Bring On The BBQ – A Major Trash To Treasure Story

Years ago Sean and I were invited to a backyard BBQ of some friends.  It was certainly fun, but the one detail that made a huge impression on me was their rented grill.  It was about 5 feet long and I’m not sure how wide.  It was just a simple grill, but with high function.  Countless racks of ribs were being grilled all at the same time, along with burgers, dogs, and even a few cobs of corn.  It was the grilling mecca for entertaining.

I filed that grill in my mental filing cabinet, and set out to find a huge grill for ourselves.  I found several that would cut the mustard, but the price would break the bank.  So, being the DIYer that I am, I knew I could find a way to make our own mac-daddy grill.

Fast forward a few years.  I was visiting my favorite salvage shop (naturally), when I walked around back and found this gem:

There it was, beneath a pile of wood and scraps, the base for our grill.  Originally this base was a cement mixer.  A heavy hunk of metal coated with cement.  I loaded it up in my car (Beverly), brought it home, and immediately spray painted it with high heat spray paint.

And then it sat in our garage.

For a couple years.

Thing is, it needed legs.  It needed a grill grate.  Both very important components of a grill.  As I’m not a metal worker, the grill project was, yet again,  stalled.  Every so often, I did look around for legs and tried to figure out what kind of grate to put on top.  Then one day, one of Sean’s best friends was up from Virginia for a visit, who just so happens to be master craftsman of ironwork.  And then I had a “why didn’t I think of him sooner” thoughts.  Brendan is unbelievably talented and every single piece that he creates is a masterpiece.  Truly!

I quickly whipped out my phone and showed him photos of the hopeful grill part and asked him if he would design legs and a grate for me.   I gave him the measurements and he got to work.

A few months later, he pulled into our driveway with the finishing components to my grill.

An iron base that’s not only super sturdy, but nice to look at as well.  And, the grate fits the top like a glove.

I drilled holes in the bottom of the grill for air circulation, and then Sean and I attached the grill to the base.  We lit an initial fire to burn off whatever cement would come off, and to break in the grate.

With a coating of coconut oil on the top, we’re in business.  Bring on the BBQ!

This scrapped cement mixer that was found in a heap, has been given a new life.  Talk about a major trash to treasure story.  This grill is going to be cooking up many food treasures in the years to come, and you know I’ll be sharing those recipes, too.

A huge shout out to Brendan of River City Industrial to designing and creating the base and the grate for my grill.  He is hugely talented, and there’s no project he won’t touch.  I urge you to visit his website, and give him a call!