How to Build a Backyard BBQ Pit

MATERIALS LIST

LID
5½ ft x 7½ ft piece of tin
(Flue and draft regulator optional)

PIT
55 cinder blocks
8 (3 ft lengths of steel rebar)
Mortar

RACK
2 (3½ ft x 6 ft sections of road mesh)
6 ft x 9 ft section of chicken wire
2 (6 ft lengths of steel rebar)
3 (3½ ft steel angles)
Metal twist tie

FIREBOX
12 cinder blocks
3 ft x 4 ft road mesh

STEP BY STEP

THE PIT

1. If putting the pit in the ground, dig a hole 5 ½ ft x 7 ½ ft and 2 ft deep. Lay out your bottom layer of cinder blocks: Four on one end, five on each side, and three on the other end.
2. Apply about an inch of mortar onto the blocks, and lay down second layer of blocks in the mirror image of the first layer.
3. Pound steel rebars into each corner and side for stability, leaving 6 inches exposed for final layer.
4. Apply another inch of mortar onto the blocks and lay down third layer of blocks in same pattern as the first layer.
5. Place four cinder blocks into pit as holders for the steel rebars on the rack.
6. Allow one month to dry and set before using.

THE RACK

1. Place the two sections of 6 ft steel rebar on the ground approximately 3 ft apart.
2. Place three pieces of steel angle across rebar, one piece about 3 inches from each end, and the third piece right in the center.
3. Tie the angle to the rebar with metal twist tie.
4. Tie a 3 ½ ft by 6 ft section of road mesh to the rebar rack.
5. Lay down a 6 ft by 9 ft section of chicken wire on the rack and place your pig on it.
6. Apply any injections, rubs, etc. at this point.
7. Roll chicken wire around pig.
8. Place another 3 ½ ft by 6 ft piece of road mesh on top of your chicken wire-wrapped pig.
9. Using metal twist tie, secure top piece of road mesh to the rack.

THE FIREBOX

1. Lay out cinder blocks in yard. Two in back, and one on each side.
2. Apply an inch of mortar and lay second layer of cinder blocks.
3. Place 4 ft by 3 ft piece of road mesh on top of firebox.
4. Let mortar dry for one month.
5. When ready to BBQ, build fire on top of road mesh, allowing coals to drop below.
6. Shovel coals into pit as needed. (Important: Remove pig from pit before shoveling!)

THE LID

1. Use jigsaw to cut hole for chimney.
2. Install flue and regulator as instructed.

ALTERNATIVE LID #1

1. Cut hole in tin.
2. Use separate piece of tin to cover hole, opening incrementally as needed to cool pit.

ALTERNATIVE LID #2

1. Do not cut hole in lid. Instead, slide lid partially off pit top—in very small increments—as needed to release heat.