Charcoal grills, Any recommendations?

I had planned on building a permanent grill/fire-pit but like so many other things never got around to it.

With nice weather coming cooking with coals is on the mind again.

I’d like something that has a large cooking surface but don’t want to spend a whole lot (100+/-?) because we will build a permanent one eventually.

Any recommendations you can share? :)

Don,

I am not exactly sure what you had in mind, but I think that I would stick with some type of a portable grill, until you are really ready to put in a bigger and more permanent fixed type of grill. :) :)

Hi Larry, I guess to expand further some type of large portable. I’m really open to anything as long as it isn’t too expensive. Even if it just lasted a season or 2 quality wise that would be ok.

Don - That is a shame. We actually had two nearly identical propane grills. They were the Coleman Road Trip Grill series. I won one in a contest. Then just as we used it for the first time, we found a nearly identical one. It had a different style of leg support and it was bright red, so we bought it. Thinking that we could just sell the first one. The first one was blue in color and on it you screwed the legs into the frame from the bottom side. The red one the legs released and folded up under the body of the grill and stayed attached.

We then just used the red one and put the blue one back in the red ones original carton and put it away and out of sight. Got it out and was going to put it in the daughters garage sale last summer, but just never did carry it into town to put it in her sale.

Then last fall it was still there in the garage and in the way. The daughters neighbor meantioned that their grill had finnaly bit the dust, so I just gave him the grill along with all the attachments and carrying bag.

If you would have wanted the darned thing I would have just given it to you.
Would have only cost you the shipping costs.

Sorry...............

I know that you first said that you wanted a charcoal grill and this one was a propane one. You could use the small little bottles plus it had the adapter that you could hook it up to a 20 or 30 pound propane bottle if you wanted.

Thank you Mr. Larry, I really appreciate the thought my friend! :) :)

We have the gas grill covered and use it several times a week but in the mood for some tasty steaks cooked over coals this season… if it every gets here :rolleyes:

Well you folks might laugh at me but here is a thought.
I wanted to have a fire ring in the back yard. I went to Wally World and got enough of those reddish landscaping blocks to make a circle 2 layers high.The circle will accept wood about 24 inches long I guess or Charcoal.
Then I got piece of that catwalk material for a grilling surface. It works.
Not what I'd call portable but is movable by unstacking and re stacking the blocks.
Just an idea.Good luck.

Sounds like a great (or should that be grate) idea for a fire ring! I've been wanting one and now it will be a necessity as far as I'm concerned, to have one out there by our new swim spa. We'll be using the spa year round so having a fire feature by it would certainly be nice. We've looked at several free standing styles and may go with that but building one really wouldn't be too much work, right? I say that since I'll just be the helper not the builder....I'm sure my DH could handle it though! ;)

That sounds very nice, Al!… And you guys gave me an idea B)

My mind was thinking strictly “grills” because we already have one of the portable fire pits my in laws gave us but it’s on its last leg and the grate is not suitable for cooking because of its wide spacing.

Now... after a little researching I’m thinking a true fire pit and grill combo is the thing to get because it would still be useful even if we do build a permanent grill/pit.

Cat, I’m still excited for you guys getting your swim spa up and running! We’re going to get a solar blanket for our pool today and with the heater and blanket combined we should be able to keep it warm enough to use right now (without it costing a fortune) and we are ready!

Don,
I took a closer look at mine an it has two layers of those blocks forming a circle and four more on the third level at the corners of the grilling surface.The spaces in between these allow for adding and moving wood or charcoal. I left small spaces between the blocks on the lower tiers. I thought this might help he fire breath and burn better.May not.
I put 2 inch angle iron on two sides of the grate material for added strength. My intention was for the angle iron to be mounted on the bottom and look like a 7 (Kind of) but I found that if I turn everything over to where the angle iron looks like an L it helps keep things from falling off when I chase them with a spatula.
Just think,when you get your permanent one you could use the landscaping blocks around a flower bed. :D

I've got an old steel tire I picked up out of a junk pile somewhere. Its half inch thick steel, three feet diameter, and 2 inches tall laying on the ground.

My little gears are turning for a portable fire pit, with a swivel grate above it -- that brakes down in pieces for travel.

You know, swing the grate out over the flame, or swing it away to one side or the other off the flame.
I've already got several different fire pits, including a washing machine basket and a fold up 6" tall X 3' squared fence, but I'm still pondering the idea of another.
If I build it, I'll post pics.

Cool thread. Got me to thinkin...

Al, I’ve run a couple ideas through my head to build one here and airflow is a concern of mine. It will be a great day when I can get serious about building one myself B)

Jim, I’d love to see the pics if you make it buddy! B)

Topics like this get the blood flowing for me… too! Sharing any experience and just bouncing ideas around is a lot of fun! :)

Anyone have an idea how much it would cost to have one of these made? I like the way the fire can be raised and the grilling surface can be cleaned on both sides.

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I'm not sure what it would cost to have a shop build it for you outright. I don't even know what part of the country you live in, but it would be a lot more than you would want to pay I'm sure. Shop rates around here run about $50.00 and hour plus materials.

We see grills like that one all over the place. Next time you see one, ask the owner where he got it.
They've got to be factory made. Theres too many of them that look alike for all of them to be custom.

All that being said, I build things like that all the time. I'm not as into it as I used to be. I used to build and sell wares like that in craft shows and festivals. Now I just do it on request.
Now, you gotta understand -- Home Depot sells about 50 different kinds of grills. So when I do a custom grill, its usually for a wealthy customer who wants something no one else has, and he (or she) is willing to pay a premium price for it.

All THAT being said: Just talking off the top of my head, nothing fancy I'd say I could build something like that for little more than time. (I'm always picking up junk here and there ;) ) I'd place a plow disc stand on the bottom to make it portable, and use round bar or rebar for the grill surface. The ribs are easily grinded off the food surface if rebar is used. Again, I'd use what I've got.

I'd say 4 -6 hours depending on size and detail. $200.00 -- $300.00 would be about standard. Again, depending on size and detail.

Course it doesn't really matter since you ain't exactly accross town, but if you was, we could build you a grill in the spirit of friendship over the course of a 30 pack of Diet Budweiser. :D

Here ya go, at Amazon...

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=...sl_4a70sp39zt_b

Thanks fellas! I could find out at the park but I probably would not want to pay the price.
I did see some in Mikes post at Amazon that I might be interested in for less than $150.00. I would hope they would last 10 or 12 years at least.

Paw Paw thanks for the offer. At one time 30 wouldn't be enough but now you would have to drink 29. I'd drink one with you just to prove I'm not a snob. (Medicible purposes you know!) :D

My husband made a fully enclosed one for smoking. But he has access to materials and welders.

We have some of the ones I linked to on our properties and they have lasted 20 years with easy to moderate use. Some have been broken and some of the posts have rusted out, but the pans have held up better than we expected.

Send it to me Kathy! He is so busy with that new toy he'll never miss it! :D :D
Just joking Terry!

20 years would put me at 87 Mike. One of those would probably be the last one I need. :blink:

Send it to me Kathy! He is so busy with that new toy he'll never miss it! :D :D
Just joking Terry!

It is probably too heavy to mail. Come get it!

Send it to me Kathy! He is so busy with that new toy he'll never miss it! :D :D
Just joking Terry!

It is probably too heavy to mail. Come get it!

I'm scared to! You know I ran heavy equipment for nearly 30 years and you might put me to work! :unsure:

We do have a foundation that needs dug out and packed with clay.

Told ya!
I'm going to bed. Happy Easter Kathy.

Happy Easter FOTR!