Building a charcoal BBQ

[tkappeler]

We run a 32 plot community garden at our church and are planning on expanding this year. We want to add a charcoal BBQ for general use. Building process is not a problem but lacking ideas with pros/cons on various styles, insert types, etc.

I have thought about different kinds including all brick, steel stud with cement board and veneer stone, simple brick ledge and grates resting on ledge, drop in inserts. My head is swimming with the ideas and need to get the pros/cons on the different ones to help get to a few choices.

Anyone build one? What are your recommendations? Locations for inserts, etc?

Thanks.

 

[Western]

A steel one like they have at the camp grounds? Would be simple and quick.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

We run a 32 plot community garden at our church and are planning on expanding this year. We want to add a charcoal BBQ for general use. Building process is not a problem but lacking ideas with pros/cons on various styles, insert types, etc.

I have thought about different kinds including all brick, steel stud with cement board and veneer stone, simple brick ledge and grates resting on ledge, drop in inserts. My head is swimming with the ideas and need to get the pros/cons on the different ones to help get to a few choices.

Anyone build one? What are your recommendations? Locations for inserts, etc?

Thanks.

Have never built one, but I tore one down. We had one when we moved into our first home. It was a big, permanent brick/concrete structure that took a ton of charcoal and a lot of work just to cook a couple hamburgers. It was never practical for family use; maybe it would have been if we were cooking half a cow. It was actually an eyesore that I ended up tearing down and using the bricks to make a sidewalk along the East side of the house. I would think long and hard before I spent the time and money to build a permanent structure like that.

Now, having said that, I would look at how you want to use it. Do you want to cook for 10, or 100? Have you ruled out a commercial unit? There are lots of grill/smokers out there, from an Oklahoma Joe's to some professional units that are on wheels. Some are built to burn wood and can function as a smoker or as a charcoal grill. For general use, you might want to consider one like this...where you can cook a few hamburgers with charcoal, or half a cow as a smoker. A lot of these are custom built. Caution: If you consider an already built unit, there is a lot of CHEAP, flimsy junky stuff out there.

Another thing you might consider is security. The permanent structures you don't have to worry about very much, but a small unit or a unit on wheels is an invitation to thieves, at least in this part of the country. The Elks Lodge where we go had a couple of the smaller (500 - 700 lbs) steel grills/smokers stolen.

Good luck.

P.S. There is a lot of information out there:

http://www.thesmokering.com/

http://www.symphonybbq.com/page32.html


http://www.lonestargrillz.com/

 

[Farmerjonathan]

UDS, Ugly Drum Smokers. My shop students make a couple a year. Here is the video we use to build from.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7nrb3Fq5kI

 

[tkappeler]

ok. I see I was a little vague in my first list of "wants". The church has a preschool attached to it. The place is pretty much vacant except for Sundays and after 2:00 during the school year and summer. As a result, we are looking for permanent so it is not attractive to thieves. We are only looking to make it available for 10-15 people at a time. If we have larger gatherings, people come with additional big box propane units to augment.

We are not looking for show home quality but better than a pole mounted. Not a smoker. 2Lane, I hear you about the big monstrosities. We are not looking to build something that big either.

My original thought was something like this FireMagic 3324 drop in on a steel stud/cement board/brick veneer unit.

 

[brin]

A steel one like they have at the camp grounds? Would be simple and quick.

I agree...Northern Tool advertises the park type charcoal , steel BBQ grills ...they are under $200 and are durable with adjustable grates.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

ok. I see I was a little vague in my first list of "wants". The church has a preschool attached to it. The place is pretty much vacant except for Sundays and after 2:00 during the school year and summer. As a result, we are looking for permanent so it is not attractive to thieves. We are only looking to make it available for 10-15 people at a time. If we have larger gatherings, people come with additional big box propane units to augment.

We are not looking for show home quality but better than a pole mounted. Not a smoker. 2Lane, I hear you about the big monstrosities. We are not looking to build something that big either.

My original thought was something like this FireMagic 3324 drop in on a steel stud/cement board/brick veneer unit.

If you are going with a charcoal (as opposed to gas) grill, you might consider getting a unit that has a cover. Not only does it give you more heat control and retained smoke flavor, but it is desirable from a safety standpoint, and it also saves on charcoal. Otherwise, you have to let the charcoal burn itself out or you have to douse it with water. A gas fired grill, of course, has different safety considerations, such as keeping the bottles secure from the children.

 

[EddieWalker]

Every time I think about building something, I start pricing out materials and come up with the same price it costs to buy brand new, and that's not counting the time and energy it takes to build it. One thing about building it permanently, is that's where it will have to remain for all time. Having a portable one has all sorts of advantages. This is the one I bought last year from Lowes. We had been watching it for awhile, but didn't want to spend the money. I think they had it for $429. Then one day towards the end of summer I saw it for sale at $300. I was working and there picking up materials for a client. I bought it and had them load it on my truck because it was too good a deal to pass up. I'm sure glad I did because it's the best BBQ I've ever owned!!!!

Char-Broil Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Offset Smoker and Grill (12201747) - Smokers - Ace Hardware

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Every time I think about building something, I start pricing out materials and come up with the same price it costs to buy brand new, and that's not counting the time and energy it takes to build it. One thing about building it permanently, is that's where it will have to remain for all time. Having a portable one has all sorts of advantages. This is the one I bought last year from Lowes. We had been watching it for awhile, but didn't want to spend the money. I think they had it for $429. Then one day towards the end of summer I saw it for sale at $300. I was working and there picking up materials for a client. I bought it and had them load it on my truck because it was too good a deal to pass up. I'm sure glad I did because it's the best BBQ I've ever owned!!!!

Char-Broil Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Offset Smoker and Grill (12201747) - Smokers - Ace Hardware

Eddie

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Every time I think about building something, I start pricing out materials and come up with the same price it costs to buy brand new, and that's not counting the time and energy it takes to build it. One thing about building it permanently, is that's where it will have to remain for all time. Having a portable one has all sorts of advantages. This is the one I bought last year from Lowes. We had been watching it for awhile, but didn't want to spend the money. I think they had it for $429. Then one day towards the end of summer I saw it for sale at $300. I was working and there picking up materials for a client. I bought it and had them load it on my truck because it was too good a deal to pass up. I'm sure glad I did because it's the best BBQ I've ever owned!!!!

Char-Broil Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Offset Smoker and Grill (12201747) - Smokers - Ace Hardware

Eddie

These units are well made and heavy. I have never used one; can you give us a short lesson on the ease of grilling, say hamburgers vs smoking a brisket or a dozen slabs of ribs? I have a Big Green Egg that is great for smoking ribs, but it is limited in that about 4 or 5 slabs are all you can cook at a time and is not really designed for grilling.

Thanks.