FIRE BASKET OR GRILL MODS

[ciret]

I'm looking for a quick and easy basket of grill mod. I travel for work and am only home Sat & Sun. I really want to Q not spend all weekend building mods. I'm going to do the HD foil baffle mod and need to do someting about the fire grate. After my 1st burn, seasoning and a truckey breast, chicken and some brats, the OEM grate has sagged down almost touching the bottom of the fire box. I have the Brinkmann lefty, so no fire box shelf brackets. I was thinking about getting some of the recommended 3/4" expanded metal and bending up a basket. (When I asked the kid working at Menards if they had expanded metal he looked at me like I was from another planet) The other trhing I'm thinking about is using unglazed tiles in place of fire bricks to line the fire box. Heard that recommendation on a cooking show, Alton Brown I think. Any one ever try that?

Well, let me know what ya think. . .

[BigAl]

The only "safe" thing to use is fire bricks(called Splits), they are soft and easy to cut to fit with a circular saw and a Mason blade.

My basket will work in your unit, $95(for the Brinkman) plus shipping.

[ciret]

Yeah, your basket looks like it rocks & the posts by others seem to confirm that. But I'll have to get the $$ together, I need to get thermometers and gloves and stuff. So looking for an interim solution.

I bought one tile and will put it in the firebox for a test.

[BigAl]

I researched, on the net, about toxic stuff, if the tiles, bricks and any other stuff you use for any kind of food cooking/handling( including garbage bags for brining) that was not designed for food, you are at risk. If not designed and approved for food, don't use it. Regular Bricks and tile gives off toxic gasses when heated and don't use any thing galvinized.

And no one understands the cost thing better than me, given how long I have been laid-off.

Just passing on what I have learned.

[skolek]

ciret, I'm in the same boat you are, and from the looks of things we're in neighboring states! :) My Brinkmann is probably a month old, and my grate and ash pan are toast! Grate is sagging, and ash pan is warped beyond belief! I'd like BigAl's basket, but the cost, and the fact that I like to burn full logs or splits, do not make it a possibility for me.

I'm probably going to head to Menards or Fleet Farm this weekend to see if I cannot figure out something that will work. If you find something for the firebox, please let me know, and I'll do the same.

Thanks,
Scott

[kcquer]

Here's a link to my firebox and smokebox tile mod. http://www.bandera-brethren.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=1750&sid=75e52c0c0e979d8e33924c0aaaf6a55b

Highly effective, huge pain in the ass. Use the fire bricks in the firebox at least. I baked bread and pizza on 4 unglazed tiles in my oven for years until the OL gave me a new pizza stone for christmas, I haven't died yet.

Big advantage to the bricks you can use the different dimensions to create a ledge to put the expanded metal on. Probably will need some supporting solid stock under expanded metal.

[Stucue74]

Fellas,

I'm not exactly the true handy man, or at least it's not my day job. However, you can buy expanded metal grids at home depot for a very economical price. I bought one after I just joined this group, however I didn't reinforce it with steel so it warped do to the heat fairly quickly. Last weekend I bought another expanded metal sheet, cut it to fit in the firebox and then brought it to a local muffler shop where they welded a few steel planks into it for about $20 bucks. Total cost: $40, end result: priceless.

Good luck.

[chad]

get a piece of expanded metal from Lowe's/HD and cut and bend into a "basket" -- it ain't pretty but it sits up on the firegrate and holds the coals together. the attached pic is of my "basket".

fill the water bowl with sand (check out some other threads) and you'll get a quick and dirty heat sink -- I personally use water in my water bowl but then I've got a horizontal cooker with a baffle I built and then put a foil pan of water under it. if push came to shove I dont' see why you couldn't just put an inch of sand in the bottom of the box -- but then that's my opinion and that don't count for much around here.

Don't let the lack of mods deter you from cooking. They are nice but in no way are they "gotta have" or I can't cook.

[BBQchef33]

that firegrate in the bandera 101 document costs me about 15 bucks. A piece of expanded steel cut to size and some steel flats is all ya need. Those brackets can just be laid across the firebox on the exisitning rails. i just used some stainless steel nuts & bolts to bolt the racks and grate together, but used it without bolting it the first few times.

[ciret]

Yep, the simple expanded metal basket, that's what I'm gonna do for this weekend.

I'll look for some fire brick, or hightemp tiles for lining the firebox.

Has anyone tried the layer of sand on the floor of the firebox or cooking chamber?

[BigAl]

Ge Whiz guys, the basket will hold full logs when the dividers are removed. Guess I need to post this pic. I only use Kingsford for smoking and whatever wood for flavor because hard wood cost $480 a cord + delivery here.

For clairfication, basket will accomidate 15.5 inch long logs.

[BigAl]

that firegrate in the bandera 101 document costs me about 15 bucks. A piece of expanded steel cut to size and some steel flats is all ya need. Those brackets can just be laid across the firebox on the exisitning rails. i just used some stainless steel nuts & bolts to bolt the racks and grate together, but used it without bolting it the first few times.

Pill, you are 100% correct for the Bandera. However, the Brinkman does not have any existing rails in the fire box, so more bending of metal straps or something else is required to support the expanded metal in order to provide Ash room.

[brdbbq]

but then that's my opinion and that don't count for much around here.


Step Child Mod :D

[BigAl]

but then that's my opinion and that don't count for much around here.


Step Child Mod :D

$.01 Mod :shock: :D

[racer_81]

Well, I gotta jump in here. I handmade an expanded metal basket (it was cheap) and
used it until Al's basket came in.

Al's basket is structurally sound, it has the dividers for extended charcoal burn, and
those dividers are removable for log burning.

In fact, we used the undivided basket for log burning during the Big Butt Q last
weekend. It worked great!!!

But, if you ain't got the discretionary $$, you ain't got the discretionary $$.

[Qczar]

........ I was thinking about getting some of the recommended 3/4" expanded metal and bending up a basket. (When I asked the kid working at Menards if they had expanded metal he looked at me like I was from another planet).........

Well, let me know what ya think. . .


I was at my local trailer dealer a few weeks ago. There, they sell pre fabed trailers as well as build new flat bed trailers for everything from landscaping equipment to heavy construction equipment. I seen a large pile of scrap metal, most of which was 'EXPANDED STEEL'. They were the scrapes left over from 'skid plates' they use on the flat beds. My guess is if there is a trailer dealer in your area that does this type of work, they`d be glad for you to take some off there hands. If not, sell it to you for scap prices.

Funny thing too. As a carpenter, about 10 years ago I did a job hanging an acoustical ceiling in a office building. The architect spec`ed out using 2' x 2' expanded steel panels as the tiles. I had a nice pile left over. Probably thru it out after a few years of tripping over it.

.............. Xczar

[BigAl]

FYI - The same gauage expanded metal will be either "Standard/Regular" or "Flattened".

Example: 9 Gauge Standard/Regular will be 1/4 to .300 inch thick at the expanded joints. 9 Gauage Flattened will be 1/8 inch thick at the joints.

Flattened is eaiser to bend but rusts out more quickly in a fire box. I use 3/4 9 gauage Standard/regular in the ends of the baskets. Hardware stores here only sell packaged Flattened in thinner gauage 13 or 16. I have to buy it at steel supply company in 4x8 foot sheets because they can not/will not cut it to size.

[jt]

I got my steel/welding supply place to cut it size for me. They charged me the same sq. ft. price and added 50 cents for the cut.

[BigAl]

I got my steel/welding supply place to cut it size for me. They charged me the same sq. ft. price and added 50 cents for the cut.

And now you know another benefit of a small town in MO. :D

The welding shops here charge $70 hr with a one hr minium to do anything. :x

Early in the basket development, I got quotes to cut all the parts to make the basket. $140 each just to cut the parts plus the cost of materials in quantities of 25 and that was the cheapest of 4 quotes and they still need to be welded.. To do one, they said forget it. Kinda explains why the smokers are built in China.

[bbqneo]

Also have the lefty, and I just finished buying the parts for my basket mod and found expanded steel at the local Ace Hardware. I saw an old post where someone used an 18 inch fireplace grate as the base for their basket. I have opted not to do this at this point because I want to try to build the basket using the bkmn grate and ash pan and make it as large as possible to accomodate logs. (Scott, what do you think killed your grate and pan?) I also saw at Menards fire bricks that are 9x4x1 and come 6 for $9-near the wood stoves. I may try these, but does anyone know if I can put the ash pan on top of the bricks without any problems?

[BigAl]

Also have the lefty, and I just finished buying the parts for my basket mod and found expanded steel at the local Ace Hardware. I saw an old post where someone used an 18 inch fireplace grate as the base for their basket. I have opted not to do this at this point because I want to try to build the basket using the bkmn grate and ash pan and make it as large as possible to accomodate logs. (Scott, what do you think killed your grate and pan?) I also saw at Menards fire bricks that are 9x4x1 and come 6 for $9-near the wood stoves. I may try these, but does anyone know if I can put the ash pan on top of the bricks without any problems?

Heat and the weight of the wood killed the pan and grate, same as the standard on in the Bandera. My warped ash pan looks like an big truck ran over it. My first basket design used standard expanded steel from a local welding shop (they built it, wrong the first time, didn't match the drawing) and it was sagging and burned out in about 8-9 months. That is why I went to 1/2 inch rebar rods in the bottom.

My ash pan is on top of the fire bricks.

[skolek]

I'm guessing heat killed my grate and pan. Even from the first burn, i.e. curing, the grate sagged and pan warped. They've neve been wet. I've only used hardwood charcoal, which from what i read is hotter than coals.

I've got my ash pan on some of those ceramic bricks you use in gas grills, but would like flat bricks as well.

Menards also has small, probably 1" x 1" x 1/8" ceramic? squares I've thought about getting, but may look for those fire bricks you're talking about.

I don't think putting the ash pan on anything would be a problem, but I definately need a new ash pan and grate myself. I have to get into a balancing act with the charcoal since it's so darned warped! :)

What about this idea:

1. Get some bricks like you mentioned at Menards.
2. Since they're only 1" tall, probably get about two boxes of 6.
3. Lay out 3 or 4 tall in all four corners, then line the middle of the firebox with the rest, maybe we'll need three boxes.
4. Get some expanded metal, and lay it on top, creating a 2-3" space from the bricks on the bottom, and the expanded metal, which will now be the grate.

Sort of like kcquer's mod here: http://www.bandera-brethren.com/modules/PNphpBB2/files/fb2.jpg if you could imagine what it would look like.

Now, the cleanup might be a pain, since there's no ash pan.

I think I might try it, if it doesn't work out, I could still use the bricks in the smoker chamber and firebox, just flat on one level.

Thanks,
Scott

[kcquer]

As an update to the above pictured mod, I do not recommend the use of the tiles in the firebox. They have not held up well at all. When hot they are quite brittle and shifting charcoal and rolling logs have taken their toll. Only went with them because they were thin enough to allow the use of the grate I had on hand without cutting and having to have it rewelded. In the smokebox they are fine. I even have a few leftovers on the factory fire grate at the very top of the smokebox as a semipermanent heatshield mod.

Planning on leaving the tiles in the bottom of the firebox and going with Als basket as soon as I can afford it.

[Qczar]

I got my steel/welding supply place to cut it size for me. They charged me the same sq. ft. price and added 50 cents for the cut.

And now you know another benefit of a small town in MO. :D

The welding shops here charge $70 hr with a one hr minium to do anything. :x

Early in the basket development, I got quotes to cut all the parts to make the basket. $140 each just to cut the parts plus the cost of materials in quantities of 25 and that was the cheapest of 4 quotes and they still need to be welded.. To do one, they said forget it. Kinda explains why the smokers are built in China.


I`ll tell ya what. Yeah it`s a bit hard to belly up to another $100 for a fire basket. But, This farker is built right. The ½ inch rebar sold me. And, as a comerical carpenter that buys a lot of metal studs and what not, the price of metal is distcusting right now. For the lenght of time this basket should last, it`s worth it.

BigAl,............. you from Japan?

.............. Xczar

[BigAl]

No, from Virginia.

[auscos]

I have not tried it yet, but I got a 16 gallon heavy aluminum basket at Academy on Clearance for about $10. Its round and designed to be an insert into a larger pot and is drilled full of holes. I plan on trying it out until Big Al's arrives. Can;t beat the price.

[Jorge]

16 gallon? I'm guessing you are going to cut it down?

[BBQchef33]

that firegrate in the bandera 101 document costs me about 15 bucks. A piece of expanded steel cut to size and some steel flats is all ya need. Those brackets can just be laid across the firebox on the exisitning rails. i just used some stainless steel nuts & bolts to bolt the racks and grate together, but used it without bolting it the first few times.

Pill, you are 100% correct for the Bandera. However, the Brinkman does not have any existing rails in the fire box, so more bending of metal straps or something else is required to support the expanded metal in order to provide Ash room.


This is an easy fix... 4 or 6... 4 inch stainless steel polds and 2 nuts on eaqch.. drill holes in the steel flats that you use for framing and sandwich it between the nuts, using the nnuts to lock things together. But only thread them at the tip of the bolt, leaving 3-3.5 inchs of bolt sticking downwards. The bolts will act as legs to support the firegrate.

[auscos]

16 gallon? I'm guessing you are going to cut it down?

Probably not. It fits (barely). I am doing my burn-in now.

[skolek]

OK, so here's what I did to mine yesterday. It took me forever to find some fire bricks, but finally did at a Fleet Farm in Oakdale, MN.

Anyway, I'd like to put some more bricks, up the sides, however I do not know a way to attach them, or even cut them to size. The bricks are raised a bit in the front, becuase of the bolts underneath. I may eventually bore out a hole enough for them to lay flat. Also the bricks are about 4 1/2" tall when standing on end. It would be nice, I think if they were only 3" tall on end.

By the way, BigAl, for your Brinkmann firebasket, how tall do you make it sit up, since it doesn't have a ledge like the Bandera? Actually how high is the Bandera's ledges for the grate?

I've also included a picture of my baffle, as the questions come up, why do I get some leaking though the firebox, and not going through the chimney.

I just picked up a cookies sheet to use as an ash pan, since the stock one would not fit anymore.

I'll be smoking today, with some whole logs and splits, so I'll see if the mod helps any.

I'll be using Apple by the way for a Pork Butt, and some ribs.

Thanks,
Scott

[kcquer]

Scott, Looking good Brother. You're not gonna believe the difference that is gonna make. If I might suggest to get the protection up the sides you are looking for just stand the outside rows up on end, then install your floor bricks to hold the outside ones in place. then just replicate what you have now inside the tall bricks. As for cutting if you have a skil saw, an abrasive blade will cut those with ease. The blades I bought were in a three pack for less than $10. If you don't own or can't borrow a saw rental is always an option. That baffle, and the firegrate being raised are gonna really help. You'll generate lots more heat with way less fuel, you're gonna be amazed. Best of luck, scott in KC

[BigAl]

By the way, BigAl, for your Brinkmann firebasket, how tall do you make it sit up, since it doesn't have a ledge like the Bandera? Actually how high is the Bandera's ledges for the grate?

Thanks,
Scott

Brinkman legs are user adjustable in order to accomidate fire bricks or not.

Bandera has multiple sets of tabs and my basket will sit on any of them. I use the second set from the bottom. Bandera racks will sit on top of basket for grilling. I use an old set of cast iron grates from my old grill, like 'em better.