What is the best way to make a propane burner for a 55 gallon drum bbq grill w/standard lp valves?

Question

I made my old gas grill into a 55 gal. spit/grill. The replacement burners don't provide even heat distribution. I thought of making my own burner. I am just not sure of what materials are best. Steel type, hole size, ventilation, etc... The grill operates off of the stock dual lp valve control.

Answer 1

Instead of being involved with a lot of piping and hassle, go to a BBQ cooker store, propane store, or a good hardware or home center and look at the replacement burners. There are lots of different shapes and varieties of hole patterns and they are all tested for gas and air flow.

Answer 2

this steel drum will probably get very rusty, very quickly and look like crap. I'd use a keg instead. 1. Get a half keg of beer, invite some buddies over, and have a good time talking about how great this grill is going to be. (leave the tools in the garage for now!) 2. When keg is empty next day, use a metal cutting wheel to cut the keg in half (lengthwise), or the long way. 3. Go to the hardware store and get some hinges that will connect the back side of the grill together. Don't scimp out, get some quality ones that will not rust like nickel plated or s/s. Connect these with small bolts/nuts/washers etc. 4. Measure the inside points where the grate needs to be. Go to a place that sells grill grates and find preferably 1 that fits, or 2 smaller ones that will fit together (this will be harder b/c you'll need a center rib to hold them up). try real hard to find 1 grill grate, even if you have to order online. 5. Use L brackets on the inside edges of the keg to hold the grate in place. 6. Figure out a cool handle to use. If you've gone this far, you need a cool handle. Remember, real grills have heat resistant washers so the handle doens't get hot, or they use a handle that's resistant to heat. Small deer antlers would be a cool handle. Or, a RAM hood ornament. If you use metal, try to find fiber washers at a hardware store so it doesn't get hot. 7. The grill stand. This is a tough one. You can make a simple stand out of 2x4s that have X legs, then just lay the keg between the top X's and attach another 2x4 to hold them together. If you have a cooler stand, let it rip. 8. Don't forget, all you'll lose for the keg is the deposit when you don't return it. Last i heard it was a $10 dep., but it may have gone up. Large beer stores may let you buy one cheap from them, or even give you one. Some restaurants use kegs and they may let you buy a cheap one from them too.