Swine Spectator
is Blowin Smoke!
Brethren,
I have a group of friends that get together 2-3 times a year to cook a whole hog. I learned how to cook them on cinder blocks. I stack them like this:
and then add a grate and top them with a piece of plywood. It works very well.
This is a very economical way to cook a pig. I have 42 cinder blocks that cost about $1.50 each and a grate that I paid $60 to have welded up. The problem is that we keep holding our parties at different people's houses. It is a lot of work to load up 42 cinder blocks, then move, stack, cook, and pick up again.
I am thinking of trying to design something more portable without spending too much cash. My current thought is to have a 2' x 4' bottom tray made out of 3/8" steel and framed with 2" angle iron. Then have sides made that can be bolted to the angle iron on the tray and vertical angle iron corners that bolt on as well. I'd need an access door and some side vents to control airflow. I'd add a charcoal/log rack inside. I would suspend the cooking grate inside and either have a lightweight metal or plywood top.
Now I realize that this setup would not be as insulated as the blocks, but I am hoping that it would be more portable and storable.
I'd welcome any thoughts, feedback, ideas, or ridicule on this setup.
David
The Swine Specator
I have a group of friends that get together 2-3 times a year to cook a whole hog. I learned how to cook them on cinder blocks. I stack them like this:
and then add a grate and top them with a piece of plywood. It works very well.
This is a very economical way to cook a pig. I have 42 cinder blocks that cost about $1.50 each and a grate that I paid $60 to have welded up. The problem is that we keep holding our parties at different people's houses. It is a lot of work to load up 42 cinder blocks, then move, stack, cook, and pick up again.
I am thinking of trying to design something more portable without spending too much cash. My current thought is to have a 2' x 4' bottom tray made out of 3/8" steel and framed with 2" angle iron. Then have sides made that can be bolted to the angle iron on the tray and vertical angle iron corners that bolt on as well. I'd need an access door and some side vents to control airflow. I'd add a charcoal/log rack inside. I would suspend the cooking grate inside and either have a lightweight metal or plywood top.
Now I realize that this setup would not be as insulated as the blocks, but I am hoping that it would be more portable and storable.
I'd welcome any thoughts, feedback, ideas, or ridicule on this setup.
David
The Swine Specator
