Marking a gas cylinder for a barbecue. How to make a barbecue from a gas cylinder? How to properly open a propane tank

At any time of the year, you want to cook meat and vegetables over a fire to experience the special aroma and taste of the products. Therefore, let's look at how to make a homemade grill from a gas cylinder. It will take a little time, some tools and materials. The result is an attractive and functional lid design.

Let us highlight the main advantages of creating a barbecue with your own hands using a regular gas cylinder:

• savings - even the most ordinary ready-made barbecue with similar functionality will cost a lot, and having a gas cylinder on hand, you can make a device by spending a minimum of money and a little time;
• simplicity - thanks to detailed instructions, even a beginner can assemble the product; it is enough to have the usual skills in handling tools and materials;
• functionality – you can set the required level of functionality of the device with your own hands by installing the required add-ons;
• mobility – a self-made structure can be easily moved from place to place and transported;

• high strength and durability - the structure made from a gas cylinder is characterized by increased strength provided by the steel used with high performance qualities, because it can withstand high pressure and exposure to a gaseous environment;
• ease of use - the bottom does not burn out, and after use there is no need to fill it with water - just close the lid.

Preparation

Note: Before you begin creating a barbecue with your own hands, you need to take care of the release of gas, which always remains in the used cylinder.

There may be condensation in it. Therefore, you need to open the product (unscrew the valve) and wait until the gas comes out. Naturally, this must be done in the fresh air, at a safe distance from possible sources of fire, sparks and other conditions that could cause a gas ignition. You can use soapy water to determine if gas is escaping (you may not always hear it). It is enough to coat the exit to get bubbles if there is a flow.

Then the container must be turned over to allow condensation to escape. Next, the product must be filled with water and left for several days. To do this, a hose is connected and liquid is supplied under pressure. Water should fill the volume completely. After this, further work with the cylinder will be safe.

While the product is being prepared, you can do something important - make a drawing. After all, you will have to build a device that must have certain parameters. It is with these in mind that you should create a drawing. All dimensions, elements and features must be indicated in it.

To create a homemade barbecue you will also need the following tools and materials:

• drill;
• Bulgarian;
• welding machine;
• screwdriver;
• pipe;
• loops;
• rivets.

And, of course, you will need the cylinder itself. You can use the 50 liter option.

Marking

Next, you can take care of marking the cylinder. The 50 liter model is enough to cook six servings of kebabs. The outer diameter of a standard cylinder is 96 cm. Therefore, it is convenient to divide it into four parts. You can retreat from the longitudinal seam, which will ensure evenness of the markings.

On both sides of the seam you need to retreat 24 cm, and then draw lines. Having laid the product horizontally, it is necessary to make marks for the placement of skewers. There are transverse seams along the perimeter of the cylinder. You need to step back 3 cm from them. Then the step between the marks can be 8 cm. In the end there will be six of them. In the marked areas you need to make holes with a diameter.

You should retreat another 10 cm from the first orientation line. The lid will be placed at this distance.

The boundaries of the cover are the current line and the opposite one, drawn first (at a distance of 24 cm from the longitudinal seam).

Sawing

When the marking stage is completed, you can move on to a more important task - sawing. To do this you need to use a grinder. You must act strictly according to the marked marking lines. You need to handle the grinder carefully, without neglecting safety rules. It should be remembered that metal fragments can get into your eyes, hair, and skin. All these parts of the body need to be protected, for which special means are used. You need to wear a hat, glasses, gloves and closed clothing and shoes.

Since the thickness of the metal used is no more than 3 mm, it will be quite simple to perform the action using an angle grinder.

Welding the lid and handles

Strong hinges should be used to secure the lid and allow it to be opened. There may be three or four of them. They should be located at the same distance from each other.

The height of the legs is chosen so that the gas cylinder grill is comfortable to use. In addition to preparing dishes, it should be convenient to transport and load into the trunk of a car.

As practice shows, the optimal height of the structure is 20–30 cm. A pipe can be used to make the legs. It is better to provide platforms at the ends of the legs that will prevent the structure from inadvertently sinking into the ground when used outdoors. This is especially important if corners rather than pipes are used, since under the weight of the product they can sink heavily into the soil, which is very inconvenient during operation.

Option for making a stylish barbecue from a gas cylinder

You can make your own handles or buy them in a store. These can be the simplest elements. It is advisable not to use wood. And even though it looks more aesthetically pleasing, due to high temperatures such products will quickly become unusable. Therefore, metal handles are the best choice.

Ready-made barbecue, made by yourself

Dangers

If you create a barbecue from a gas cylinder yourself, there are certain problems:

• without a heat-resistant coating, the product may not look aesthetically pleasing;

• the resulting structure is quite heavy, which is not always convenient to transport;

• Little experience in welding operations can negatively affect the strength and durability of the structure.

Note: If you have doubts about the possibility of making a barbecue with your own hands, it is better not to take risks, but to purchase a ready-made solution.

Successful options for DIY barbecues

This design will be designed by professionals, which means it will be able to serve for a long time, and operation will be a pleasure. The only drawback, in comparison with a self-made structure, is the high cost. Using a homemade device is always much more pleasant and in many cases more convenient, since personal requirements can be taken into account during production.

Everyone needs a barbecue. Some people organize monthly picnics, others cook aromatic meat on their property. Such a vacation is always pleasant and useful, because beautiful landscapes and clean air give a boost of energy and have a relaxing effect. But you don’t always have the funds to purchase a barbecue, because this design cannot be called cheap. But if you have free time, then an old gas cylinder can turn into a good-quality barbecue. This material contains drawings, a diagram, video materials and step-by-step instructions for making a barbecue from a gas cylinder - all this will help you understand the simple work.

We will study three types of barbecue based on a gas cylinder:

• standard grill;
• barbecue steam locomotive;
• grill-smokehouse.

Preparation of tools and materials

In order for the work to go quickly, you need to ensure that you have the necessary tools and materials. To make a barbecue we will need:

1. Welding machine.
2. Bulgarian.
3. Several clamps.
4. Metal pipe.
5. Electric drill.
6. Dense metal sheets to add structural strength.
7. Aluminum rivets.
8. Hinges for the lid.
9. The basis of the barbecue is a cylinder with a volume of at least 50 liters (if the cylinder is smaller, it will be inconvenient to turn over the coals).

The photo shows the main units for making a barbecue.

IMPORTANT! Safety must come first, so sawing the cylinder can only take place when all the gas has left it.

Removing gas is simple: turn the cylinder upside down and twist the valve. Gas is heavier than air, so in this position it will come out intensively. To see whether the process is going on or not, you need to lather the valve hole. If bubbles appear, it means gas is escaping - wait for completion. To be sure at the end, the cylinder can be completely filled with water so that it washes away the last remaining gas.

Manufacturing process: instructions

When the cylinder is empty and all the necessary tools are at hand, you can get to work:

After drilling the holes, the manufacture of the barbecue can be considered complete. Clean it thoroughly and heat it several times until the smell of gas disappears completely. As for paint, this is an optional step. Some owners paint with a heat-resistant coating, others skip this step. All the same, after a few dinners with good barbecue, the grill will become smoky and black. To increase draft, it is recommended to install a chimney: a round hole is cut out at the end of the barbecue structure, into which a regular drain pipe of a suitable diameter can be welded.

You can place a couple of cast iron grates at the bottom of the grill. They are used in potbelly stoves and various boilers. By installing these elements, there will be additional ventilation inside the barbecue. Hot grates help save coal, since they also participate in the process of cooking meat. You can place the grill in a brick gazebo or in an open place.

For convenience, the internal barbecue area is divided into two sectors. In one, protrusions are made for the grates, and in the second, slots are cut for skewers.

As tests show, the thickness of the car cylinder is quite enough for normal functioning - the shape of the barbecue is maintained under the influence of high temperatures.

Features of barbecue legs

Legs are the basis of a homemade barbecue. Before you make them, think about whether you will take the grill with you or whether it is created only for use on the site. If you plan to go on a picnic, then you should take care of folding legs. First, you can weld four short bases, which can later be placed on a higher structure.

The legs are usually made from durable pipe. You can fasten it either by welding or using bolts: we drill holes and place the bolts there. After installing the legs, the bolts can be tightened with nuts or welding can be used.

Barbecue smokehouse

Using the instructions for creating a regular barbecue from a gas cylinder with your own hands, you can also make a smokehouse. The main difference in the design is the presence of a firebox. Also, the smokehouse must be airtight. A strip is cut off at the bottom of the cylinder, then it is necessary to cut off half of the bottom of the cylinder. As a result, we will have space for the firebox. It is made from dense iron sheets - 2-3 millimeters.

The element is welded to the bottom, after which we get a solid structure. Also, a barbecue smokehouse requires a pipe through which the smoke will escape. This part can be purchased on the construction market or made from a cylinder with a smaller diameter. Some craftsmen even install a motor, whose task is to rotate the spit with meat.

The structure must be coated with safe, but heat-resistant paint. You can start cooking after calcination. Sometimes it’s not possible to get rid of the smell of gasoline the first time.

Brazier steam locomotive

If making an ordinary barbecue with your own hands takes several hours of work, then creating a barbecue-steam locomotive can take more than one week. This is a decorative product that includes a grill, barbecue, grill and even a smokehouse. The brazier was called a steam locomotive because in appearance it really looks like one, especially if the design uses pipes of different diameters. Masters make real masterpieces using several cylinders.

If you can take a standard gas cylinder for the base, then barrels and main pipes are suitable for the remaining elements. The wheels can be made from cut cylinders, but to add originality, you can use forged elements. The barbecue locomotive must be completely covered with heat-resistant paint. For these purposes, take a coating with a temperature limit of 700C°. The paint needs to be renewed, the intervals depend on the frequency of use of the grill.

Forged parts allow you to breathe life into a design made from cylinders. Craftsmen install retractable grilles, comfortable tables, functional and decorative elements to them.

A steam locomotive is not only a curiosity that attracts attention to your site, but also an excellent design that allows you to set the table in the shortest possible time.

If you decide to start making a barbecue from a gas cylinder, then you should think about whether you are good at welding and a grinder. This is a rather complex process, so if you handle the tool ineptly, the result can only be disappointing.

The homemade design has several features. Please take note of these before starting work:

• if you do not apply a heat-resistant coating, you can get seriously burned on such a grill;
• after several “sessions” with kebabs, the cylinder will become smoked, so for transportation you need to take reliable bags or plastic film;
• the structure must be stable, but not heavy, so you need to calculate in advance what supports to make for the barbecue;
• Only coal can be used as a raw material, since there is too little space for firewood.

Drawings and videos

The drawing shows a barbecue firebox made from a gas cylinder:

This drawing diagram should help you understand what a gas cylinder grill is:

Scheme of operation of the grill-steam locomotive:

This video explains in simple language how to build a barbecue from a gas cylinder with your own hands at home:

The video instructions below will help you make a barbecue smokehouse:

With the arrival of the warm season, a new season begins for lovers of kebabs, grilled vegetables and other dishes cooked on the grill. Many people prefer to build homemade barbecues, thereby significantly saving on costs, and at the same time creating original country grill equipment. To make a barbecue, old profile pipes, car springs, empty gas cylinders and other containers are used. Barbecues made from gas cylinders are the most commonly made structures that are found in country houses and private farmsteads.

The manufacture of a barbecue from a cylinder is made from a container with a volume of 50 liters and a height of 120 cm. Such dimensions allow you to prepare a large volume of food. The barbecue can be made portable or stationary. In the first case, a cylinder of up to 50 liters is used, which is compact enough to take with you outdoors if you have a car. As a rule, it is not equipped with a grate or chimney, and legs are attached for stability. In the second case, the grill is made from a cylinder with a capacity of 50 to 100 liters, and is a structure designed for preparing food on the site. Typically it includes a barbecue or shish kebab compartment, grates for dishes, a chimney, and an oven. If you have several gas containers of varying volumes, you can build a grill with a smokehouse. The variety of types of barbecue designs is presented in the photo.

The following types of barbecues can be made from an old cylinder:

• Brazier without lid
• B-B-Q
• Smoker
• Smokehouse

The first type is the simplest. To install it, you need to make legs by welding the tubes to the bottom of the cylinder. Often a metal or cast iron base from an old sewing machine is used as a stand, giving the barbecue an original look.

The barbecue is made by cutting off one part of the side of the cylinder, which is attached to hinges and serves as a lid. Inside there is a place for coals and a grill for frying.

Smoker is a multifunctional design, also known as “steam locomotive”. The smoker combines a grill, a smokehouse, a grill and a barbecue. To manufacture it, several cylinders are required, each of which performs its own function. This barbecue received the name “locomotive” because of its external resemblance.

The smokehouse differs from the usual type of barbecue in that it includes a firebox and the presence of a seal. It consists of two cylinders, one of which is the main one, and the second is welded to it from below and equipped with a smoke exhaust pipe.

Advantages of a homemade barbecue from a cylinder

A barbecue equipped from empty gas containers has a number of advantages compared to purchased models:

• Low cost. The average price of a cylinder is 1000 rubles, and the cost of a barbecue in specialized stores is from 4 to 15 thousand rubles. and higher. For a low price, you can equip a multifunctional design that can smoke and fry food in various ways.
• The quality of the metal from which gas cylinders are made is much higher than that used to make factory barbecues.
• Durability ensured by metal thickness
• Corrosion resistance
• Mobility, ease of use
• Capacity

Making a barbecue from a gas cylinder

Before making a barbecue, you should carefully inspect the gas container: there should be no obvious damage or signs of corrosion, since the metal will burn out the fastest in these places. You can see photos and videos to learn how to properly prepare a cylinder and what the step-by-step production of a barbecue looks like. Drawings for working with a cylinder are not needed, since making a grill and barbecue is not so complicated. There is no single design scheme, since cooking over coals depends on individual preferences. If you plan to use coals and a grate, the cylinder can be cut exactly in the middle. If you plan to cook on skewers, the cut of the top should be smaller than the base of the container.

Preparing the balloon

To make a barbecue from a gas cylinder with your own hands, you need to properly prepare the gas container. Barbecues are made from completely gas-free cylinders. If the container contains the slightest amount of gas, it may explode during cutting with a grinder.

To completely empty the container of its contents, you can fill it with water and then drain it. To do this, you first need to open the valve and leave it for a while so that the gas evaporates. You can't do this indoors! Then it needs to be turned over to drain the condensate. To control the release of gas, you need to apply soap foam to the hole and wait until it stops bubbling, and only then can you work further. Next, the cylinder is laid on its side, and the valve is cut off, while the cut area is watered with cold water. After this, a hose with water is connected to the cut point, filling the container to the top. In this form, you need to leave it for several days, then empty it and start opening it.

If you need to ventilate a HBO container with a side flange, you can leave it for a while in the sun with the hole facing down. Since the gas is heavier than air, when heated, its residues will come out, after which the cylinder should be purged with compressed air.

Opening the container

The cylinder should be cut with a grinder, because after cutting with an acetylene torch, irregularities remain on the edges that require additional grinding. The cut must be made very carefully along the seam of the cylinder so as not to damage the centering rings located inside and holding the structure during factory welding. Using concentric welds, the hemispheres of the sidewalls of the gas container are welded to the cylindrical base. Rings can be used to hold the lid of a future barbecue. Before opening, it is better to mark the cutting area with a pencil: horizontal markings should be approximately in the middle of the surface of the cylinder or 5 cm higher, and vertical markings should be at a distance of 20 cm from the edges.

Cylindrical automobile gas cylinders on the body contain a special flange for connecting a multivalve and a ventilation duct. You should not remove it, because in the future you can attach a chimney to it if the structure has a lid. If a valve is installed at the end, it must be removed with a plug for the hole or a chimney must be made with a 90-degree elbow.

After the container is cut, it is necessary to build a strong fire inside for several hours so that all the paint that covered its surface is burned.

It is better not to remove the side hemispherical parts; they will serve as good fire protection from the wind, and will also maintain the temperature inside the oven.

Do-it-yourself barbecue from a gas cylinder: instructions

So, after the container from the cylinder has been washed and opened, you can begin further production of the barbecue. You can completely cut the cylinder in half, then you will get two identical barbecues without a lid. If you cut off only one part of the side, you will get a barbecue with a lid.

After cutting the wall with a grinder, you need to make cuts for skewers. On the opposite side you need to drill holes for them with an 11 mm drill so that the cuts coincide with them in height and width. A little lower, holes are made for air outlet with a diameter of no more than 10 mm. You also need to make holes at the bottom of the walls of the structure. From the inside, around the entire perimeter of the structure, a 32x32 corner is welded so that the metal does not warp when exposed to strong heat. For the same purpose, the lid is tightened with wire around the perimeter, and two metal plates are welded on the sides.

The edges of the barbecue can be reinforced with steel corners, one of which is welded on the opening side of the roof to rest skewers on it.

Before you make the lid, you need to install the grill on the legs. By giving the fryer stability, it will be more convenient to weld the lid. The easiest way is to use a ready-made stand, for example, legs from an old sewing machine, as mentioned above, or a metal stand from under a table such as a study desk. The second way to construct legs is to weld pipes. To do this, you need to make four holes at the bottom and insert bolts with the threads facing outwards. Then they need to be secured with nuts and welded to secure them. You need to weld the nuts for the bolts to the top of the legs and screw them to the bottom of the grill.

The lid is attached to the base of the barbecue using welded hinges. To prevent it from breaking back, breaking out the hinges, it is necessary to make some kind of stoppers by welding corners on both sides of the lid along the cut line between the hinges.

A handle is welded onto the lid. It is better to make it metal, since wood can burn.

The bottom of the barbecue can be reinforced with a welded structure made of rods at such a distance that there is 14-18 cm between the coals and the meat.

You can cut a triangle on the side of the structure, which is closed with a metal flap with rivets. This will create a damper through which you can rake out the coals and regulate the air flow.

After the lid is attached to the main structure with legs, you can supplement the grill with shelves, a canopy, an exhaust pipe and other accessories as desired. A chimney can be made by cutting a hole on the side along the diameter of the pipe. It is then welded to the walls of the frypot from the inside. You can weld a nut onto the lid and attach a thermometer to it: it will show the temperature of frying the meat. In order to move a heavy structure around the site, wheels can be attached to two of the four legs.

To give the finished product an attractive appearance, you need to heat the kebab maker, then sand the metal, getting rid of the old layer of paint. After this, prime the surface and cover it with heat-resistant paint for stoves.

The barbecue is an integral part of organizing trips to nature, relaxing in the countryside and receiving guests in a country house. It has become a tradition for many families to gather together at the table to the fragrant smell of cooking barbecue. However, more and more often, men (and we know that they are the ones who prepare the best kebabs) do not so much compete in the quality of cooking meat as they brag about the functions and appearance of the technical “filling” of this process - the barbecue. Many people are no longer so interested in buying a “leaky box with legs”, but want to make something special. A brazier made from a gas cylinder, although it seems, at first glance, like ordinary scrap metal, copes with its tasks much more effectively than other industrial designs. In this article, we will consider in detail all the stages of work associated with the self-assembly of the finished product, including preparing the cylinders, marking them and cutting them, and also provide useful tips for working with such homemade equipment.

When looking at such a work of art, you don’t immediately realize that this multifunctional grill is made from recycled materials

Advantages and disadvantages of a DIY barbecue

Gas cylinders are perfect for “rebirth” into barbecues and, in general, into any structures associated with heating. They are made of durable steel, have standard sizes, and are easy to find in the country house and garage or bought literally at a bargain price.

Advantages of a barbecue from a cylinder:

• Universal design. All models of gas cylinders are unified. There are not so many varieties that “something could go wrong.” Accordingly, finding a couple or three identical containers for creativity with a grinder in your hands will not be difficult.
• Heat resistance. The metal will not burn or deform even after prolonged contact with open fire.
• Multifunctionality. In this grill you can not only cook kebabs, but also bake vegetables, as well as smoke and fry.
• Safety. After cooking, you do not need to extinguish the coals with water. For these purposes, it will be enough to simply close the grill with a lid.
• Large volume. In such a homemade grill you will feed not only yourself, but also a large company. Especially if you spend energy welding a multifunctional unit.
• Availability. The main thing is to have a welding machine and a grinder at hand. This is a relevant point, because the price of a barbecue made from a gas cylinder, even taking into account the overpayment for some elements, will ultimately be lower than the cost of a purchased model.

One of the advantages of a homemade barbecue is the ability to create a mobile model, which, if you really want, can carefully and unnoticed by guests, along with snacks and you, move to another part of the garden

For work, it is better to take a 50-liter cylinder. They have ideal dimensions for making a barbecue: its diameter is 30 cm and its length is 85 cm.

There are not many disadvantages, but they are also worth mentioning:

• In winter, the metal will cool down very quickly, so to invite friends to a barbecue, you’ll have to chip in for firewood. Since maintaining the desired temperature in the grill will be much more difficult.
• Unsightly appearance. If you don’t spend a certain amount of money on buying special heat-resistant paint, very soon your barbecue will lose its presentation.
• Toxicity. Before using a barbecue made from gas cylinders, it is necessary to get rid of any remaining rot and dirt that may have accumulated on the inside of the cylinder over many years. Therefore, before starting all work, the cylinders are carefully opened, and all parts are calcined over a fire, and only then do they begin processing and clean off the dirt.

How to prepare a drawing for making a barbecue with your own hands from a gas cylinder

Despite the fact that barbecues made from gas cylinders are considered to be quite simple devices in their design, before resorting to any work, it is better to draw a drawing. Pros do this using special 3D programs. For beginners, simple drawings of a barbecue made from a gas cylinder with standard dimensions are suitable.

Diagrams for marking the main technological holes and the design of a standard barbecue, barbecue, and smokehouse made from gas cylinders

On the drawing of a do-it-yourself barbecue made from a gas cylinder, you must indicate the dimensions of each component, which will help to correctly and accurately make the markings, and, consequently, cut all the parts. Such calculations will help determine how much material is required for the work, as well as understand in advance the options for attaching different structural elements.

One of the main mistakes of beginners is that they forget to mark the place under the ash pit. That is why you should not refuse to create such a “hint” that will help to correctly organize all stages of the work.

At this stage, it is important to decide whether your design will perform one function or combine several. For example, for a barbecue you need to additionally cut out the lid. And for a full-fledged smokehouse you will need not two, but three cylinders.

What tools and materials are needed for the job?

To cut a cylinder, arm yourself with a gas cutter or grinder. During the work process, you should ensure that you have the following materials and tools:

1. Steel pipe with a diameter of 100 mm with a 90° elbow (for a chimney).
2. Corners for fastening elements and strengthening the structure.
3. Hinges – you can use elements intended for doors or furniture.
4. Barbecue grill.
5. Rivets, bolts and other elements.

A welding machine and an angle grinder are the main tools when working with metal.

What tools and additional devices will be needed when working on creating a barbecue from a gas cylinder:

• welding machine;
• electric grinder;
• electric drill;
• drills designed for working on metal;
• clamps with which you can fix metal components;
• metal ruler;
• electrodes with a diameter of 3−4 mm;
• cutting and cleaning discs for grinders;
• scriber;
• core;
• adjustable and gas wrenches;
• set of wrenches.

How to make a barbecue with your own hands from a gas cylinder - step-by-step instructions with photos

Before proceeding with any manipulations with gas cylinders, it is necessary to empty it of any remaining gas. Even in an empty container, there almost always remains a suspension of liquid hydrocarbons, which can explode upon contact with air.

How to properly prepare a propane cylinder for making a barbecue

Illustration	Description of action
	The first stage is removing the valve. First of all, you need to fix the cylinder on the ground. To do this, we “grab” it to the stop. Next, attach the gas key.
	We increase the “thrust” with the help of a steel pipe like this, it plays the role of a lever. We do this very carefully.
	After the valve is open, fill the container with water, or soapy water, and leave our container for several days.

During this time, the water will have time to dissolve the liquid hydrocarbons, we fill the container again and drain it again. Now our cylinder is safe. And the next stage of work can begin.

How to mark and open a gas cylinder

If we are talking about a standard 50-liter cylinder, in these designs the outer diameter of the container is 96 cm. This value should be divided into four parts. When performing these actions, you will get a value of 24 cm. The marking should be done along the longitudinal seam. It is recommended to measure all distances from this line. This rule ensures even markings without distortions.

You will need to measure 24cm from the seam on both sides and draw lines. The main thing is not to cut them out along the entire circumference and leave a part sufficient for constructing the base of your barbecue.

Side seam marking option
After cutting “according to the marks” you get the following blanks:

We process the edges as evenly as possible to ensure maximum sealing of the barbecue container

At the place where the valve was present, a pipe should be installed, through which the smoke will be removed.

Preparations for the future chimney

To ensure that the heat in your barbecue is distributed evenly and there are no leaks, you need to weld strips of steel strip at the joints of the lid and body.

This is how you can improve an ordinary cylinder using a pair of grates, an angle grinder and metal corners

If you have not welded a corner for skewers inside the cylinder, you can insert it into the side parts of the grill.

To do this, you will need to make slits using a grinder. The ends of the skewer will be located in them

How to make legs for a barbecue

High legs will also require additional fixation, which is provided by a welded corner. It should be placed on the outer perimeter. Attaching the legs can be very simple and a little extravagant.

For the manufacture of legs, angles or conventional welded pipe structures welded to the structure are often used. The main thing is to ensure the stability of the grill.

How to weld lids and handles and assemble the entire structure

The cover is usually created at the first stage of work on the grill or barbecue. After processing the edges, it is almost the first element to be attached to the main structure. The most difficult moment is not so much to attach the hinges, but to ensure a tight fit of the structure. Sometimes a thermometer is attached to the lid.

The hinges are welded at the beginning, but the handles are most often fixed after the final painting of the product. To ensure that the grill lid does not open all the way, you need to weld a piece of a 10×10 square onto the counter part of the curtain, which is located on the cylinder itself.

Such limiters allow you to control the tilt angle of the lid and protect the hinges from breaking.

Mark the holes and slots for the skewers. We weld the barbecue guide. Don’t forget to decorate our “blower” a little.

It is better to provide holes in the base of the structure in advance. They will rid your grill of dust and dirt and remove excess moisture during rain. In addition, additional holes will provide additional traction.

How to paint a grill

If you think that you can paint a barbecue with regular paint, then you are very mistaken. Under the influence of high temperatures, a regular coating will turn into soot after the first heating. There are two quite obvious solutions. The first is to leave everything as is, and the second is to spend a certain amount of money on special heat-resistant paint.

However, before you run to the paintbrush and paint store, you need to do one very important thing. Burn some wood in our barbecue. This is done in order to destroy the remaining gas substances and degrease the structure.

It is better to burn the grill outdoors or indoors, where it will be as safe as possible.

The surface of the grill can be covered with different materials:

This is what our grill looked like after painting

Let us add that the barbecue model discussed above is the base for many similar designs. Most craftsmen improve their homemade products with additional cylinders, thereby expanding the functionality of the device.

What else can be made from a gas cylinder - manufacturing nuances

Based on a gas cylinder, you can make dozens of variations of grills, barbecues and smokehouses. For convenience, we will briefly describe some of these devices:

1. Outdoor grill from a gas cylinder. The simplest type of construction is from a gas cylinder. Even a schoolchild can make such a grill.

   How to make a smokehouse from a gas cylinder

   Let's look at some of the features of making a smokehouse from two cylinders.

   Illustration	Description of action
   	The base for a do-it-yourself grill-smokehouse made from a gas cylinder can be a stand for an old sewing machine or a welded structure like this.
   	We think through options for mounting a retractable or folding table in advance. The design may vary.
   	Prepare the cylinders following the instructions above. We cut each of them like simple barbecue roasters. It is better to make a smokehouse from a gas cylinder yourself according to the drawings.
   	The only difference is that you need to make a hole in the firebox for a “blower”, which will allow you to control the smoldering process of the coals. Which, in turn, will create the smoke necessary for smoking.
   	And we made such a multifunctional smokehouse from a gas cylinder with our own hands.

   Do-it-yourself barbecue from a gas cylinder

   We discussed in detail an example of making a barbecue from a gas cylinder in this article. If you still have questions about how to make a barbecue grill yourself from a gas cylinder, watch this video:

   Do-it-yourself shashlik maker from a gas cylinder

   The role of a kebab maker can be played by any of the homemade products discussed in this review. Even an open grill will cope with this task perfectly. However, it should be remembered that most often such structures are not protected from wind or rain.

   How to make a grill-steam locomotive from a gas cylinder with your own hands

   This is one of the most difficult and most time-consuming tasks that true masters of working with metal set themselves.

   A beginner cannot create such a design. A “homemade product” of this type is capable of solving several problems at once: it is a grill, a smokehouse, a grill, and a barbecue. Each compartment performs its own task. Such barbecues have high productivity due to their sealed design; there is practically no heat loss.

   If you decide to create a grill-steam locomotive, then from this video you will learn how to cook a grill from a gas cylinder.

   Features of using barbecues assembled by yourself

   Before you decide to create or purchase such a product, pay attention to some points:

   1. First of all, understand that any structure that works with fire is potentially life-threatening.
   2. Ask yourself in advance where the product will be stored during the cold season.
   3. Study the principle of operation of the barbecue and its features. Each structural element has its own purposes.
   4. Prepare all materials for work in advance.
   5. Do not leave small children unattended near power tools, much less the cylinder.
   6. Consider the option of buying a barbecue from a gas cylinder if you are not entirely sure whether you can finish the work yourself.
   
   And it’s quite possible that already this summer your neighbors in the area will be eager to take a selfie with such a work of art

It’s hard to imagine a holiday in the country without a barbecue or grill. The modern market offers many barbecues of different designs. However, it is not necessary to buy a fryer - it is not difficult to make such a device yourself. One of the options for homemade ovens for cooking meat is a grill made from a gas cylinder.

It is practical, convenient, can have a different appearance - for example, the shape of a steam locomotive - and will be an excellent addition to your summer cottage. We will look at how to make such a grill in this material.

Making a roasting pan from a metal cylinder

First, you need to decide whether creating a barbecue from such containers would be the best option. Still, you can use almost any available materials: potbelly stove, barrels, sheets of unnecessary metal, bricks - there are a lot of options.

Gallery of ready-made options

Advantages

The first and main advantage that distinguishes homemade barbecues is their cost-effectiveness compared to purchased ready-made barbecues. Even if you don’t have an old gas cylinder on your household, you can purchase such a container at a low price. All that remains is to properly prepare it for turning into a barbecue.

Other advantages of a balloon fryer include:

It is worth noting the size of the structure: on a barbecue from a cylinder you can cook twice as much meat as on a cheap store-bought metal barbecue.

Users often search:

Flaws

The disadvantages of using such a product include:

1. The unsightly appearance of a standard cylinder, especially if it is old. Peeling red paint, dents and weld marks will ruin the aesthetics of your barbecue if you don't work on the finish. It is better to use a heat-resistant coating - this will additionally protect against burns when cooking.
2. The large mass of the structure means that such a barbecue will only be portable. You definitely won’t be able to take the product with you into nature, so this option is only suitable for use in the local area.
3. If the skills of working with a welding machine are insufficient, the reliability of the structure will suffer.
4. Making mistakes when making a barbecue or not following the technology will lead to low efficiency, or even inoperability of the brazier.

Do not forget about the main danger - the possibility of the cylinder exploding during cutting. To prevent this from happening, you need to carry out the preliminary work correctly.

Photo: when cutting a cylinder, remember safety precautions

Preparation of materials and tools

First, choose a cylinder. The recommended volume is 50 liters to make the roasting pan large. Before you start making a homemade barbecue, the container is cleaned of any remaining fuel. They do this carefully, even if it seems that the container is completely empty.

Cleaning a gas cylinder

Despite the fact that the bulk of the propane in the tank has long been gone, dangerous condensation accumulates on the walls and bottom. To get rid of it, you need:

• release gas naturally - through the valve;
• rinse the bottle.

To completely empty the container, turn it upside down. To determine whether gas is coming out, the valve is moistened with soapy water - it will bubble. Another way is smell. Due to the presence of odorants in propane, the fuel smells strongly, especially if there is a lot of it in the cylinder. Therefore, you should clean the container in the open air, preferably away from people, so that no one panics. And, of course, away from sources of fire.

Photo: propane valve sawed off

The cylinder is washed as follows:

1. The valve is sawed off. They do this together - an assistant constantly pours water over the cutting area so that the container does not explode due to heat and sparks.
2. Water under pressure is supplied through the hole into the container. During the process, the container is shaken to thoroughly rinse the walls.
3. The water is left for several days and then drained. Since it will be filled with mercaptans, the smell will be pungent. We do not recommend pouring such liquid onto the beds.

To prevent the water from smelling, potassium permanganate is added, which causes the oxidation of odorant compounds.

Getting rid of the strong smell of gas is not easy. To finally remove it, the cleaned and sawn cylinder is burned from the inside.

Tools and additional materials

For further work you will need:

• Bulgarian;
• drill;
• welding machine;
• metal hinges and handle for the lid;
• steel pipes to create legs.

If the work is carried out alone, rivets for temporary fastening of the cover are also useful.

Mangal manufacturing technology

While the container is washed, a drawing is created. Designing a barbecue from a propane cylinder is not difficult - in the simplest version, the product consists of three elements: a body, a lid and legs. The diagram of a barbecue-steam locomotive with a chimney for smoking looks more complicated. The dimensions are noted on the drawing, the location of the lid, cuts for skewers, fasteners for the grill grate, etc. are determined.

Drawing: barbecue

The main work consists of three stages:

1. sawing the cylinder,
2. welding the legs,
3. installation of the cover.

An additional stage is decorating the finished grill.

Marking and cutting

To divide the container into a frying pan and a lid, cut out a semicircular part of the container wall. The circumference of a standard 50 liter propane tank is 96 cm. Marking is not difficult: there are marks on the tank that you can use as a reference.

A weld seam runs along the entire length - 24 cm are retreated from it in both directions and the boundaries of the hole are drawn. Immediately make notches for fastening the skewers. The extreme marks are located 3 cm from the welding rings; intermediate ones - placed with any step; for greater convenience, a distance of 8 cm is recommended - then 6 skewers will fit. If you want to leave room for the grill grate, reduce the pitch between the notches.

Next, the cylinder is sawed with a grinder. The wall thickness is 3 mm, so cutting the container is not difficult. They start with longitudinal lines, and then move on to transverse markings - otherwise you can get injured when the wall moves away from the cut with force. It is important to use personal protective equipment - mask, gloves.

Cross cuts are made, moving 10-15 mm from the welds. At these points the metal is double, and shifting will save a little time and part of the grinder's circle. In addition, the lid of the barbecue grill will conveniently rest on the bottom layer.

After cutting the walls with a grinder, cuts are made for skewers. Just below, holes are drilled with a drill to allow air to pass through. The same gaps are made in the lower part of the grill. Do not touch only the bottom and lid of the cylinder so that the wind does not blow out the coals.

Lid

At the second stage, the homemade grill is equipped with a lid and handle. This part is welded with metal loops - the fasteners can fail under the influence of high temperature. To make it convenient to work alone, the lid is temporarily fixed with rivets. The loops are placed at an equal distance from each other.

Metal is used for the handle, since wood and plastic can become deformed, burn or melt during use.

Legs

Depending on whether the barbecue is stationary or portable, the shape of the legs for it is selected. For the mobile version, these parts are made from pipes or metal corners, with wide platforms welded to the ends so that the fryer does not go underground under the influence of its weight. The height of the products is selected individually; It has been experimentally established that it is more convenient to place the grill on legs 20-30 cm long.

Photo: finished legs made of metal pipe

A stationary barbecue is usually mounted on a foundation made of concrete or brick. In addition, the design can be stylized - for example, by welding forged wheels to give the barbecue the appearance of a steam locomotive.

This balloon barbecue is ready. Only the finishing touches remain - welding the grill mounts, coating the body with heat-resistant paint and other finishing. To add, a chimney is welded to one side wall and a firebox to the other. When the lid is closed, a smoking chamber is created.

Thus, turning a standard gas cylinder into a universal fryer is not so difficult; the main thing is to follow safety precautions when working. A propane container will allow you to implement different barbecue design ideas, which will be an excellent addition to a country weekend getaway.

Video material