Barbecue in the country: varieties, features and manufacturing options

Grill for frying meat - part of summer romance

It is impossible to imagine a summer holiday at a dacha or in a country house without cooking kebabs and barbecues. The aroma of meat with smoke, a green lawn, pleasant company - these are the associations that arise when we remember such a vacation. In a spontaneous picnic in nature, you can get by with two bricks, but for those who prefer convenience and aesthetics, forged metal barbecues will be the optimal solution.

The quality of the grill directly affects the taste of the prepared food.

Thanks to forged “loops”, which are located at different heights, you can adjust the position of the skewer

What and how are barbecues made of?

Forging is one of the oldest methods of metal processing. Thick stainless steel, high-strength alloys and cast iron are used in the manufacture of barbecues. These can be models either completely forged from steel or with a working part cast from cast iron. Both materials tolerate high temperatures well, are not subject to corrosion and are resistant to deformation. If desired, you can also order an exclusive forged brazier made of copper.

Brazier “woven” from steel cable in the form of a basket

Brazier in a laconic square design - for lovers of minimalism

Forged masterpiece in the manufacture of barbecues

Metal barbecues: photos and instructions for making a barbecue

Before you make your own barbecue with your own hands from metal, drawings and photos are the first thing you should pay attention to. At the first stage of construction of the product, certain materials will be required.

Sheet metal;
Fastening materials;
Welding apparatus;
Electric drill (or hand);
Bulgarian;
Sander;
Sledgehammer/hammer;
Corner for legs with pipe;
Measuring materials.

Next, you need to familiarize yourself in detail with the manufacturing technology of this element.

Stylish and bright barbecue made from a metal bucket

Beautiful barbecue with forging elements, made from a gas cylinder

Making a barbecue with your own hands

Do-it-yourself barbecues made of metal (dimensions, photos are presented below), as we have already noted, are different, in practice we will consider an example of constructing the simplest structure (for 8 skewers). Skewers should not interfere with one another, but there should not be too large gaps between them. A classic skewer can accommodate about 5 pieces of meat products, and the depth is determined using practical methods. Food should not be located far from the coals, but not too close, otherwise burning will occur. It is most convenient to determine the distance from the top of the product to the ground based on the height of the cook.

Drawing

It is best to choose an element such as a diagram of a metal grill - photo. You can use ready-made schematic solutions for standard projects, this will save time and greatly simplify your task. The drawing of the barbecue should be simple; according to the markings, the front and back walls can be 70*20 cm, the bottom – 70*28 cm, the walls – 28*20 cm. Next, the elements are cut using a grinder; small slits made in advance will allow you to fix the skewers. Holes are made for air flow.

Scheme for making a barbecue from a metal barrel

Detailed diagram for making a barbecue

Carrying out welding work

To make legs, it is advisable to use a corner measuring 20*20 cm, as well as cabinets of at least 20 cm.
Using tubes, you can create a collapsible structure using an additional 4 bolts that are welded to each of the tubes.
If you want to make a grill with a smoking option, you will need to additionally weld corners to the inner area 7-10 cm from the bottom.
If desired, you can build a canopy or a special shelf for coals, and also add a hook.

Thus, a metal grill, photos, diagrams, drawings of which are presented in abundance, can become a real decoration of your site and an excellent assistant in organizing any picnic and leisure time.

Grill care: features

Varieties and their features

Today, manufacturers offer several types of barbecues. They differ in functionality and materials from which they are made. The list of varieties includes:

Classic welded barbecue grill (made of steel sheet and rods)

Classic barbecue with a shelf for storing firewood

Welded-forged (combination of iron and cast iron)

The brazier chest is made by welding and forging

Cast grill

Cast brazier in the shape of a bowl - unusual and elegant

Forged iron

A cast iron grill with legs is an essential attribute in the country

Grill or barbecue

Vegetables and grilled meats cooked on the barbecue are especially tasty.

When choosing a model, you should also consider the place where it will be used. Welded steel products are the best barbecues for a summer residence. They are inexpensive, light in weight, easy to move and store, especially if you take a sample with removable legs.

Advice! For a rich country house, forged cast iron models with numerous decorative elements would be an excellent addition.

In addition to the main working structure, the product can be equipped with drawers for ash, special shelves on which it is convenient to store skewers, firewood holders, and tongs.

Since cooking on a grill is carried out in the open air, a forged grill with a roof that protects from rain is relevant. It won’t protect you from slanting downpour, but you won’t have to give up barbecue from the slightest bad weather.

Barbecue is not canceled even in bad weather if your grill is equipped with a roof

A good option for skilled cooks is a grill with a cauldron. With such a model, the country menu will include pilaf, roast, and vegetable stew.

If you plan to prepare dishes in different places in the garden, give preference to models with wheels. Then you can easily move the brazier to the gazebo, to the summer kitchen, and away from the festive table so as not to smoke the guests.

Varieties

Before you go to the store for a new barbecue, you need to decide on a model, the choice of which depends on various factors, namely: the weight and dimensions of the structure, the possibility of transportation and the availability of free space on the site. As you know, experts distinguish three categories of country barbecues:

A mobile barbecue is a structure that is easy to move around the site, as it is light in weight, modest in size and easy to assemble/disassemble. Having disassembled the grill, it is easy to pack it into a special suitcase that you can take with you and go on a picnic. In the production of such models, galvanized steel is usually used, which has disadvantages: a short service life, the possibility of cracks and deformations.

A mobile barbecue is a structure on wheels, which is made from medium-thick steel sheets, which makes the barbecue stronger in comparison with the previous version. This design is easy to move and has good strength, looks stylish and aesthetically pleasing, and will easily decorate the landscape design of a summer cottage.

A stationary barbecue is a full-fledged structure that serves as an architectural object on a personal plot. Typically, such barbecues are large in size; stone or brick (in rare cases metal) are used for their construction. The structure requires a barbecue to be erected, therefore moving it is impossible.

Artistic images

The forging process itself involves obtaining all kinds of decorative elements. Skilled and experienced blacksmiths create real masterpieces from cast iron and steel. Exquisite legs in the shape of the paws of a predator or a fairy-tale flower, a carved top of the brazier and a roof in the style of a Chinese pagoda - the limit of the master’s imagination depends on your desire.

Forged barbecue in the shape of a fairy flower

The proposals range from the simplest, urban styles, with geometrically precise details, to elegant plot forms inspired by history, myths and nature.

For true aesthetes and gourmets who are not limited by financial resources, barbecues are created in the shape of a carriage, guns stylized as a barrel organ, with a hinged lid.

A barbecue stylized as an airplane is a real masterpiece at your dacha

Among the exclusive models there are barbecues-steam locomotives, with a brazier made in the shape of a pig, barbecues-chests, using forged wheels instead of legs.

It looks like a steam locomotive, but in reality it’s an original barbecue

A practical and beautiful option is a wrought iron gazebo with barbecue. In addition to the fact that the building acts as a separate art object in the interior of your country space, it also creates the most comfortable conditions for preparing barbecue and other dishes.

Brick grill: stages of construction

As mentioned earlier, the most interesting and correct solution would be to build a barbecue out of brick or stone. This multifunctional design can be used as a barbecue, oven, grill or barbecue, and will also demonstrate the refined taste of the homeowner. To build it, you need to buy fireclay bricks, sand-clay mixture and a metal grate. In addition, for the work you need to prepare tools, including:

Shovel.
Concrete mixer.
A circular saw.
Master OK.
Building level.
Zinc trough.

It is not difficult to guess that a brick barbecue is a heavy stationary building, for the construction of which you need to prepare an area and make a foundation. Here the procedure is as follows:

Preparing the area.
Creating a drawing.
Site marking.
Construction of the pit.
Laying crushed stone mixed with rubble stone.
Installation of wooden formwork.
Filling the pit with a cement-sand composition.
Once the foundation is ready, it is covered with a waterproofing layer.

Laying bricks can only begin after the concrete base has completely dried. Having prepared the clay solution, you can proceed to the construction of the base, the shape of which can be arbitrary. The first row must be laid according to preliminary markings, working from the corners to the middle. It is important to check the horizontal and vertical alignment of the masonry with a building level, shifting each next row by half a brick. Reinforcement is laid on every third row, which will create a stronger and more reliable structure.

After this, all that remains is to prepare the fireplace by creating a solid surface or equipping metal corners on which a removable mesh will be fixed. Then you need to install the wind sides and install a pipe to collect and remove smoke, after which all that remains is to decorate the structure using ceramic tiles, plaster and other materials.

Advantages and disadvantages

The obvious advantage of a forged barbecue is its durability. Withstanding strong heat, the product does not deform and does not burn out. It stands firmly on any soil and does not require additional fastening. A deep roasting pan allows you to add the required amount of coal. High sides ensure proper cooking of kebabs and other dishes.

The disadvantages include the fragility of cast iron when there is a sudden change in temperature. Just wait until the grill has cooled down and only then wash it.

For many, the decent weight of the product may also be a disadvantage. Choose a model according to your physical capabilities. However, for a stationary barbecue with a gazebo, weight does not matter, since the structure is installed once and forever.

An important point is the price. Simple, no-frills models that are affordable for most consumers. Unique artistic products are expensive, but they also look very beautiful and respectable.

Brazier with a mesh lid that will protect the prepared dish from insects

Brazier on a grand scale - a mini-kitchen at your dacha

A compact portable grill is a permanent attribute of a summer holiday

Chimney

Should I take a grill with or without a pipe? The answer to this is not as obvious as we would like.

A chimney raises the price of a barbecue, and you always want to save money.

The roof - yes (it protects the grill), but what does the chimney do?

Moreover, there are already models on sale without a pipe with good functionality and a reasonable price.

We suggest not looking into your wallet for now and postponing questions about the price for now. Someone will have to make an effort.

Let's look at the situation from the outside.

We have already decided that this type of barbecue is the best, both outdoor and not expensive. But the barbecue cannot be considered outside the recreation area, which will inevitably form around it.

Follow safety rules.

And the cook behind the barbecue is part of the company, which means everyone will be next to the brazier. It’s good when the wind is constant: you can sit on the windward side. What if the wind changes, which often happens here?

It's not even the acrid smoke here. Not everyone likes to just smell a fire when returning home.

The desire for comfort and building a gazebo next to the barbecue will complicate the situation. Having an open grill next to the gazebo, you risk getting a sooty side near the pavilion. In addition, the smoke getting inside stagnates there, because the gazebo is built this way so that the wind inside it subsides.

In addition to your guests, there will always be neighbors, and it is better if the smoke comes from above. A pipe near the grill will help with this.

We can also say that a developed hood will be a kind of spark arrester and reduce the risk of fire.

Now look at the price of models with a chimney and weigh: is their price so high?