I am building a brick pit, and would like your input on any "must have
features" or ideas that I am missing. The slab will be 5' x 7' and I plan
to use a lining of 6" cinder block (narrower than standard) and one row of
brick on the outside. The pit will be 4 courses of block high with the grill
at the top of the third course. The top will be covered with a hinged door
and counter weight. The fire door will be about 36 inches wide, 3 courses
high and located on the 7' side.

Also, I plan to split the grilling surface into 2 sections so that I can use
about 1/3 of the pit for a smaller cooking. The fire door and top will be
set up to accomodate this, and the grill will have a small space in it to
enable me to slide a piece of metal down into the pit to "block off" the
side not being used.

Am I missing anything, or does someone have ideas? I usually cook on a
cinder block pit with a wood door and cardboard top. This pit is not meant
to be fancy, just functional, and not unsightly!

Thanks!
Evans

"Monoptn" > wrote in
:

> I am building a brick pit, and would like your input on any "must have
> features" or ideas that I am missing. The slab will be 5' x 7' and I
> plan to use a lining of 6" cinder block (narrower than standard) and
> one row of brick on the outside. The pit will be 4 courses of block
> high with the grill at the top of the third course. The top will be
> covered with a hinged door and counter weight. The fire door will be
> about 36 inches wide, 3 courses high and located on the 7' side.
>
> Also, I plan to split the grilling surface into 2 sections so that I
> can use about 1/3 of the pit for a smaller cooking. The fire door and
> top will be set up to accomodate this, and the grill will have a small
> space in it to enable me to slide a piece of metal down into the pit
> to "block off" the side not being used.
>
> Am I missing anything, or does someone have ideas? I usually cook on
> a cinder block pit with a wood door and cardboard top. This pit is
> not meant to be fancy, just functional, and not unsightly!
>
> Thanks!
> Evans

Try this site.

http://www.ibiblio.org/lineback/bbq/wdh.htm

--
StocksRus®

since this looks like it is going to be a perm. installation, you may want
to consider some sort of removable cover if have parts that might rust in
rain. I found this out the hard way.

ag

"Monoptn" > wrote in message >...
> I am building a brick pit, and would like your input on any "must have
> features" or ideas that I am missing. The slab will be 5' x 7' and I plan
> to use a lining of 6" cinder block (narrower than standard) and one row of
> brick on the outside. The pit will be 4 courses of block high with the grill
> at the top of the third course. The top will be covered with a hinged door
> and counter weight. The fire door will be about 36 inches wide, 3 courses
> high and located on the 7' side.
>
> Also, I plan to split the grilling surface into 2 sections so that I can use
> about 1/3 of the pit for a smaller cooking. The fire door and top will be
> set up to accomodate this, and the grill will have a small space in it to
> enable me to slide a piece of metal down into the pit to "block off" the
> side not being used.
>
> Am I missing anything, or does someone have ideas? I usually cook on a
> cinder block pit with a wood door and cardboard top. This pit is not meant
> to be fancy, just functional, and not unsightly!
>
> Thanks!
> Evans
How well do cinder aka concrete blocks stand up to heat-would put a
row of firebrick inside-others have done this-hope they respond.

"butch burton" > wrote in message
om...
> "Monoptn" > wrote in message
>...
> > I am building a brick pit, and would like your input on any "must have
> > features" or ideas that I am missing. The slab will be 5' x 7' and I
plan
> > to use a lining of 6" cinder block (narrower than standard) and one row
of
> > brick on the outside. The pit will be 4 courses of block high with the
grill
> > at the top of the third course. The top will be covered with a hinged
door
> > and counter weight. The fire door will be about 36 inches wide, 3
courses
> > high and located on the 7' side.
> >
> > Also, I plan to split the grilling surface into 2 sections so that I can
use
> > about 1/3 of the pit for a smaller cooking. The fire door and top will
be
> > set up to accomodate this, and the grill will have a small space in it
to
> > enable me to slide a piece of metal down into the pit to "block off" the
> > side not being used.
> >
> > Am I missing anything, or does someone have ideas? I usually cook on a
> > cinder block pit with a wood door and cardboard top. This pit is not
meant
> > to be fancy, just functional, and not unsightly!
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Evans
> How well do cinder aka concrete blocks stand up to heat-would put a
> row of firebrick inside-others have done this-hope they respond.


I was planning on using regular blocks instead of fire bricks. I had one
before of stacked blocks with no cement, and it lasted for years...the
blocks never deteriorated. It is a good question though.......anyone have
any experience with this?

The pit will not have a "burn box" so the heat within the pit should not be
that great. The "roaring fire" will be off to the side in a burn barrel.

Evans

"Monoptn" > wrote in message
...
> I am building a brick pit, and would like your input on any "must have
> features" or ideas that I am missing. The slab will be 5' x 7' and I
plan
> to use a lining of 6" cinder block (narrower than standard) and one row of
> brick on the outside. The pit will be 4 courses of block high with the
grill
> at the top of the third course. The top will be covered with a hinged door
> and counter weight. The fire door will be about 36 inches wide, 3 courses
> high and located on the 7' side.

For reference, have a look at the Sunset Barbecue Building Book. It has all
kinds of designs and configurations for all purposes, and might reveal a
refinement you haven't thought of yet.

Good luck with this, and please keep us posted. Where are you getting your
door?
--
Ivan Weiss "Bush, Bush, where's my job?"
Vashon WA Gone to feed your greedy mob!"
-- The Mugwump campaign, 2004

"Ivan Weiss" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Monoptn" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I am building a brick pit, and would like your input on any "must have
> > features" or ideas that I am missing. The slab will be 5' x 7' and I
> plan
> > to use a lining of 6" cinder block (narrower than standard) and one row
of
> > brick on the outside. The pit will be 4 courses of block high with the
> grill
> > at the top of the third course. The top will be covered with a hinged
door
> > and counter weight. The fire door will be about 36 inches wide, 3
courses
> > high and located on the 7' side.
>
> For reference, have a look at the Sunset Barbecue Building Book. It has
all
> kinds of designs and configurations for all purposes, and might reveal a
> refinement you haven't thought of yet.
>
> Good luck with this, and please keep us posted. Where are you getting your
> door?
> --
> Ivan Weiss "Bush, Bush, where's my job?"
> Vashon WA Gone to feed your greedy mob!"
> -- The Mugwump campaign, 2004
>
Not sure on the door yet. A friend of mine is a builder, and has an idea
about a door that would work. Something off of a fireplace or wood burning
stove, I think. He's checking on it for me. If I don't have a good idea
soon, I'll just use a piece of wood leaned against it. Easy access..just
kick the stick holding it up out of the way and you can shovel in your
coals.

Evasn