I have always wanted to try barbecuing food in a block pit smoker. This dimension is only achieved after placing the mortar between the blocks. ( Log Out / Yes I'm serious, your driveway could explode. This could also be used as a support for a heat shield if needed, although unlikely (a board or sheet of metal between the pig and the heat source to prevent burning). When you come to the missing block you will need to slide 2 blocks together end to end and allow gravity and friction to hold them together. A simple square shaped fire pit placed in your backyard is easy to make. ( Log Out / Second, I was going to be cooking with indirect heat and did not need a super hot flame. Get yourself a bucket of paint, a brush, and an open and creative mind. If you have a surface that is not very maneuverable but not level, you could place a layer of sand down first. Same with most everything in this guide, there are many different options when choosing a source of fuel. Don't forget to add a project for a chimney. This will allow the next layer of blocks to sit level and not wobble or create gaps for heat to escape. Burning grass will not produce a good smoke flavor you want in your food. Insert 25" long, 3/8" rebar. The design I came up with will allow me to flip during the cook without lifting the pig off of the base, but it does requires some welding. Step 1 - Location of the Concrete Cinder Block BBQ. Cinder Block - These are the building blocks, literally, of your pit. When the cook is done, you can re-purpose it as a table top for the pig to be served on. Repeat the same process as level 3, but this time it is not optional. ~ The Stretcher can get the job done. You would not want to cook on galvanized material as it can release toxins into your food. They worked perfect and are cheaper than buying pieces of real angle iron. Did I overcompensate? x 16 in. Now that you have your 1st level complete, remove the blocks from each corner on opposite ends from one another (see photo as an example). Cinder block fire pit is a low cost DIY project which will give you a gathering place in the backyard and you can spend a lot of fun time organizing a bonfire or just enjoying the game of the flames. Building the pit in advance is a great idea to mock up the fabrication of your support materials. Take your time with this first layer. I decided to place mine 3 blocks high or about 22"-24" off the ground. Stack the remaining blocks to create the 5th level. They burn the same way, with the same heat, and the same flavor every time. This is a fully functional and easy to operate smoker capable of producing smoked meats. At the ready have a grate of... 2. First, and foremost, I didn't want to have to be leaning that far over to tend to my food that was cooking. They will also be used as supports for your cooking surface. I purchased 8" x 8" x 8" half blocks, or half sash, to accommodate my design. The third row will be laid the same as the first, including the half blocks. more on this later), * Angle grinder with mason and metal discs (for cutting notches in blocks to make room for angle iron), * Circular saw with mason blade (for cutting notches in blocks to make room for angle iron), * Leather BBQ gloves (these can be used to move coals around to the desired position as well as removing the pig for the flip and when it is finished), * PVC heavy duty gloves (used to handle meat when serving, check the links page for the ones I used, they were great! ~ Materials I dry stacked my blocks on a level surface. This will make it easily removed after the pig is cooked, but secure enough to hold the pig in place as it is flipped during the cook. You will notice that the grate will extend past the blocks on each end length-wise about 1" to 1 1/2". Several years ago, my son-in-law, Thomas Larriviere and I built this cinder-block pit in my backyard so that we could host the whole-hog cooking demonstrations for. I dry stacked my blocks on a level surface. Step 10: Rebar Grate Support Measure off alignment for rebar supports. A second piece is cut slightly wider, allowing for the ends to meet while bowing over the height of the pig. Half Blocks - I wanted my pit to look nice and uniform and not have any rough edges. I was barbecuing and going to be using the low and slow ideology. Grab 14 cinder blocks and assemble them in a 80" x 48" (that's five cinder blocks long, two cinder blocks wide) rectangle and place the 2x4 stakes at the inside corners. After some further research it was decided a surface of at least 3.5' x 5' would be needed to roast a whole pig. Now pat yourself on the back, the pit is done. It is critical that you do NOT use galvanized metal. This will prevent any paint from cooking off into your pig on the inside of the pit, and keep it looking nice on the outside. Start with level ground. You will need a hand tamp, a shovel, cinder blocks, measuring tape, gravel, dry mortar, water, a trowel, a leveler, a carpenter's square, metal braces, a grill top and plenty of bricks. Items like chicken wire, chain link fencing, etc. Prepare the Pit After planning approximately how large you want your pit, decide how far off the ground you want your cooking surface. With the help of the internet and the combined BBQ knowledge of myself and friends, I was able to finalize a design. would all be great for this application, but they are almost always galvanized as this is an inexpensive way to protect steel from rust. To remind you, this was the first pit myself or any of my friends had built for the purpose of pig roasting. x 8 in. This base layer will act as the foundation for the rest of the pit; keep it level and the finished product will be sturdy enough to stand on without an ounce of mortar. - I got my patio blocks at Home Depot for $1.00 each. However, there will just be a little more work involved each time you would like to add charcoal, or control temperature. Note that Hite uses sheets of cardboard for his lids as seen in the photo above, but I strongly advise against this. However, 13 gauge is half the price and will work just as well, as you are going to need supports underneath the grate anyway, for a cooking surface as large as mine. This serves a two-fold purpose. Click here for an article about how to build an Old School pit from concrete blocks like the one used in the finals.. Week 5: Click here for Meathead's recipe for Turducken. Very simply! ~ Fuel Source Galvanized metals are rated to withstand heat nearing 392 degrees F. It is probably safe to say that at no time during the cook temps will get that high, but the consequences if it were to happen can be severe. Half Blocks - I wanted my pit … Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. There is something to be said about building your pit out of a few blocks and some steel. A sheet of plywood laying around will do the trick. Turn the next block 90 degrees and continue the pattern (each layer uses 14 blocks). The cinderblocks on mine are 15 1/2" long and about 7 1/2" wide. There are 5 blocks in #1 level, all others require 6 blocks. x 8 in. 6 in. You could also simply use additional stacked block at each opening. The project was stopped here until we acquired the steel for the cross supports. Your pit will not get hot enough for this to happen. Learn the steps that go into a whole hog cook from beginning to end. Now there are only two things left to do. And then you have no lid. Look for a metal supply wholesaler in your area that will sell to the public. A brick barbecue will enhance any outdoor patio or family gathering area. This is because you purchased a full 8 foot long sheet and the six blocks you laid isn’t 8 feet long because your cinder blocks aren't really 16" wide. If your cinder block fire pit is on a grassy surface, consider removing four to six inches of soil and setting the first course of cinder blocks below ground. Add crushed rock as well as sand for drainage as well as well as to supply a degree base. For the primary structure, I used “standard” cinder blocks (8″x8″x16″). In a six floor configuration a total of 36 blocks are used for the smoker and 7 blocks for the fire pit. We will not be placing any mortar or rebar through the blocks as this is intended to be a temporary structure with the ability to tear it down as needed. Some people will flip the pig itself during the cook. If you purchased the half block corner sashes keep in mind that one will be placed on either side of the block that is in place of your future opening. I was roasting a pig and needed something a little larger. Not much work is needed for the lid. x 8 in. that can be tossed in near the end of the cook. For More About Cooking WHole Hog and Other Barbecue. Stack about 30 cinder blocks to form a rectangular pit two blocks tall. Second, having two opening on opposite ends will help with your temperature as you can now control air flow. Across the width it will rest on your block about an inch on each side. Start laying your block and create one continuous row including where your openings will be. It takes anywhere from 30-60 minutes to build your pit, depending on how many breaks you take to get another beer. We use 48 blocks to build a roaster four blocks high, four blocks long and two blocks wide. We used a combination of cinder blocks and regular, recycled bricks for our outdoor maple syrup fire pit last winter, and a few bricks popped apart with a loud noise and incredibly minor shooting out of debris. The sky is the limit when painting is in question. Cost about $10. A more cost-effective choice in normal circumstances would be rebar, but be creative and use what you have available. How are cinder blocks made? Thanks for Watching I prefer a concrete-block pit. Rake about 4 inches of coals on each end of the... 3. Flipping the whole stretcher is not a requirement. Using gloves, shovels, rakes, etc. Week 6, The Finals: Click here for an article about how to cook whole hog and a recipe. without an expensive cooker. Ken working his magic to make the angle iron’s fit between the blocks. By purchasing a singe 4' x 8' piece of expanded metal grating I could have a cooking surface that would be large enough for a pig, without having to pay the extra cost to have multiple smaller sheets, or have the larger sheet cut down. They don't need to be mortared together unless you want to create a permanent cooking feature in your back yard. As mentioned earlier you could use 13 gauge priced at $40. - Make sure you are on a level surface. This will get your hog 32 \" above the embers, plus a course to hold the lid. First, sit down and decide how large you actually needed your pit to be. This can be a bit expensive, but if you shop around and avoid the big box hardware stores you can find decent prices. I will break it down into a few sections: ~ Design Theory If there’s ever a time to go whole hog—in every sense—it’s Uncle Sam’s birthday. Gray Concrete Block Concrete masonry provides a cost effective Concrete masonry provides a cost effective answer to a variety of essential building needs including structure, fire separation, architectural finish, sound control, and low maintenance. In many cases the heart of the brick barbecue is provided by a standard, pre-built gas or charcoal barbecue insert that has been incorporated into the brick structure. However, I did have a method for my madness. The angle iron used on this pit is overkill for what is needed. x 8 in. If you have any questions about how to build a BBQ pit please feel free to contact me at CaughtSmokinBBQ@gmail.com. Just to give you an idea on size and what one will hold. I’m pretty sure it could hold the weight of 10 pigs. Next, lay your second row using full size block and using the sash units at your corners. I purchased 8" x 16" red patio blocks to add some color and to give a little extra height between the pig and the cover, once again to create room for smoke circulation. Some people may say that is too far off the ground, and will only put theirs 12”-16" off the ground. is manufactured to ASTM C 90 specifications and used in foundations and above-grade masonry walls. The method to my madness, as stated earlier, was based upon building my pit around my cooking surface. This is a the final design created to scale using Google SketchUp. They are welded together making a rectangular frame. Cost about $54. However, when foiling the pit before the cook (more on this discussed on “The Roast” page) you will have to tear down the majority of the pit. - These are the building blocks, literally, of your pit. After laying the first three rows you are going to be ready to place your grate on top. Numbering them 1-70 or 1-7 for each layer should do the trick. You should have an L shape with 4 blocks in 1 direction and 3 blocks running perpendicular at a 90 degree angle. However, as a cover it will work perfectly fine without any danger of contaminating your food. Be sure each block is level and that each row of blocks are level (a good level and a square will help a lot). Feel free to do the research and assume the risk on your own, but I would not chance it. but for this build we used aprox 60 lbs. You are ready for the roast! On the day of the roast, wrap it in foil and set it on top of the blocks. 6. Using a staggered block pattern the pit can maintain structural integrity at the same time giving it the ability to have a block from each corner of the 1st (ground) layer. If you have a circular saw with a mason blade, it will work wonders and finish the job in seconds. If it is a larger pit you are going to want openings on either end. Surprisingly Easy! Measure and cut two supports the width of your pit and put into place. (3 places) Using a 1/2 inch concrete drill bit, drill holes through only one side of blocks. Week 4: Click here for Meathead's recipe for Last Meal Ribs. A sheet that large will cost about $200 but it might be worth it as it won't rust like the other expanded metal sheets. 3. The block laying style repeats itself, uneven layers 1, 3, 5 have one pattern, even layers 2, 4, 6 have another one. This step is optional. However, as you will notice in the previous pictures you need to place your angle iron support in place for your grate. x 4 in Concrete Block 33 lb. For added flavor, a well seasoned apple wood will do the trick! If you are using rebar, be sure it is a heavy enough gauge to prevent sway or drooping; my best guess would be 1/2 inch or larger. In addition, your concrete drive could explode. These fumes can cause Metal Fume Fever, or Zinc Poisoning. ( Log Out / Learn the steps that go into a whole hog cook from beginning to end. Solid Concrete Block The 16 in. This was more of an aesthetic feature than functional. A perfect fit. Gather all your materials. If you have that skill set, equipment, or a friend that can, this thing will last a life time! It should look similar to the pictures below. 9. We are finally at the good stuff. I dry stacked my blocks on a level surface. Because you would not find a coloured cinder block in a home improvement store, the only thing you can do is pain the blocks. If you intend for this pit to be torn down when you are done with the cook and then rebuilt at another time, number the blocks as you build the pit. So I decided to build my own cinder block barbecue pit. You don't have to place a block at your planned opening. This will ensure you will have all the slotted blocks in the correct location next time. This is a materials list for the pit I built. In the pit, burn a large hardwood fire down to coals. If you decide to do this it will be easier to do before stacking too many blocks. - You can build a pit as large as this one for under $250, and after doing so you will be the envy of your friends. A mason blade in a circular saw will save a lot of time and effort when cutting slots for the cross supports. A view of the angle iron’s resting between each layer. ), * Charcoal chimney (the most efficient way to light charcoal, do NOT use lighter fluid, you will taste it on your pig if you’re not careful), * Weed burner (used to light the charcoal in the chimney without any paper ash to deal with). One of the areas I found lacking in many other pit designs found on the web was the ability to control two things; airflow, as well as the ability to add additional fuel when needed. Add some charcoal and put your pit to work. They don't need to be mortared together unless you are planning on creating a permanent cooking feature in your back yard. A cinder block pit smoker for cooking whole hogs for only $250. Therefore, I came up with my own design that incorporated the overall concepts of a proper barbecue pit, and added some of my own finishing touches, I would like to share with you, and how to build it. These will offer the heat resistance needed at a … The pit needs a few basic components; primary structure, support for the pig, airflow / temperature control, and a heat source. I keep the heat at both ends for pigs and for indirect cooking. I believe this design addresses these flaws with little to no additional effort or cost. How to Build a Cinder Block BBQ Pig Pit. These will offer the heat resistance needed at a reasonable cost, as well as being very easy to work with. ~ The Pit Notch out portions of the block to allow the material used for the cross supports to sit flush and level. Once the grate is down you are going to need to cut four more supports about 6" larger than the openings at each end. 1. The stretcher also uses expanded metal. 4 in. I'm sure you are looking for something nicer. However, if you plan on keeping your pit around for a while, try to find a place that has stainless steel grating. DIY Fire Pit. On top of the patio blocks is one more row of cinder block laid continuously, keeping in mind your corner sashes, and a final row of patio block. I do not claim this to be the best or end all design. I chose good ol’ fashion Kingsford charcoal briquettes, and I have several reasons why. Cooking Whole Hog on a Cinder Block Pit Here is an easy way to cook whole hogs from 50 to 150lbs. I purchased 9 gauge. The blocks that sit above will now rest level and square. Of course you could always have it cut down if you like. Having two sheets is beneficial when you want to check on, or tend to, your food without moving a larger sheet and losing too much heat. If you are not than all your block is going to be crooked, which in turn means your pit is going to be less stable. This creates greater stability for the fire circle. 2. I happened to have a couple pieces of 8 foot long garage door support beams that I cut up and used for my support pieces. Most of this material can be purchased at either Home Depot or, - Home Depot sells these blocks for $1.00 a piece and the 8” x 8” x 16” corner sash pieces. These will be placed to look like an upside down "L" with the down part fitting between the sides of your cinder block. Line it with a steel ring to aid have the flames and focus the warmth. x 16 in. After all rows of cinder blocks are in place, add a three- to four-inch layer of … Place 4 blocks end to end with the openings facing up and down. Complete the 2nd layer; if you made the first one level, the rest should follow. Babysit the Pig You bet I did! If you are placing your pit on a grass surface this could prove functional as you wouldn’t have to take out your sod first. Dig a hole in the ground. I think the best option for this is to use spray paint on the block end where it meets another block end. Celebrate Independence Day (and a successful hog hunt) with a backyard feast. With so many other variables to deal with on a project of this scale, adding one more just seemed unnecessary. Now you are ready to start stacking block again. However, I took a couple things into consideration for myself. A sweeter, more subtle wood such as apple will give plenty of leeway and prevent most of the risk of over smoking. Although the build went very smoothly, there were a few lessons learned: 1. This shows the first 3 layers of the pit during construction. We also had a cinder block crack. 2. If you decide to add wood for smoking, I suggest staying away from harsher woods like mesquite or hickory as this will make it very easy to over smoke. Dec 31, 2013 - How to build a barbecue pit for cooking a whole hog from concrete block (cinder block), including illustrated plans with dimensions and various designs The pit needs a few basic components; primary structure, support for the pig, airflow / temperature control, and a heat source. This heavy weight solid block is uniformly square and free of large chips. Primary Structure ~ For the primary structure, I used “standard” cinder blocks (8″x8″x16″). One thing that is important to mention here, is the selection of metal. 3. Pick a spot for your barbecue pit. The removed blocks allow several things to happen. SIDES: 54 concrete blocks 16\" x 8\" x 8\" (actually 15.75 x 7.75 x 7.75\"). Although, I wanted a little more room around the pig for smoke circulation, and didn't want to feel crowded while tending to the pig, so I decided to make it a little larger. A cinder block pit smoker for cooking whole hogs for only $250. The heat will melt your asphalt and the charcoal will stain your concrete drive. A piece of expanded metal is then cut to size and welded to the frame. I have seen several examples of re-bar being crisscrossed together and held in place with bailing wire. Place a second layer of cinder blocks on top of the first layer, spanning the spaces between the blocks in the first row. What can I say, I was a fan of Lego’s when I was a kid. Make sure it is square on all sides. 1. 7. That first piece of smokey pork tearing between your teeth tastes so much better knowing you earned it. It is 4 pieces of angle iron cut to size (leaving a 2 inch gap between the blocks and the frame on all 4 sides to get hands in and pick it up). 4. Alright, calm down! I found a supplier that sold this for $80 per sheet for 9 gauge. Just construct some type of frame and basket that will allow you to pick the pig up and out of the pit after it is done cooking. - This is going to be used as your block supports to create your openings for your charcoal. I scoured the Internet looking for the perfect solution, but didn't find what I was looking for. You will definitely want some help with this, so be sure to find who in your group of friends likes to get their hands dirty. Jeremy grinding off the sharp edges on the angle iron while Ken supervises. When adding the second level, offset each block by 1/2 creating a staggered effect. Second put your sheet metal into place at your openings. The top is not welded; instead it will be secured using bailing wire wrapped through the expanded metal and then around the angle iron frame. Following the same physical properties of building an arch, the two block ends above the missing piece will hold with no problems. My final barbecue pit size ended up being about 5' x 8' outside dimensions with a cooking surface that is about 4' x 6'-8". Many people might think that making cinder blocks require hard labor, but the production of cinder blocks is easier than one may think. By rotating, shifting, removing, or sealing we can now regulate the amount of oxygen that will feed the fuel source. Adjust your list based upon the size you are planning to build. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. If you are placing it on a grass surface I would recommend cutting out the sod first. Most stores that carry this are going to have galvanized roofing. First place the metal roofing sheets on the top in such a way that one will overlap the other. Some basic construction knowledge is necessary - building a concrete pad and laying bricks.. - This was the only material I had to do some searching around for. 2 - 8' x 30" corrugated metal roofing sheets. The reason you will see this mentioned so often when researching other sites for pig roasting is the cost/availability of galvanized metals makes them attractive to this type of project. The stretcher is just a fancy way to say, “something that will allow you to hold the pig over the heat source”. Fabricating the stretcher can be the most complicated part of the whole project, but it does not have to be. So how do you build this thing now that you have a bunch of material sitting in your back yard? This removable block also adds the ability to add additional fuel throughout the cook. Subscribe to Caught Smokin' BBQ and receive updates in your Email. Galvanized metal has a zinc coating and when heated, the zinc can create toxic fumes. When I decided to start my adventure in barbecue, and wanted to roast a pig, I needed a cooking surface large enough to do so. 1. About every 3 feet, turn one of the blocks at a slight angle to make an opening for air to get into the pit. First, you need heat on each end to create a cooking surface with evenly distributed heat. For a square fire pit, place the cinder blocks side by side instead. fuel can be added or removed; allowing the temperature to remain more consistent. The intention of this was to provide a second cooking shelf for items like potatoes, corn, etc. You’re going to have to stick around as I will explain that in a later posting. They don't need to be mortared together unless you want to create a permanent cooking feature in your back yard. - This is the same material you might see on landscape trailer or metal storage bins. - I wanted my pit to look nice and uniform and not have any rough edges. I purchased 8" x 8" x 8" half blocks, or half sash, to accommodate my design. If not, an angle grinder, chisel and hammer, etc. Regardless if the cinder block is high-density or low-density, the “recipes” for both types of cinder blocks require cast concrete and an aggregate. Now place your grate on top. LID: 4 x 8' sheet of 1/4\" plywood, cut down to about 44 x 60\" for the lid. - Although these are not necessary for you to build your pit I wanted to accent it with a different color. Ignite the Fire This pig weighed about 85 pounds and was much easier to handle and cook compared to the usual 150- to 200-pound pigs we usually get to cook. - The corrugated metal roofing is used to cover the pit while cooking. This can be used as a cooking surface. The lower the gauge you purchase the thicker and stronger the material is going to be. Change ). I, then, sketched out my idea to try to get a visual idea of how I wanted it to look and also to plan for a materials list. Now I have gotten that out of the way, I can explain a little further. Choose a spot with good drainage and accessibility including access to water for cooking and cleaning. Concrete block made to industry specifications are a reliable durable material that may be used to construct economical walls. My favorite part of every project, the build! This was purely based on availability and cost (I was given the materials for free). You can build it to the size that suits the pig and control the heat to ensure even cooking by adding embers or moving them around. The first block laid is simply a guide and will/can be removed. The 5th block should be turned at a 90 degree angle and then add 2 more blocks end to end. Because I had extra materials available, the decision was made to add some cross supports to level 3. Also, I would not recommend putting this on your asphalt, or concrete driveway. Cinder-block pit for cooking pig We obtained a smaller pig than our usual ones we have cooked in the past. However, if you purchased the patio blocks this is where the first row is laid continuously all the way around. ~ Lessons Learned. You just needs … Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. A flat piece of metal bar stock will not work as it does not have the support strength, and will begin to flex. x 4 in Concrete Block The 16 in. I built this bbq pit in my backyard using cinder blocks and expanded metal. As an afterthought, I decided to put 1/4 yard of crushed limestone in the bottom of my pit. Remember this will need to support the weight of the pig as well as the stretcher. ( Log Out / He is a master of fire control, and if yours burn, they could ruin the hog. Equally space supports (I am using 3 angle irons) and mark the blocks. Next, you need to consider where you are going to place the openings in your pit to add coals for cooking. If you purchased a larger sheet you can cut it with metal shears, or bend it to stand in place. My block pit isn't fancy...just blocks and a grate. Simple should work just fine, as long as it will hold the weight and have small enough gaps to prevent chunks of meat from falling to the ground. 5. Briquettes may not be as fancy as lump charcoal or burning down whole logs to embers, but they are consistent. Also remember, there are an infinite number of ways one could design a pit. Now you are ready to start cooking. 2. These are going to be placed above your opening, on top of the grate, at the front and backside of the block below, at each end, looking like two upright "L's" facing each other. Raúl Musibay: We build a "pig roaster" with standard, 8x8x16-inch (or 16x12x8-inch) concrete blocks, the kind you can pick up for about $1.79 at your local Home Depot. This should be a fairly complete list of all the items you will most likely need (* dictates optional, but very helpful items): ~48″ Cross Braces (3-7 pieces depending on strength of materials for pit and 4 for stretcher), ~ 4′ x 8′ Sheet of plywood (thicker the better to insulate) (1), ~ Wire snips (strong enough to cut through whatever wire you are using), ~ Heavy duty aluminum foil (wholesale club stores sell this in 750 SF boxes, I used about half of it), ~ Charcoal (the quantity will vary depending on the size of your pit, pig, weather, etc.
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