While anyone can go to the local hardware store and buy a charcoal grill for just a few hundred dollars or less, they aren’t always exactly what you need. They may be limiting in size and performance. It could also be that you are just drawn to plans for building and want to know how to make charcoal grills. There are plenty of places where you can get instructions for building. One of the quickest and easiest designs uses a readily available 55 gallon drum as the base for how to build your own charcoal grill.
There are several things that you need to know before beginning the project. The first is that it is extremely important to know the source of the drum that you will be using. 55 gallon drums are used to transport edible commodities, such as cooking oil. However, they are also used for toxic substances, such as the crude oil used to make gasoline. It is dangerous to use drums that have been used to carry flammable substances. Also, this project requires at least a basic knowledge of welding. If you have never attempted that before, recruit a friend with experience.
The basic steps for how to build a barbecue are fairly straightforward. First, you need to cut the drum apart, about one fourth of the way from the top. This piece will become the lid. You will need to smooth this cut and reattach the piece with some hinges, so it opens and shuts easily. Also, the lid will need some vents for proper air flow. Inside the drum, it’s best to put some metal supports, so that the grill is sturdy.
You also need to weld some legs onto the bottom of the drum, so that your homemade grill will stand off the ground. Finally, a grill will be needed to hold the recipes that you will create. You can make your own with a sturdy metal mesh, or recycle a grill grate from a older commercial barbecue. Your grill is now ready for using at your next backyard barbecue.
While it only takes a little bit of time to determine how to make charcoal grills with a 55 gallon drum, there are a few grilling tips that will make learning to use it much easier. If you have trouble figuring out how to light the appliance, you may need a bit more ventilation. Also, if you find the bottom too deep, you can add a brick or two to narrow the charcoal reservoir and hold the heat in more effectively.