Jonty

I made a start on the cooking grates yesterday. There’s two of them to make it easier to get them in and out of the cook chamber. They’re 20mm angle made into a square(ish - have you seen my welding 😀) frame and then 6mm round bar tacked in to form the grate. I also got the initial assembly of the cook chamber handle done. Obviously I’ve sat it on top of the cook chamber to take a picture, but it will actually sit low down on the door with the actual handle lower still. The aim is that you can lift the door in a single motion without catching your forearm on the hot metal door. I’m recycling horseshoes wherever I can on this. I’m not a horsey person but my wife is - and using the shoes is buying me a hell of a lot of grief free quality shed time.

I don't serve them on a plate upside down, but whenever I buy a steak and kidney individual pie from a butchers to eat out and about, I always hold them upside down. Haven't a clue why !!

I'm the same - can't beat it....otherwise it would be ham omelette and chips I suppose. That looks great Ditchy - you might want to check the lid is more tightly screwed on your pepper pot next time though 😀

I have a very similar one to this and it works a treat. @oowee thanks for the fruit fly tip - I'm stealing that!

I did a bit of skip diving the other day and got myself a very rusty cast iron griddle plate from an old gas BBQ. I thought I could clean it up and use it on my charcoal barbie as a kind of poor mans Blackstone. Whilst I had the tools out, and the inclination, I thought it would be great to christen the griddle with some smash burgers (my boy really loves making and eating them) so we set about knocking a burger press up as well. Scratching about for ideas for the handle and the penny dropped about the bucketful of horse shoes I have from my wifes horse and farrier donations. The griddle cleaned up really well, and I do think the press is pretty ice if I do say so myself. Both got seasoned with oil in a hot oven before we fired up the barbie and christened them.

I'm with you !! I was thinking that I'd pay £15 not to eat a McDonalds Whenever you want - bring beer 😀 That would make an amazing press!!

Nope, they start life as a ball of meat rather than a formed patty. You drop it into the griddle and then smash/squash it as flat as you can with the press. The aim is to get a nice thin burger with crispy bits. They’re really good - my son loves making them and he’s the burger chef in our house.

That sounds a good idea - this was the thickest scrap I had but I like the idea of a monster one!

😀Certainly - bring beer!!

If that’s how you want yours Lloyd, that’s no problem, just ask the chef - we like everyone to have their own burgerr how they like it here 👍

There’s a story behind these - check out the craft section 😀. Smash burgers on the poor man’s blackstone griddle, pressed with a DIY press.

It certainly is 😀. I have a lot of American friends - tramp on chips was waaay lost in translation - hence the cheap suit 😂

I’d be all over that like a cheap suit!

I haven’t - but I have thought about it. You often get warping when you cut the lid out as it springs slightly, I was lucky but then did warp it accidentally by putting too much tension on the salt bar I used as a door seal. Fortunately a ratchet strap and some swearing sorted that out. I’ll be doing a test burn soon and will be looking/listenimgnout for any movement etc. Ideally, the cook chamber will be at around 110c to 150c max(occasionally) during use so it’s not going to be screamingly hot.

He he - I think you’re right … I’m planning on it’s emissions not being all that good 😊 Thank you OPP, it’s been great fun to build - I’ll definitely do a video, especially as it will sho how these smokers work 😀