First project complete... BBQ

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Well I finished my first project, after having only a couple hours under the hood since getting my welder just piecing together scraps... needed to get a bbq built for the summer and the practice. I did this bbq as cheap and simple as I could, so I didn't really care if I didn't do it perfect, as I plan on building a nicer one down the road when I get better.  The next 'Q will have all the bells and whistles I can think of  but it turned out better than I hoped for  . There are some gorilla welds, mostly some okay ones, and some pretty decent ones I think.Frame is all 1x1x1/8" angle. Mostly because I already had a bit of it, and it was cheap to buy more. I also explicitly used my new HF 4x6 bandsaw doing all the cuts on it, I mitered the initial frame around the top of drum at 45's... loving that saw by the way... except used my grinder to cut out the expanded metal. Next time I will do some things different but I am really happy with it... it was a good learning experience!Now that I got this out of the way and a little more practice I feel better about taking on the next projects... 2x2x1/8" square tube frame/legs for my workbench top and then my welding table/cart. Anyway, I have been reading here daily and see all the projects that get done (and all the welding carts and BBQs that get posted up here)... so here's another...  hope you enjoy...- RyanLincoln Weld-Pak 140HDHypertherm Powermax 30HF 4x6 bandsawHF 21gal compressorCraftsman Commercial drill press4.5" Craftsman Professional angle grinder4.5" HF angle grinderOld benchtop table saw with a cutoff wheel and sawzall
Reply:Post up how it works for you after you cook on it a few times.. I'm interested in what parts of your design that work well and what parts don't. BTW, nice work Qualified & experienced at welding scrap metal
Reply:you shoulda cooked up all the meat u could find and then tooke photos of it in use to make us all jealous hahayou gunna make an insert for that drum for the coals to sit on? i usta have a drum to burn **** in and it eventually collapsed, i had the **** glowing red tho  :Pwhats the handle/shaft using to raise and lower the cook plate? great idea by the looks of it
Reply:That design is well thought out and I like the cable lift for the cooking surface.If you box in the frame at the bottom and add a shelf the grill will be more steady. I think you're really going to enjoy using it.Matt
Reply:Looks good. I haven't seen one with the adj cooking surface like that in awhile..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks guys! Ya I will probably get a pic of the first time I use it... probably soon, I have half a cord of red oak coming tomorrow morning The drum was older and a little rusty, I brushed off the outside and high-temp painted it to help make it last, it wasn't too bad so hopefully it will last a while. Some friends use the drums in the same design without any insert for the coals... after a few burns the ashes actually help insulate it and the drums haven't had too much of a problem. It will burn through eventually but they have seemed to last pretty well.The two horizontal supports for the drum I just tacked in so I can easily grind them out and drop out the drum to replace. (it's not welded in, just supported up in the frame). Thanks Matt, I actually thought about boxing in the bottom and adding a shelf, but I am going to hold off for now... it's still pretty sturdy and I was trying to use as little material as I can. I still have what's left of the 4x8 sheet of expanded metal (minus this grill) to use up though. I may still add more to it later, but just needed a no-frills bbq to start with!Thanks again guys  will keep ya postedLast edited by ryanPSD; 06-18-2010 at 01:33 PM.- RyanLincoln Weld-Pak 140HDHypertherm Powermax 30HF 4x6 bandsawHF 21gal compressorCraftsman Commercial drill press4.5" Craftsman Professional angle grinder4.5" HF angle grinderOld benchtop table saw with a cutoff wheel and sawzall
Reply:For a "grill", that's pretty damb cool.  I like the lift.  Now build a smoker Lincoln SA 200Esab Caddy 160Thermal Arc 201TSMiller Dialarc HFI don't like making plans for the day because then the word "premeditated" gets thrown around the courtroom....