The owners of suburban areas and cottages are trying to make outdoor recreation comfortable and complete. And what rest without fragrant kebabs with a pleasant smoky aroma? In this article we will talk about making a grill from a gas cylinder with your own hands. Photos and detailed instructions will help you understand the intricacies of this process. So let's get started!
How to make a barbecue grill out of a gas cylinder?
Gas bottle is a suitable material for making barbecue grill. Firstly, the walls of the container are quite thick, and at high temperatures they will keep their shape without deformation, and secondly, the shape of the container will make the grill original and quite roomy. The main thing is to choose the appropriate capacity option.
The gas cylinder will need to be cut with a grinder to make a hole in the cavity. The sawn part will play the role of a lid, so you will need strong hinges. Allinstallation and cutting work must be carried out in compliance with safety regulations. In addition, you need to have knowledge and experience in working with a welding machine, grinder, drill and other equipment that will have to be used.
A structure made from a gas cylinder can have different functions and purposes. Here are a few options that you can do with your own hands:
- Portable design. In this case, a small balloon is used. If necessary, it can be put in the trunk and transported to the place of operation. Such a brazier is convenient to take with you to nature.
- Portable device. This type of barbecue is larger in size, but if desired, it can be moved a short distance. There are models of large barbecues that are equipped with wheels. If necessary, you can move the brazier to the right place. The whole structure is disassembled into its component parts, but it is inconvenient to take it with you on a long trip.
- Stationary construction. Such a brazier, as a rule, is universal, has several additions in the form of a smokehouse, grill, barbecue. The structure is built into a concrete foundation, and it is not possible to move or transport it. To exit the smoke, the brazier is equipped with a pipe, there may be special compartments in which it is convenient to store firewood for ignition.
Required Materials
Before starting work, check if you have all the equipment in stock. To make a grill from a gas cylinder with your own hands, you will need:
- empty gas bottle;
- ruler,level;
- drill with drill bits for metal;
- grinder with a set of discs for metal carving;
- hacksaw;
- welding machine;
- electrodes of the desired diameter (2-3 mm);
- corner 40×40 mm (length - 6-7 m);
- door hinges - 2 pieces;
- barbecue grate;
- wood handle with metal base;
- high temperature resistant paint;
- brushes, rollers;
- safety glasses;
- fabric gloves;
- rivets, bolts;
- steel pipe with a diameter of 10 cm with a 90° elbow (for a chimney);
- adjustable wrenches and gas wrenches.
Choice of gas bottle
Gas cylinders are made of 3 mm thick steel. Therefore, they are very convenient to use for the manufacture of barbecue. Perhaps you already have an old cylinder that is lying around in the country. If not, then it can be easily purchased at a bargain price at flea markets or classifieds sites.
Carefully inspect the balloon. There should be no signs of severe corrosion and rotten areas on the surface. Shake the bottle and determine if there is any remaining liquid propane gas inside.
Determine the look of your future design. If you want the brazier to be portable, then you should choose a small volume cylinder. It will be possible to take this one with you on trips, but it is not very convenient to use it, since there is not enough space inside for cooking.
The most popular and widespread type of gas cylinders are 50 l containers. These are the ones most oftentake for the manufacture of the grill. If you want to attach a smokehouse, then use one cylinder for 50 liters and one for 30 liters. The containers are connected with a sealed seam. The smaller cylinder is mounted slightly lower. Such a simple method will allow you to make a smoker-grill from a gas cylinder with your own hands. The fuel will be placed in a smaller container, the smoke from which will flow into the main chamber, and from there through the chimney to the street.
And how to make a grill from a car gas cylinder? If you want to get a large grill, then it is better to use an 80 l cylinder. The manufacturing scheme for all types of cylinders is the same. The only difference is the scale of the work. To fix the lid of a large 80 l cylinder, you need to use 3 loops, not 2. This is due to the greater massiveness of the moving element.
You can make a grill from a freon cylinder, this container is small, so you get a compact portable option. But most often these cylinders are used to organize a smokehouse.
Drawing, balloon preparation, installation
Create a detailed plan that will show all the necessary dimensions to help you avoid mistakes when cutting metal.
The lid of the future grill should be located so that the lower part of the cylinder is deep enough, because coal will be placed there.
The balloon itself must be prepared for work. Let off all the gas first. Even if the cylinder is empty, there is still residual gas. Unscrewvalve and wait a while. Turn the bottle upside down and drain the condensate. To control the release of gas, you need to apply soap suds to the valve, it will help determine whether all the gas has come out or not. When the foam stops bubbling, you can proceed to the next step.
Now cut the cylinder valve. It is better to use a hand tool, so you can control the sparks that form and avoid overheating the tool. At this stage, you need to constantly water the saw cut with cold water. Insert the hose into the hole and fill the bottle with water. Leave it with water for a day. During this time, the water will dissolve any remaining hydrocarbons. After that, the water can be drained away from the buildings. You can proceed to the next stage of making a grill from a balloon.
Step-by-step instructions for making a grill
Now let's move on to the next question. Consider how to make a barbecue grill out of a gas cylinder. We take a standard 50-liter propane gas tank as a basis. The outer diameter of the balloon is 96 cm, dividing this value by 4, we get 24 cm. The balloon has a rounded shape, so to install it you will need a special metal structure that will play the role of a stand. It is best to use metal with a thickness of at least 4 mm for these purposes. You can use chalk for marking. We draw marking lines along the side seams, so it is easier to maintain symmetry.
Draw a line that will connect the top and bottom seams. Then we measure 24 cm along the seam and make two more marking lines. We connect them horizontally. It turns out a curved rectangle. This will be the lid of the grill. All edges must be cleaned with a metal shank. Try to make the edges as even as possible, this will help to achieve a better sealing of the closed container.
Inside the cylinder, corners are welded, which will not only play the role of supports for the gratings, but also act as frame elements to maintain the shape of the cylinder. At very high temperatures, the metal will not deform.
Be sure to drill some holes in the bottom of the container. Oxygen from the air should get into the brazier, which will allow you to quickly make a fire and keep the coals burning. If you use not a grill, but skewers, then you need to saw through recesses for them from the side of the lid and make holes on the other side. It is into these holes that the skewers will be inserted.
In the place where the valve was located, we make a wider hole. This is where the chimney pipe will be located. The cut diameter should be approximately 8 cm.
Welding works
Get ready for welding. Wear a special welding mask that will protect your face and eyes from exposure to bright light and flying hot electrode elements.
First, weld the handle to the lid of the future barbecue, this will allow you to fix it at the moment of welding with a loop. So it will be more convenient to hold the movable element. Now we weld the loops to the main part of the cylinder and the lid. Consider all the details: so that the lid does notleaned back too much, you need to make a limiter. It could be a metal corner. Weld a small piece in the gap between the loops.
Now you need to fix the chimney pipe. Make sure that the welding seam is even and neat. The brazier should be not only functional, but also beautiful.
For ease of use of the design, you can make an additional metal stand on one side. To prevent water from flowing into the chimney during rain, build a fungus on the pipe and weld it to the end of the pipe using metal plates 10 cm long.
Making a stand for the structure
The stand can be made from a profile pipe with a diameter of 20-30 mm or take fittings. If you plan to make a stationary barbecue grill, then it is better to weld the legs to the cylinder immediately. You can make a full-fledged stand from which you can remove the cylinder and move it to another place.
Metal elements must be bent along the outer diameter of the cylinder and welded to the arcs of the legs. Remember that in order for the structure to be stable, you need to make a sufficiently large span between the legs. So the brazier will not roll over and will not tip over. The height of the legs is selected individually. It is most convenient to place the brazier at the level of the belt, so you do not have to bend down to carry out various manipulations with the hearth.
If the legs are made in the form of a stand, then it is necessary to weld horizontal corners to the cylinder itself, which will fix the container in a certain position and prevent it from scrolling.
How to paintballoon?
It is impossible to prime the surface before painting, as the primer will crack and peel off with the paint applied to it at high heat. Before painting, the entire surface of the cylinder must be sanded. Particular care should be taken to cut the saw cuts and holes made with a drill. After stripping, degrease the surface.
Paint should be chosen only heat-resistant. Carefully read the instructions on the spray can or can of paint. The temperature regime for the operation of the paint is indicated there. Black and silver paints, as a rule, withstand temperatures of +600 °C (4 hours) and +400 °C (long time). For other shades of paint, the temperature of short-term heating is +400 °С, long-term - +200 °С.
It is most convenient to use heat-resistant paint in spray cans. It is applied in an even layer, and even a child can make the coloring process itself. Remember about safety: be sure to take care of respiratory protection. Use a protective mask, you can buy it at a hardware store. Put on rubber gloves on your hands.
One coat of paint takes approximately 8-11 minutes to dry. After complete drying of the first layer, apply the second. Make sure all hard to reach places are painted. This is important, since the main function of the paint is not aesthetic, but protective. The paint surface prevents corrosion on the metal.
Some additions
Stationary grills from a propane tank can be decorated with forged elements. It can be openwork legs, specialstands in the form of a small table, a compartment for firewood and more. You can mount a thermometer into the wall of the cylinder, this will allow you to better organize the cooking process by controlling the temperature inside the container.
You need to paint the grill container only from the outside. The paint on the inside will be useless, as it will peel off anyway from intense heat, open flames and mechanical stress.
If you make a damper in the chimney, then you can control the exit of smoke. This will be useful if you plan to use the container as a smokehouse.
You can use multiple bottles to create a multifunctional device. In the photo - a grill from gas cylinders of different sizes. Small - for organizing a brazier, horizontal large - as a grill, vertical large - as a smoking chamber. All containers must be connected in series with sealed seams. If you want to make a cold smoking chamber, then it must be connected to the brazier with a 3-meter metal pipe.
In conclusion
How to make a grill from a gas cylinder with your own hands? It's not difficult at all. The main thing is to choose the right material and do all the work carefully. All types of work are quite within the power of an average person who has initial experience and knowledge in the field of using a welding machine and a grinder. Remember that all actions performed are dangerous,so take the necessary steps to protect yourself. You can make a grill from a gas cylinder with your own hands in 1-2 days, if you act without helpers. Perform all types of work strictly according to the instructions.
