How to Make Homemade BBQ Pits From Drums

Making your own BBQ pit from a drum is fun and easy.

Making your own BBQ pit from a barrel is a cheap and fun way to make a very large grill. With commonly found materials you can save hundreds of dollar creating an interesting and effective BBQ. As opposed to conventional BBQ's, this design does not require the use of propane and can be made by anyone with some basic tools and a little patience. Perfect for a big party, this BBQ will provide a much bigger cooking surface than standard grills.

Things You'll Need

• 55-gallon drum
• Angle grinder
• Drill
• Rivet gun and rivets
• 3 door hinges
• Drawer handle
• Sheet of heavy gauge wire mesh
• 4 square steel tubes, 1-by-30 inches
• Measuring tape

Instructions

1. Cut the barrel in two using an angle grinder. Cut the barrel lengthwise, creating two symmetrical halves.

2. Connect the two square steel tubes to each side of the barrel to act as legs. Drill two holes for each leg on both flat sides of one half of the steel drum. Connect the square steel tubes to the drum using a rivet gun. If the BBQ height needs to be higher or lower than the 30 inches described, replace the legs with an appropriate length of square tubing.

3. Mark and drill holes for hinges along one cut side of the barrel on both halves, allowing you to open the barrel like a conventional BBQ.

4. Install hinges with the rivet gun using the holes you just drilled.

5. Drill two holes for the drawer-style handle on the upper of the two drum halves, on the upper, opening side, opposite the hinges. Install the handle using the rivet gun.

6. Cut a sheet of wire mesh using the angle grinder so it will fit just inside the lower of the two barrel halves. As there are many sizes of steel barrels, measure the length and width of the lower barrel half. Subtract 1 inch from the width of the barrel and cut the wire mesh sheet. Subtracting an inch from the width will allow the mesh to sit slightly lower than the edge of the barrel to prevent any food from rolling off the grill and will help to secure it in place.

7. Remove the grill, fill the lower barrel half with charcoal, light the charcoal and replace the wire mesh.

Tips & Warnings

• Keeping the lid closed will increase the heat inside the BBQ and will cook your food more evenly.

• Always be careful when working with fire and keep a fire extinguisher handy.

References

• Barrel Barbecue: The Original Barrel Barbecue