A metal brazier made by yourself is much more reliable than one bought in a store. In this article we will tell you how to make a barbecue with your own hands using the example of three models: from small kebab makers to a convenient brazier on a transportable stand. And the recommendations of the masters, step-by-step instructions, diagrams, drawings and photos will help in the upcoming work.
A short excursion into history
This word comes from the Azerbaijani or Turkish manqal - brazier. There are similar words in Arabic, Persian, Georgian, and Armenian. It was a bowl made of copper with wide horizontal brims. For ease of carrying, it was equipped with two handles and was covered with a lid in the shape of a hemisphere. For stability, supports were placed from below. Somewhat later, skewers from the Syrian peak appeared, and the self-name shashlik came from the Tatar shishlyk - fried on a spit. Now it has firmly taken its place in the national cuisine of many peoples of the world.
The fastest way
Suddenly guests arrived and offered to cook barbecue. There is nothing suitable for using your hand, but you can quickly make a simple barbecue from scrap materials. To do this, place two parallel rows of bricks on an edge on a sheet of iron.
We light a fire between them; when it burns out, we place skewers with meat on the hot coals. A way out of the situation has been found. But over time, it is better to get a specially made barbecue.
Design Features
They belong to the group of portable devices.
They can be disassembled at any time and stored in a house or barn, or taken with you if you are afraid to leave the grill on the site. Let's consider the main advantages of such designs:
Light weight
Parts for mobile prefabricated barbecues are made from thin sheets of metal. Their thickness rarely exceeds 2-4 millimeters. In the lightest and cheapest models, the thickness of the firebox walls ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 mm.
Thanks to this, it is possible to reduce the weight of the product to 5 kg, and in some cases achieve even less weight.
Compactness
After use, the structure is disassembled into several parts, after which all parts can be put into a box or a special bag-cover. As a result, the grill takes up little space.
It fits easily into the trunk of a car or a backpack. This makes it easier to get out into nature. And if such a device is used in the country, it can easily be put away for storage when the barbecue season is over.
Easy assembly
Most manufacturers make barbecues consisting of 5 parts - 2 short walls with legs, 2 long firebox walls and a durable bottom, which is usually a simple sheet of metal.
Most often, parts are fixed in specially cut grooves. Less commonly, the package includes special bolts that increase the reliability of the assembly.
Lower prices compared to stationary barbecues. This is also due to the reduced amount of material and simplified design, which is less reliable in prefabricated models.
Easy cleaning . Over time, fumes, soot, and ash residues accumulate on any grill. In folding grills-diplomates, as well as stationary models, it is not so easy to remove dirt.
Optimization of collapsible roasters for convenient transportation and reducing their cost also had a negative effect.
Therefore, when purchasing, you need to consider the following disadvantages of such devices:
Fragility
Thin sheets of metal quickly burn out when exposed to high temperatures. It’s rare that a collapsible grill can last more than 5 years if the thickness of its parts is less than 1.5 mm.
Low heat capacity
Thin metal walls cannot accumulate heat well. As a result, more coal is wasted than in structures made of metal larger than 4 mm.
Wall deformation
One of the common problems with prefabricated barbecues. Due to the low thickness of the metal, the parts begin to wear out, after which the assembly of the fryer becomes more complicated or becomes impossible.
Low corrosion resistance
Many budget models are made from structural steel, which rusts easily. Less commonly, special heat-resistant steel is used as the main material.
The best option - a stainless steel grill - will cost more.
We use old containers
If you find a 50-liter container for household gas, you can make a barbecue from a cylinder with your own hands.
For this:
- open the valve and completely bleed off the gas;
- fill with water and let sit for 24 hours to neutralize any remaining contents;
- We make a rectangular cutout on the side;
- we clean the edges and install hinges on the rivets;
- We cut off the valve, and in its place we weld a chimney pipe with a damper to adjust the draft.
In the same way, you can use steel barrels, but you also need to take “Soviet” ones with thick walls; they won’t burn out longer. With the help of decor, they can be transformed into a steam locomotive, airplane or rocket.
Many motorists have unnecessary rims, put them on a stand and you're done.
Dimensions and typical diagrams
When making a barbecue yourself, you can focus on the following parameters and features of their calculation.
Width
Determined by the size of the skewers. The length of typical products is 45-50 cm, of which the useful or working length is only 30-35 cm.
Consequently, the maximum permissible width of a typical barbecue is 40 cm. Then the meat will occupy maximum space above the coals, and the heat will not be wasted.
Length
It must be calculated based on the average number of kebabs. The recommended distance between two skewers is 5-10 cm. For 6 skewers, it is better to make a grill 60 cm long.
For a large company, when meat is fried on 10 skewers at the same time, a meter-long grill is suitable. And for barbecue grills, a 40 cm long roasting pan is optimal.
Dutch oven depth
The ideal value is from 15 to 20 cm. For frying meat, a layer of coals 5-10 cm high is enough, and the recommended distance between the skewers and the fuel is 8 cm.
For wood-burning grills, the depth is increased, but then more coals will be required for good roasting.
Grill height
This parameter is selected individually for the chef. It is believed that the brazier should be at the level of a person’s waist, then it will be convenient to work with the barbecue.
Depending on the height of the cook, the height of the grill can vary from 80 to 120 cm.
Frypan wall thickness
For stationary barbecues, the rule works: the thicker the walls of the firebox (broiler) of the barbecue, the better. It is advisable to use metal sheets with a thickness of 5-10 mm. Such a grill will retain heat better and last longer.
If you want to weld a portable structure, sheets 3-4 mm thick are suitable. Then the structure will weigh less.
Metal sheets
The traditional manufacturing option is to make a box in accordance with the drawing of the barbecue. The dimensions must be such as to accommodate the required number of skewers. To fix them along the length of the side, slots are made at the top.
There are holes at the bottom for ventilation. The height should be sufficient so that the food does not burn. To make cooking convenient, legs are made. For protection against corrosion and durability, it is advisable to paint it with black heat-resistant paint. It will not stand out against the background of soot.
Instructions for self-production
Let's consider the process of assembling a barbecue made of metal. To make a simple model you need a minimum of materials and tools.
Tools and materials
Metal sheets 5 mm thick for the bottom and 3 mm for the walls
Steel pipes for making supports
Metal corner 20 mm for decorating the sides (you can also strengthen the connection between the bottom and the sides)
Grinder with cutting wheel
Welding inverter with a set of electrodes
Shovel or drill for making sockets for supports
Ruberoid, bitumen mastic for lining nests and applying a protective coating to supports
Protective paint for application on the grill
Expert opinion
Valery Garmash
Chef of the Grill House restaurant, griller
As a rule, heat-resistant black paint is used for painting so that the burnt edges do not stand out and create a contrast with the main coating.
Step-by-step instruction
We will show you how to assemble a simple grill yourself. Its design is so simple that any novice craftsman can make it.
For this purpose, a sheet of metal 2 mm thick was purchased from a metal warehouse. We recommend using metal with a thickness of at least 3 mm for the barbecue.
Since this grill (in our example) will not be used very often, 2 mm thick metal will be enough for us. Before starting work, for convenience, we made a small cutting diagram.
To obtain an even cut, you can use a regular iron strip as a guide bar.
When working, remember to use appropriate protective equipment.
Due to their design, homemade clamps are very helpful in work.
Once all the panels are cut, it's time to start drilling the holes. We decided to order a set of step drills for testing.
The optimal height of the grill sides is 150 mm. A row of holes is located at a height of 50 mm from the base. Hole pitch 60 mm. Diameter 12.4 mm.
The first impression of these drills is so far positive. The chips, as expected, come out of the hole in whole ribbons. I use a countersink to remove burrs.
We also place the recess for the skewers in increments of 60 mm.
It is best to process the sidewalls with a bag, pre-compressed with clamps.
When all the parts are ready, you can proceed to welding.
It is very convenient to use magnetic corners to secure parts.
We assemble the box using tacks.
Now you can scald.
It is not necessary to completely weld all the seams. We just wanted to practice welding one more time. We knock down the slag and clean the welds.
From 10 squares we make handles for easy carrying.
We will make the legs of the barbecue from 15 profile pipes, their length will be 80 cm. We trim the blanks using a cordless circular saw.
It will not be easy to get such an even cut with a regular grinder.
The legs will be attached using M6 bolts.
If necessary, this will allow you to store and transport the grill when folded.
To attach the legs, it is most convenient to use a wing nut.
When preparing barbecue, an additional work surface is never superfluous. A small shelf was quickly welded from 10 squares of reinforcement. It is installed in one movement in two sections of 15 professional pipes.
When all the work is completed, we clean all the parts and cover them with heat-resistant enamel. We wait for the paint to dry completely and you can assemble the grill.
The grill turned out to be very durable and quite stable. Its dimensions are as follows: height 80 cm, length 50 cm, width 30 cm, depth 15 cm.
When first ignited, the paint is fired within 15 minutes and it gains full mechanical strength.
The grill turned out to be very successful. Its design is so simple that even a novice welder can make such a grill.
Sometimes an awning or canopy is installed over the barbecue to protect the brazier from rain. The grill can also be painted with heat-resistant paint to protect against corrosion.
We build a barbecue from bricks
Do-it-yourself brick grill - for this we need:
- the site is leveled at the selected location and the foundation is poured;
- the first layer of bricks is laid out strictly according to the level and checking the diagonals;
- subsequent laying must be carried out with bandaging between the rows at least a quarter;
- We take fire-resistant bricks and lay reinforcement for strength.
When to combine with cooking
Instructions on how to make a grill oven:
- We select a suitable project taking into account your wishes;
- we make an additional compartment for the kitchen stove;
- we put a grate in the firebox, be sure to make a ash pan for better draft;
- cover the top with a cap with a chimney;
- We install a hob with burners; when cooking food, the mugs are removed; for better heating of the vessel, you can place a cauldron for pilaf.
Drawing of a barbecue with a frame in LOFT style
This brazier is made in the LOFT style, or rather the metal frame of the brazier, and the brazier is the same as in the previous drawing above.
The frame is made of 40x40 mm pipe and the cross member of the bottom shelf is made of 20x20 mm pipe. Table board size 360x360 mm.
Download the drawing. Brazier LOFT
Below is a drawing of just the barbecue frame. The drawing of the brazier is the same as in the previous barbecue here
When it's bad weather outside
Snow, rain, and drizzle prevent you from enjoying the holiday, and they also prevent you from lighting a fire. In this case, a barbecue with a roof is required.
You can build a gazebo with a barbecue with your own hands. To do this, we choose a spacious area,
so that the wooden parts do not get hot from the heat source. We drive in the metal support posts and fasten the veins between them. We cover it with light and durable profiled sheets. They can also be secured on the sides for protection from the wind. We put a grill in the center and no vagaries of the weather are scary.
Note!
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What about in a city apartment?
If you want to treat yourself to a barbecue at home. There is no need to cook it on the balcony like the hero of one famous film. Just make a sealed box with an infrared heater from an electric oven grill. Place the handles of the skewers outside and make sure that the food does not burn; turn it over in a timely manner. The most delicious kebab is guaranteed without leaving the kitchen.
These are not all ideas about devices for preparing shish kebabs and barbecues. Based on this article and examples from the Internet, you can always come up with something more original.
Principles of care
There are no strict rules on how to care for a barbecue, there are only general recommendations:
- After use, allow the device to cool;
- Remove ash and coal residues;
- Wipe the roasting pan with a damp cloth;
- It is possible to use detergents dissolved in water;
- To maintain the shine of the metal, you can clean it with special aerosols or rub it with wax;
- If the unit remains outdoors, coat it with an anti-corrosion compound.
With such simple care, the grill will serve you for many years.
Important: Never fill a hot fryer with water. This will lead to deformation due to sudden temperature changes.
