Pimp yo grill, son!!!

[Timmy Tucker]

So, recently I've been getting into grilling in a really big way. I've been slaving over the fiery pit of yumminess since I was a kid, but in the last 6 months I've been delving deeper into the dark arts. Been tinkering w/ smoking a bit and I've also been messing w/ indirect grilling a lot and really like the results. I realized that I needed to step up my game, but I'm too broke to buy a nicer grill and a proper smoker, so I decided that my 5 year old POS grill needed an overhaul.  


One of my main problems is that the coal pan on my grill was shot. Was never a problem w/ charcoal briquettes, but I have recently seen the light and converted to hardwood lump charcoal which consists of many pieces small enough to fall thru what little grating is left on the coal pan. So I ran down to the hardware store and bought a few sheets of expanded metal and a little hardware to mount it on the grill. I threw a metal cutting blade on the ol' sidewinder and commenced to burning the shit out of myself. On a side note, shorts and a t-shirt = bad idea. (metal working squid) I did wear safety glasses though.





Got both of the coal pan pieces marked, cut out and mounted in about 45 minutes.





I also got a chimney starter. Yay!!  





Best invention since sliced bread and the blow up doll. Except, the grate in the bottom is big enough to drop a bowling ball thru. "No problem, I'll just put some expanded metal on that too."    Was a little fussy, but after about an hour or so of swearing and throwing shit, I got it.









Like I said above, I'm all about indirect grilling, but it's a PITA w/ this grill cause there's no easy way to add coals after the food's on. After a little brainstorming and a few minutes of assaulting the grill w/ the saw again, I came up with this. Now I can quickly add coals and smokewood as needed w/o having to move the food....





Just a random shot of the chimney starter in action that I thought looked pretty cool.  






So, FFW to the next day, and the oh-so-sweet payoff. Not too many pics, it never crossed my mind to take any of the actual cooking process cause I'm apparently retarded. Next time I'll take more food pron pics for ya'll in the peanut gallery. Sorry.

The weather looks just right for grilling...  





It was raining so hard (wing gusting 40-50) that I actually had to bungee a concrete block to the lid of my grill to keep it from blowing off...








So.... after approx six hours at a slow burn, I had some damn fine BBQ. Here's the run down on a damn tasty home-made meal:

Pulled pork BBQ (mesquite smoked and water pan filled with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale)
My top secret bourbon BBQ sauce (made with Woodford Reserve. Oh yes I did.)
Cole slaw
Potatoes Au Gratin
5-Bean baked beans (yes, they contain   )


Money shot...

[Super T.I.B]

You makin me hungry. Thanks. 


Great bit of kit BTW! 

[Kopfjäger]

Nice   

[zarn02]

that looks awesome.

i'd commit brutal criminal acts for some good american barbecue. none to be found in korea...

[Rameses]

Damn it.

I thought this was gonna be about gold teeth.

[Howie]

Mine:

http://www.biggreenegg.com

Retirement/birthday present from the wife

[Super T.I.B]

Mine:

http://www.biggreenegg.com

Retirement/birthday present from the wife

Oh yeah, I want one of them. 

[Kopfjäger]

Mine:

http://www.biggreenegg.com

Retirement/birthday present from the wife

Best grill ever. Takes a good bit of time getting it down to a science, but once you do you will be so happy. 

[eltristo]

Looks like you done good.  It's a little late now, I suppose, but Weber does make a top cooking grate with fold-up sides for adding charcoal.  For future consideration.

[Big Troubled Bear]

Maybe not as healthy as smoked meat, but this is the way we do it over here

[ZLTFUL]

Awwww hells yeah...Calico Beans. Best way of doing the BBQ beans ever.

Gonna steal some of your ideas for my smoker. I am still a fan of the barrel smoker but I can see it needs some mods...

[Howie]

Best grill ever. Takes a good bit of time getting it down to a science, but once you do you will be so happy. 

Already am!   Incredible smoker and roster too, keeping temperatures consistent is no problem.

[Monsterlover]

What's a chimney starter and what does it do for the grilling process?

[eltristo]

What's a chimney starter and what does it do for the grilling process?

It's a nice way to start your fuel (briquettes, lump charcoal, whatever) without lighter fluid.  Put a couple wads of paper on the bottom, fill up the top with your choice of fuel, light the paper and presto!  in 15-20 minutes you're ready to cook.  Good stuff

I have been known to cheat for bigger fires by putting the paper under the bottom grate, then piling the charcoal on top of the bottom grate and just going from there.  Perfectly workable solution.

[Monsterlover]

So it's just a can with a screen at the bottom?