I love meat, I love the Gathering
This will be my 6th year and the bbq situation keeps evolving
Back in 2012 just two of us went and we had this little fold up affair
2013 and 14 saw this little fold up drum bbq sort the 3 of us out.
2015 was the year the modified 'brick built' bbq arrived, giving us both a bbq and an oven
This year there's 5 of us, so I set about making a new BBQ, something a touch bigger
Gas bottles! They seem to be a thing used a lot these days, lets get hold of some.
2 13kg bottles were acquired, but they just didnt seem large enough to make a decent sized grill, but not wanting to waste them I thought about a smoker. We could set it going in the morning and by evening we'd have some lovely wood smoked meat.
I looked at a few designs, before deciding to wing it and make my own. I settled on a vertical smoker, because it was easiest frankly.
I cut the top off one bottle, drilled a load of small holes in the bottom of the other and welded them together
It seemed most of the bottle type smokers just had the hole cut out and the door was the bit from the middle. I didn't like this idea, so I got some 3mm plate and...
Bit of box section left me with
A bit more of this...
Left me with this...
Getting there nicely.
It was then I turned my attentions to the BBQ itself, I mean, it's the most important part.
Gas bottles!!!!! Why not, i'd used 2 already with great affect. I'll need a bigger one.
Holy shitballs, when I won this 47kg one on eBay I didn't quite expect the size of it. 1.3m tall and 35cm diameter
Ah well, I welded it to the side of the smoker
Next step is to open her up and play with the insides. I made the first cut then made up some hinges out of 6mm bar and welded them on. This ensures the door will shut properly as it would be a nightmare to line up if you cut it all out first
I cut the door out between the welded on end caps of the bottle, this left me a grill area of 85cm x 35cm, a little excessive.
I thought back to the older BBQ and remembered the oven and also the fact we used a skillet for cooking breakfast.
Might as well make a built in one hey! I cut some more 3mm plate and welded it in. We now have a 40 x 35 hotplate which also doubles as an oven rack
You can also see I made the grill rack. 50 x 35cm is a cracking size. I need more 6mm rod to finish it off, but you get the idea.
I made up some doors for the smoker, angle iron frames mean it will seal better and more 3mm plate for the centres.
Steel discs will form the air inlet, I'll drill these later. My good mate decided the top door needed some decoration.
And this pic brings us up to date.
Loads of little bits to finish
Grill rod
Smoker grill
Door latches
Legs and wheels (it genuinely weighs a ton)
Door seal rope
Paint
I'm happy with how it's turned out though
Enjoy...
