Santa Maria pit/grill build complete!! Yahoo!!

In April, I started a thread when my wife agreed to a fire pit/Santa Maria grill http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/showthread.php?t=105289

So Landarc gave me some tips and the name of a Landscape designer in my area.

Here is a pic of my original backyard with my thoughts for where the "portable" pit should go



So I decided on a 2 foot by 3 foot pit (internal dimensions) that would be 2 feet deep.

Here is the frame for the SM grill. I used 2" angle iron for the frame and 2" channel iron (1" legs) for the upright and cross member.
The lifting axle is 1" rod



I then made the grill out of 1-1/4" square tubing (1/8" thick walls) for the frame and 3/8" stainless steel rods that float in the frame. I have seen too many grills that warp because they are welded in place.



To guide the grill, I used 2 pieces of 1" angle iron welded together with 2" steel plate.





For the wheel, I had Pleasanton Steel bend me up a 1" rod to about 16" diameter. To that I attached 3, 3/4" steel spokes.


To make the tensioner, I threaded the 1" axle with a 3/4" pipe threader. Then I found (at Home Depot) a Porch swing spring that fit perfectly.


A little paint and Voila!


My pit is a nice 24" deep in case I want to do a suckling pig....
It is encased in fire brick and capped with Flagstone



We also decided to do a Flagstone walkway and seating wall behind the pit.



Here is the finished product without the grill in postion yet.






I can turn my grill bright red hot...... no buckling!


I cooked a spatchcock chicken and it came out great. Sorry, no pron as I had ribs going on the egg and BBQ beans in the UDS..... and guests!
Thanks for looking! I am really excited that this is finished.

colonel00 said:

Oh, how does the tensioner work? Does it just add friction or is it attached at the end points?

Click to expand...

The axle is prevented from sliding horizontally due to a bushing welded to it just on the inner side of the frame. The spring is pushing against the frame, creating friction.
The grill sections weighs about 50lbs, the axle is 1" and the wheel is 16" so 50/16= about 3lbs of force to turn the wheel. So not a lot of friction is required to hold it in place.