Welders: anyone ever make their own BBQ/smoker?

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Now that I've added a MIG welder to my shop (already have a gas setup), I want a project.

Has anyone here welded up their own BBQ/smoker? I've hit google but I haven't found plans or pictures yet that I like. Most of the ones I've found are just old steel drums that were cut up and mounted on a frame.

If you haven't built one, but own a really well designed one, would you mind posting photos? I don't mind designing it myself.

Cheers,
Bryophyte
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Nobody else likes to weld? We're just finishing up our first project with the new machine, a gokart for the kids. :)
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
14
81
fobot.com
do it Alton Brown style

i'll look for something online, he did a show about home made smokers a few years back
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
AB made one with clay pots, right? I'm really looking for a welding project. I want to have a grill large enough for my summer parties. The 22" Weber just doesn't cut it when you have a hundred people over.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Some primitive part of me wanted to cut metal with fire, so I took some welding classes a few years ago. I had the BEST teacher. :)
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I don't have any plans, but the concept is very simple.

1) fire box off to the side with a means to control air flow. Other than this "valve" which could be nothing more than a sliding piece of metal it should relatively tight. This is where you make your fire/create smoke
2) oil drum/barrel cut in two.
3) A chimney with a means to control airflow.
4) Some kind of system of racks

That should be all you need. You could also make it a grill by adding grates. Cast iron or porcelin coated cast iron would be best. A way to read the temperature without opening it will come in VERY handy. The main goal is to keep everything free of big leaks as it's difficult to control temperature.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81
Originally posted by: Safeway
I think you will end up using giant steel barrels. No plans, though.

There must be better plans out there than that. Those just don't have any style.
 

Bryophyte

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
13,430
13
81

computeerrgghh

Golden Member
Apr 10, 2005
1,121
0
0
Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Now that I've added a MIG welder to my shop (already have a gas setup), I want a project.

Has anyone here welded up their own BBQ/smoker? I've hit google but I haven't found plans or pictures yet that I like. Most of the ones I've found are just old steel drums that were cut up and mounted on a frame.

If you haven't built one, but own a really well designed one, would you mind posting photos? I don't mind designing it myself.

Cheers,
Bryophyte

I think this is what you are looking for: Text
:D
 

IGBT

Lifer
Jul 16, 2001
17,962
140
106
..good idea. How bout a wood burning stove too?? I have a Lopi stove and it's real simple. made from welded plate steel. A new wood stove goes for nearly $1k now a days. I'll bet a welder could make one for a few hundred.