also heavier models can be supplemented with a small retractable table, grilles, and adjustable air vent. But such improved options have an impressive weight, so it is much more comfortable to transport them in a personal car than to carry them manually.

If we classify barbecues according to the thickness of the metal from which they are made, then barbecues are divided into:

1. - thin-walled;
2. - thick-walled.

Thin-walled They usually make portable barbecues. Thick steel makes the models lighter, but the durability of the structure suffers. In thin-walled barbecues, you can only use ready-made coals purchased in stores or prepared in advance over a fire. If you cook coals directly in a metal box of the structure, the steel will quickly burn out and the grill will become unusable.

Thick-walled Stationary models are usually made. For this, steel with a thickness of more than four millimeters is used. Such options are significantly more expensive, but their service life is much longer than that of barbecues with thin walls.

A standard barbecue has a rectangular cross-section, but you can make your own device for frying shish kebab from a gas cylinder or an old barrel. But it is not recommended to use a container for fuels and lubricants. The main thing is that the thickness of the metal is sufficient to allow long-term use of the structure.

In addition to the barrel itself, you will need: a welding machine, an angle grinder, a drill, and metal corners.

1. Make markings and cut off the top half of the barrel with a grinder, leaving the ends in place. We will subsequently make a lid from the cut-off part.

2. We make legs for the barbecue from metal corners. We cut the corners into four equal parts and weld them to the end of the barrel.

3. Measure the length of the barrel and cut off two corners equal to this length. They will serve as a support for the skewers. We make cuts on the corners every 4-6 centimeters (guides for skewers) and weld them to the inside of the barrel.

4. Metal hinges and two handles must be welded to the lid. This will protect the grill and coals in case of rain.

Do-it-yourself non-separable metal grill

The collapsible grill consists of: four legs, the same number of rectangular walls with perforations and a bottom.

Before starting work, we make a drawing and prepare materials.

Necessary materials:

1. steel sheet;
2. metal corners or rods with nuts, from which we will make the legs of the barbecue;
3. welding machine and electrodes;
4. drill;
5. a grinder with cutting wheels or a hacksaw for metal.

It is more convenient to draw a drawing of the future barbecue on checkered sheets. It is necessary to indicate the length of the legs, the dimensions of the barbecue itself, and indicate the distance between the perforations on the walls and the guide chamfers for the skewers. The optimal number of chamfers is 8 pieces. The distance between the holes for bottom ventilation should be chosen from 7 to 10 cm; it is better to place them at a height of 5-10 cm from the bottom of the grill. The length of the legs is chosen individually.

Work order:

1. We mark the walls and bottom of the grill on sheet metal. We take the thickness of the metal 1.5-2 mm, but it can be thicker, this will increase the service life and ensure optimal heating of the coals and food.
2. According to the markings, we cut the metal using a grinder or a hacksaw.
3. We use a drill to perforate the walls.
4. Using a grinder or a hacksaw, we make cuts on the upper edges of the walls of the grill.
5. We connect the bottom and walls of the grill by welding.
6. To make legs, metal corners are sharpened at one end, cutting off part of the metal at an angle. This is necessary so that the barbecue penetrates the ground more easily.
7. We weld the corners and the metal frame together.

If the legs are made of metal rods, then 4 identical nuts are welded to the corners of the bottom of the barbecue, the rods are divided into four parts, each of which is threaded. Thus, you get a barbecue with collapsible legs that can be unscrewed if necessary.

Another option for collapsible legs is metal corners with holes for bolts, with which they can be screwed to the barbecue box, and after use, unscrewed and folded. But to do this you will have to wait for the metal to cool down after cooking.

If the legs are long enough, it is advisable to connect them in pairs with metal jumpers to strengthen the structure.

Do-it-yourself collapsible metal grill

To make a completely collapsible metal grill, you don’t need a welding machine. But a drill, drills, a hacksaw or grinder with cutting discs, bolts and nuts, a sheet of steel 1.5-2 mm thick, metal corners for the legs, and a tape measure will come in handy.

The first two points of work are the same as when making a non-dismountable barbecue - drawing and cutting out the parts of the barbecue from a steel sheet. But when making a collapsible barbecue, you should add 3-4 centimeters to the joints.

Collapsible metal grill - diagram

We make small cuts on the side and end walls of the grill and bend the sheets so that it becomes possible to join the corners and lay the bottom.

To firmly connect the parts while cooking, we drill holes for screws in the side edges.

We make the legs from pointed corners in a similar way, drilling holes in the walls to connect the walls of the barbecue and the legs with bolts.

The last point is the assembly of the finished structure.

Folding metal grill

The design of a folding metal barbecue is similar to the design of a non-folding barbecue. The cross-section is rectangular. The difference is that the walls of the barbecue are not welded to each other, but are connected by movable furniture kits, which allows the barbecue to be folded after use. To prevent the walls from folding by themselves, we weld metal hooks to the top of the walls.

This type of grill is very convenient for transportation.

Corrosion protection

It is advisable to protect any metal structure from corrosion, then it will last longer and the appearance will be much more attractive.

To paint the grill, you can use only special heat-resistant paints. They are sold in auto stores in the form of an aerosol (such paints are applied to the muffler of a car).

Instead of painting, you can change the structure of the metal. Oxidation or bluing is a process that results in the formation of a black, heat-resistant film on the surface of the metal. For bluing, the surface of metal parts is first cleaned and degreased, then the metal is kept at a temperature of 140 degrees in a solution of caustic soda (50 grams per liter of water) for one and a half to two hours.

We design the right barbecue grill together with FORUMHOUSE users

For summer cottages and country houses, the barbecue has long become an almost obligatory element. There is nothing better than a break from righteous labors in the fresh air, with a barbecue in pleasant company. But only the right grill guarantees good barbecue and other charcoal dishes. Let's figure out, together with FORUMHOUSE users, how to choose the perfect grill.

The market today offers a huge number of devices for outdoor picnics - from portable collapsible ones to solid forged and stationary barbecue complexes. Such products cost a lot of money, but it is not a fact that they will please the owners with ease of use and a long service life. It is not difficult to make a good device for preparing barbecue to suit your needs yourself, many forum users are convinced. The main thing is to follow several important rules, sizes and parameters, such as the height of the grill, the width of the walls, the distance between the skewers, etc.

Barbecue, correct depth.

The grill is the right size.

The “correct” installation should be ergonomic, that is, convenient and safe to maintain, consume a minimum of fuel and not require any “waving” of plywood and other unnecessary manipulations.

Choosing a barbecue is not an easy task; we must take into account the material, size, and design. The thin steel from which the so-called “camping” collapsible devices are made is perhaps the worst material. Structures made from it are flimsy and unstable, and do not hold heat well. You will have to constantly wave a “fan” over such a unit, fanning the coals - this causes the kebab on the skewers to char on the bottom and burn on top. You can get used to it, but by this time the grill itself may burn out: thin sheet steel simply will not withstand regular use. Therefore, if you had to use the “camping” option on occasion, it is better to cook the coals separately in a lit fire, and then pour them into the firebox.

Many summer residents are attracted to collapsible structures by the opportunity to remove the device for safety at the end of the season. In this case, you need to choose a simple and reliable assembly and disassembly system, without loops and clamps for skewers, which quickly fail.
Ideal grill: steel thickness 3-5 mm.

A competent metal unit for a summer residence, according to experienced FORUMHOUSE users, should have a wall thickness of at least three to five millimeters.

Welded44:

- Everything is perfect - simple. The thickness of the steel for the barbecue is 3-4 mm, the length of the walls is 600 mm, the width is 350 mm, the height of the barbecue wall is 150 mm, no pull-out shelves for ash. Edge the steel on top, along the entire length, with a 20*20 profile, removable legs are made of a 30*30 profile. This is a base on which it is easy to place a roof, a woodshed, spit stands, and side shelves.

The optimal distance between skewers on the grill

It is better to make the recesses for skewers in the form of vertical slits so that the skewer can be rotated 90 degrees, a forum member advises Kuznecs. The distance between the skewers on the grill is 70 mm. It is advisable to paint the device itself with heat-resistant paint for better appearance and protection against corrosion.

Many people are concerned about the slits for the barbecue, at what distance from the coals they should be. In this case, the dimensions do not matter: the holes in the side walls, which are often found in purchased devices, are considered by many forum users to be meaningless and even harmful. Because of them, the meat on the skewers is fried unevenly, and the additional air flow from below will provoke the appearance of a flame. In a firebox of optimal depth without slits, the coals will smolder evenly and for a long time due to the flow of air from above. As an option, to speed up the ignition of coal, a blower is sometimes provided from below, closed with dampers. During frying, the dampers are tightly closed - the finished coal is not blown by the wind and burns evenly.

What should be the optimal height of the walls of the barbecue?

The height of the barbecue wall is the value that raises the most questions. Most users agree that the height of the barbecue grill should be quite large: the effective minimum that allows you to cook good barbecue and save fuel is 13-14 centimeters. These are the optimal sizes, and it is recommended to choose them. With a wall height of 18-20 centimeters, you will need too many coals, otherwise the kebab will turn out “dried.”

Summer resident I,
Moscow:

– The ideal or close to it distance from the coals to the meat on the skewers is 11-13 cm. That is, the net height of the firebox is 15 cm. The sides will narrow correctly towards the bottom, and expand towards the top: the consumption of firewood or coals is less, and the heat for cooking enough.

User Alex286 I made a height-adjustable bottom for my device: initially it was 14 centimeters, but you can raise it by reducing the depth of the firebox to 8 centimeters. The height of the barbecue grill should be universal, because such versatility allows you to successfully cook different foods on coals: not only meat, but also fish, vegetables, etc.

Alex286:

– 2 mm plates are welded to the bottom on both sides, and 10 mm square handles are attached to them. In the lower position, the handles lie on the sides of the roaster. Hooks are welded in the middle of the plates. If you need to increase the cooking temperature by reducing the depth of the firebox, lift the bottom up by the handles and hook it to the sides of the roaster with these hooks.

The optimal height of the barbecue for barbecue.

To get a delicious kebab, it is not enough to just choose a box with metal sides. A real owner strives to ensure that it is not only reliable, but also as convenient and multifunctional as possible. Forum member Vkokorin I looked for one for a long time among purchased products, but in the end I could not find anything of my choice and made a transformer of my own design - with folding grilles, lids and shelves. The tests passed with a solid “A”!

Brazier. Distance between skewers

Transformer advantages:

* Folding grilles. When they are above the firebox, it is convenient to cook on them: place a cast-iron frying pan, kettle, etc. When folded back, the grates become convenient tables on the sides of the grill.

* Removable cast iron grate underneath.

* Removable covers have several purposes. From above - so that water does not get into the firebox, because there are no holes in it, and there is nowhere for water to drain. Below is like a shelf. And if you put them on the folded bars, you get two tables.

Vkokorin:

– Hinges for gratings are pieces of pipe with a diameter slightly larger than the fittings. They are first welded to the finished grill, then a piece of reinforcement is threaded through them and welded to the grill. The depth of the firebox is sufficient for cooking in a cauldron placed on the grate on top.

Many owners, however, believe that a metal device, even of the most successful design, is still inferior in reliability, durability and convenience to a stationary unit. Portable barbecues are indispensable for outdoor trips, but they tend to rust and lose shape, which affects its useful qualities. Another thing is a solid brick structure.

Brazier. Board height.

Stone oven

A brick barbecue or stone oven on the site is ideal for preparing a wide variety of dishes, and is a small architectural form that can perfectly decorate the landscape. But the costs of manufacturing such a capital hearth will be more significant.

But a simple fireclay brick grill is easy and inexpensive to build, but it will last a long time and will be much more economical in fuel consumption than a steel one. And you don’t even have to lay the bricks on the mortar.

Such a unit, if used carefully, will last fifteen years, says a forum member JimDaddy .

JimDaddy:

– The bottom is a flat brick. The walls, the first row are flat bricks, the second row are bricks on edge. The resulting height is 18 cm, which is close to ideal. Gradually, the side of the brick facing the fire will crumble; such bricks can be moved to the bottom, and intact bricks from the bottom can be moved to the walls. Such bulkheads will not occur more often than once every three years. Cover the firebox with a sheet of iron, press the sheet with a brick.

Forum member queser came up with and brought to life the design of a collapsible mobile “Lego barbecue” made of brick. As the author assures, his unit is “scaled” in size, which can be selected depending on the company’s appetite, free space, budget, etc., it is easy to assemble and disassemble, and saves firewood.

As can be seen from the diagram on which all dimensions are indicated, the design is simple, like everything ingenious. According to its creator, the “designer” easily fits in the trunk of a car, does not require careful handling (it will easily survive a dozen winters in the open air), and any damaged element is easy to replace. And if you add a heat-intensive lid to the Lego barbecue, then the cooking possibilities become comparable to a Russian stove or tandoor.

If you add a little imagination to skillful hands, material, correct dimensions and tools, your unit will become a real decoration of the site. This is the work of art created by forum member VZenev. His dragon cannot be denied functionality: it is a grill, a grill, and a smokehouse all at once.

Join the discussion about various designs. Find out which paint is best to use for Join the design and construction of stone ovens and barbecues. Watch our video with a detailed description of the construction barbecue complex.

Cooking barbecue is one of the most favorite culinary pastimes of the residents of our country, both in summer and winter. The winter version of a juicy, flavorful meat dish made from pork or lamb is more suitable for cooking on a permanent or stationary grill. It is installed on an area cleared of snow near a country house. Another thing is summer - the time of vacations and travel. There is nothing better than organizing a smoky-smelling barbecue at a stop on a road trip or after a swim in the river. For lovers of outdoor recreation, it is best to have your own portable, convenient barbecue. And below we will look at how to do it correctly with your own hands, we will provide drawings and photos.

Material content:

	Features of a collapsible grill.
	Tools you will need for the job.
	Dimensions, drawings, equipment of a collapsible barbecue.
	Assembling a barbecue with your own hands.

Let's start making a collapsible barbecue with our own hands. Everything that is done for oneself and with soul is a matter of pride. On the other hand, if you plan to rarely travel out of town, then don’t bother. For one or two outings into nature, a disposable, store-bought barbecue is quite sufficient. As an option, you can buy a high-quality, factory-made collapsible grill. Today, stores offer a large selection of them. However, if you need an original and inexpensive grill, then let’s get to work.

Features of a collapsible grill

A do-it-yourself collapsible barbecue must fully meet the requirements below. It should be:

• easy to manufacture, without the use of expensive sheet bending equipment and a guillotine;
• compact, fits well into the trunk of a car;
• durable, made from materials resistant to high temperatures;
• easy to assemble/disassemble in camping conditions without the use of many tools;
• reliable in terms of operation and fire safety.

Do-it-yourself collapsible grill: photos, drawings, videos, tools

To make a barbecue, you will need a standard set of tools available in every owner’s garage or home workshop. It’s okay if you don’t have some of the tools, you can always rent them. To work you will need:

• grinder and cutting wheels for metal;

• jigsaw with blades for metal;

• reinforced metal scissors;

• tape measure and other measuring tools;

• drilling machine with a large set of metal drills;

• metal square and ruler;

• stiletto for marking on metal sheets;

• welding machine;

• set of dies for thread cutting.

Dimensions of a do-it-yourself collapsible barbecue

It’s worth saying right away that sizes are always calculated individually. The calculations are based on:

• the dimensions of the car trunk, which must completely coincide with the dimensions of the barbecue when disassembled;
• number of servings of shish kebab to be cooked at once.

The grill offered by our portal “Remontik” has the following dimensions:

• 600 mm in length (designed for six skewers) the distance between them is 100 mm;
• 300 mm wide (usually the length of the skewer is 400 mm);
• 150 mm is the height of the grill (the optimal height is 130 mm + 20 mm for grates), which if it is less, the meat may burn, and if it is higher, more coal will be needed;
• 600 mm – height of the grill legs (don’t forget about the size of your trunk).

Do-it-yourself collapsible grill: drawings, photos

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the simplest design of a barbecue by looking at the picture:

Let's present several options for drawings of a collapsible barbecue with different sizes. Among their number, you can choose one of the most suitable options.

Equipment for a collapsible barbecue

The collapsible barbecue model consists of 6 main elements:

• frame (stand) made of corners with four fixing tubes having a diameter of 17 mm;
• the bottom (base) of the grill is made of steel sheet;
• legs with a diameter of 20 mm;
• longitudinal side with 3 protrusions (2 pieces);
• side board with 2 protrusions (2 pieces);
• grate;
• fastening elements: engraver washers and simple wing nuts;
• bolts with simple washers and nuts (10 pieces).

Such a grill can be folded very compactly: its folded dimensions are no more than 600 mm in length, 300 mm in width, and no more than 60 mm in height.

Manufacturing of barbecue structural elements

1. We make a frame (stand) for the barbecue.

The barbecue stand is made in the form of a frame. It is required to provide high stability to the structure and secure the legs. Moreover, the stand on legs can be used separately for other needs, for example, for drying clothes and shoes, etc.

The frame is a regular rectangle, which was welded from corners. To make the frame you will need steel corners. You can also use substandard products that can be found at metal warehouses. They will cost much less compared to rolled metal products.

Please note that the frame size should always be slightly smaller than the base size. This is necessary so that when welding its width does not exceed the dimensions of the main grill. The sawn and measured corners must be welded into a rectangle with the following dimensions:

• length – 570 mm;
• width 230 mm.

Along the edges of the frame on the inside of the corner, you need to weld four sections of water pipe having a length of 50 mm, with an outer diameter of 17 mm and an inner diameter of 10 mm. These four pipes should act as a support for the legs of the grill.

1. Making the legs of the barbecue.

Water pipes with an internal diameter of 20 mm are used as legs for the barbecue. You can use any water pipes: used or unconditioned. Such legs will fit well into the support tubes, which are attached to the grill frame. In such a project, the length of the legs is no more than 600 mm. To the end that will rest on the ground, you need to weld a plug, as well as a platform for stability. To prevent the leg from falling out, make a through hole and secure the assembled leg to the support using a pin. At the same time, you can make the legs higher.

1. We make the bottom (base) of the grill.

The finished bottom of the barbecue is a rectangular sheet with holes for air circulation, holes for attaching to the frame and grooves for fixing bolts.

To strengthen the base of a collapsible barbecue, a steel sheet with a thickness of no more than 3.0 mm is suitable. For increased durability that is subject to extreme temperature stress, use heat-resistant or stainless steel sheet.

If you do not have the opportunity to use this material, the optimal solution would be:

• make grate bars from metal rods, which are welded together into a lattice to fit the size of the base;
• choose cast iron grates, which are used in home ovens, to match the size of the base (but be prepared that in this case the structure will become very heavy).

The manufacture of the base is divided into four stages:

• Using a jigsaw, grinder or other tool, you can cut a rectangle measuring 300x600 mm.

• For normal air circulation, through holes with a diameter of 20 mm must be drilled at the same distance from each other. They will be required for air access during coal combustion. Regulate the number of drilled holes; if there are too many of them, the strength of the structure will decrease; if there are few of them, then you will not be able to achieve normal combustion of coal. It is important that the holes are not covered by the grate.

• Make through grooves in the bottom of the structure. Grooves are required to fix the lower edges of the sides of the product. For this purpose, along the perimeter of the base, you need to measure a distance of 7 mm from the outer edge. Then draw a line around the perimeter. We mark grooves at equal distances from the edges in the center. We drill holes with a diameter of 2 mm, located close to each other. Connect them with a jigsaw, and use a round file to align the inner edges. We get three grooves, two on the side and one on the longitudinal. The dimensions of the grooves are 2 mm wide and 20 mm long.

• Then we make holes for attaching the bottom sheet to the frame. Place the frame on the bottom of the grill. We drill three holes on the longitudinal side and two holes on the side. We fasten the frame and bottom with bolts. The nut should be on the bottom, right under the bottom of the grill. Thus, you will save the thread from sintering during high temperatures.

1. We make the sides of a collapsible grill.

To make the sides you will need sheet metal (from 1.5 to 2 mm). You will need two lateral and two longitudinal bolts. The size of the longitudinal ones is 568 mm, the side ones are 286 mm, two parts go on each side. Reduce the size in relation to the base by 14 mm. The height of the sides is 170 mm (20 mm of which goes to the fixing lugs).

Now we mark the sides along the bottom edge. You need to attach the board to the corresponding edge of the base. Then marks opposite the grooves. So, we get two protrusions on the lateral side and three on the longitudinal side.

Using a jigsaw for metal, we cut out the contours of the sides. You need to use HSS brand files, which are designed to cut metal. Don't forget to make fixing tabs at the bottom.

At equal distances from each other, we make through holes in the sides intended for air access.

How to properly secure the sides

The safety and stability of the barbecue structure directly depends on the strength of the connection of the sides. Among all the possible mounting options, it is worth choosing the most reliable one. The essence of the fastening is to fix the sides on the longitudinal spokes, as well as tighten them together using wing nuts.

• It is better to make knitting needles (rods) of round cross-section from heat-resistant metal. In total you will need four knitting needles with a length of 300 mm. The choice of their diameter is arbitrary. Both ends of the knitting needle need to be threaded. Now we select wing nuts to match the diameter of the spoke.
• The spokes must be firmly secured to the side panels. This way, it will be easier to assemble the grill structure. To do this, measure the required distances for attaching the spokes. If the thickness of the metal allows welding, then weld the spokes to the sidewall. If welding is not possible, then make paired holes on both sides of the rod. There will be four spoke holes in total. A horseshoe bolt with threads on both ends must be inserted into the paired holes. The protruding ends of the horseshoe must be firmly tightened with nuts.

1. We make grate bars.

You can easily make grate bars if you have a welding machine at your disposal. For manufacturing you will need reinforcing bars or other material. Using a grinder, cut 284 mm crossbars and 584 mm rod pieces. The number of rods can only be selected individually. Then we weld everything into a lattice. We provide legs – 15 mm in length.

Assembling a dismountable barbecue with your own hands: video, photo

Now we begin the final stage of work. It is important to perform it especially carefully in order to fit different parts of the grill.

• We connect the barbecue frame to the base. Thread the bolts through the holes in the frame corner and base. For high-quality fixation of bolts, use ordinary washers and an engraver. Final fixation can be achieved with a locknut and nut. In principle, such a connection should be made permanent.

• We fix the legs. Leg supports with an outer diameter of 17 mm must be fitted with legs with an inner diameter of 20 mm. If a play of 3 mm between the leg and the support will interfere with the stability of the barbecue, the legs must be deepened into the ground. Alternatively, a threaded fastening can be used to secure the legs.

• Attach the sides to the base. We insert the protrusions of the lower part of the sides into the grooves of the base of the grill. The lower part of the sides must be pre-fixed. Insert metal pins into the holes that are drilled into the niche of the protrusions, which will prevent the sides from falling out. It is possible that this method of fastening will be very cumbersome. Try your own mounting option, for example, a hinged connection between the sides and the base.

• We tighten the longitudinal and side sides using knitting needles. Then we insert the spokes on the side sides into the holes on the longitudinal sides. It is good if the ends of the side sides are pressed tightly against the longitudinal side. We put on the washers and use the wings to tighten the longitudinal side to the side. It is possible that fastening with knitting needles inside the barbecue is not rational, because they can be deformed under high temperatures. This means it’s better to make them outside the side, as a result of which you will also get additional handles.

• Place the grate on the bottom of the grill.

So we realized our plan and made a collapsible barbecue with our own hands. If you suddenly find design flaws in the drawings and diagrams of the barbecue, we recommend that you voice your suggestions in the comments to the article.

It is worth adding that after manufacturing all the parts of such a barbecue, they need to be treated with special means that would protect the metal from corrosion and give the material moisture-resistant properties. The simplest way to treat the surface of parts is to paint them with a can of special paint, which you can find in any car store.