anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

[phatmanmike]

ive got one. very nice shape. it was used for holding racing fuel. its blue with NO rust.<br /><br />just want to know how youdid it and what you made the grill surface from, or did you wuss out and buy one.

 

[Link]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

Hey Mike<br />I havent made one, but have used a lot of them all home made if you will in the military. The better ones had cast iron grills, most had racks like out of home stoves and even used a couple in Korea that used chicken wire and one used ree bar welded into a grill.<br /> <br />There are kits to convert 55 gal drums into BBQs. All you need is a gas welder to cut and weld a few pieces of iron.<br /><br />Northern Tool and (Lowes) sell this one and you can order the cast iron grills for it if you want to use them for your 55 gallon drum grill.<br /><br /> http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/...70&PHOTOS=on&productId=200239774&categoryId=0 <br /><br />You might find this site even better<br /><br /> http://bbq.netrelief.com/pits/metalpit/bigbaby/build_big_baby_metal_bbq_pit.shtml

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

Cheap and easy. Line it with some fire bricks and purchase an expandable replacement grill for a gas unit.<br /><br />Just a bit of cutting and you have a grill.<br /><br />I just think the cheaper ones (that you can buy) are easier and when they rust out they are easy to throw away.<br /><br />Bob

 

[ndemge]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

Here is a welding forum that has a LOT of threads on BBQ building...<br /><br /> http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/

 

[hayhauler]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

My 55 gallon drum grill lasted a couple of years. The grills were made of expanded steel.<br /><br />The store bought kind is thicker steel, better built and the one I've got has been with me six years now. No competition in my mind. Buy one of the barrel models from K/Walmart or Lowes and I think you'll be happy.

 

[ndemge]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

Now I will have to chime in on hayhauler's post here.... BUY? BUILD IT! <br /><br />Any excuse to break out the Torch and the Mig is a good day

 

[oddjob]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

it was used for holding racing fuel.

I would use a bit of caution. Just because the fuel is removed from the barrel dont assume that it is in a safe state to cut (with a torch). The fuel impregnates the steel enough make an explosion possible. I would recommend another barrel that has not had flamable mixtures in it. Its not worth the risk. I know alot of folks are goning to say Im full of chit here because they have done it or a friend has done it and so on. But many of the folks who would with me agree are just not around to do so. I've seen first hand a buddy ride a fifty-five gallon drum about 8 feet in the air when one exploded on him. He survived unscathed but his pride was shot since I had warned him of the danger after rejecting the request from the two Marines earlier. Anyway, I dont mean to rain on your parade, I'm just offering some trained/experienced advise as I was taught to do many years ago. Be safe..

 

[one more cast]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

My neighbor just made one and the cooking grates are made from pipe and expanded metal. the pipes extend out about 10 inches to be used as handles and to keep it from falling in the grill. If you put your chicken halves on one grate and put another grate on top of that you can flip all your chicken at once. The barrel will last longer if you dump out the ashes and lay the grill on its side when done using.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

Originally posted by oddjob:<br />

it was used for holding racing fuel.

I would use a bit of caution. Just because the fuel is removed from the barrel dont assume that it is in a safe state to cut (with a torch). The fuel impregnates the steel enough make an explosion possible. I would recommend another barrel that has not had flamable mixtures in it. Its not worth the risk. I know alot of folks are goning to say Im full of chit here because they have done it or a friend has done it and so on. But many of the folks who would with me agree are just not around to do so. I've seen first hand a buddy ride a fifty-five gallon drum about 8 feet in the air when one exploded on him. He survived unscathed but his pride was shot since I had warned him of the danger after rejecting the request from the two Marines earlier. Anyway, I dont mean to rain on your parade, I'm just offering some trained/experienced advise as I was taught to do many years ago. Be safe..

Just fill it with CO2...or water...or anything else non flammable.

 

[oddjob]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

ZmOz, that works when your patching a hole on a gas tank. But here the drum is to be cut in half and you cant do it with water in it except for the first side cut. Then it will be empty for the other 3 sides. I guess you could submerge the drum completely in water with the work side exposed. <br />The person who rode the drum for me was almost completely finished cutting the last side before he blasted off.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

Tried to make one back in my wrench turnin' days. The drum used to have 30W oil in it and we could never get the smell out of the metal. You couldn't cook anything on it because the burning oil smell was too bad. We kept thinking it would get better with the heat of the charcoal, but it never did. Ended up tossing it.

 

[cajun555]

Re: anybody here make a 55gal drum into a B-B-Q grill?

Made one out of a electric H/W heater years ago. It turned out ok, but to big and bulky. Got a table top webber now, works perfect for what we do.