Building a Mortarless BBQ - HELP!?

Question

I'd like to build something like this:

http://www.askthebuilder.com/B181_Dry_Stack_Barbeque_Plan.shtml

Here's what I have:

1 big concrete patio slab.

500 bricks leftover from the house (veneer)

Questions:

Can I use regular bricks, like the ones I have? Do I REALLY need fire bricks?

Can I use my concrete patio as a base, or should I make a new base?

Will a mortarless BBQ be able to withstand heavy winds (I live in Houston)?

Any suggestions on how I should proceed? Have any mortarless BBQ plans?

Thanks!

Answer 1

Well, it all depends. Personally, i would mortar them or at least use some of the glue type stuff you can get for bricks, kind of like a caulk.

You will need fire bricks if you plan on building hot fires right in the bricks. However, if you use a steel firebox, you can simply use the bricks you have. either way, only the firebox needs to be fire brick or steel, not the whole thing.

As to the actual design, a lot depends on the type of barbecuing you have in mind. Doe you simply want to cook things over the coals, or do you want to smoke things? You will have to work that out for yourself, for smokers, you want a small fire off to the side and some kind off vented lid. remember your fire will need some air no matter which kind you build. a smoker needs a way to control the incoming air, more so than a regular grill. It helps both. A simple solution is to make or buy one of the half barrel barbecues, andsimply enclose it with bricks. If you have wind that can blow bricks around, you are asking for trouble not mortaring them together.

none will stand up to a tornado, if that's what you mean.

if you wan to risk it. you can build it with no steel or fire bricks.

if you attempt this, build a very small fire in it a few times, then start increasing the size of the fire. This will temper the bricks and remove remaining moisture content. do it to fast and they will just pop, crack and break, even thin pieces of sheet metal to deflect the heat will pretty much prevent it.

Answer 2

Forget ordinary bricklaying that is handiest crucial for those who wish a everlasting constitution (eyesore) within the lawn. You can construct one a couple of hours effortlessly with out cement seeing that the bricks won't transfer (except compelled) as they convey little weight. Just ensure you purchase well bricks which are effectively flat on both sides. Lay 2 giant flat concrete patio slabs, simply bigger than the dimensions you wish for the external dimensions of your BBQ, degree them off on a valid mattress of sand and cement, corporation down so that they've no motion, they ought to be be flawlessly degree in all instructional materials. Leave in a single day to set. Now lay the bricks at the slabs leaving a 2-3 in hole among each and every in a good sample till you get to approximately two' 6" top after which set 2 bricks at correct angles on each and every facet wall and one at the rear wall to make a shelf for the BBQ tray. Then one or 2 guides larger up do the identical for mounting the grill and hold to complete top however at the best direction of bricks go away no gaps and feature the flat backside of the brick dealing with upwards. Lay to your tray and grill - process performed. I used this approach for years seeing that I had a capable supply of bricks and used to be relocating each 3 years or so, its handy and unusually sound as soon as constructed so long as its all saved degree and the partitions immediately.